Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Exhibitions by artists Jean Jaques Hudon and Gerald Gallant open at Galleria Dante on Friday, November 30, as part of this week's South Side Shuffle. Stop by Puerto Vallarta's largest and most eclectic art gallery to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary cocktails from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

Jean Jaques Hudon

This new collection has two main themes. With his dynamic and imaginative side, Jean Jaques animates playful characters. In one series, such as "Salon Dolls" or "Once Upon a Time," he inserts hidden dolls as discreet decor in the canvas. Some say that his works encourage daydreaming, leading to imaginary stories that are based on the personal perceptions of the audience.

Frida Kahlo remains for a few years his favorite character. Hudon offers the Mexican icon in huge and colorful floral atmospheres that recall a common passion for flowers. We discover a young Frida, another older, this the imagination of the painter.

A series of works painted on plexiglass will also be presented on November 30. An unusual technique that consists of painting on the back of the acrylic sheet, it's fascinating to watch these creations unfold.

Jean Jacques Hudon is a signatory member of the Institute of Figurative Arts of Canada -a group of eminent painters selected by a jury of professional artists. In 2017 he received the silver medal in figurative art from the virtual gallery "Cesure" and the public prize of the symposium of Rivière Éternité in Quebec.

"The best compliment a visitor can give me is to see the evolution and the change in my artistic approach. That I am told that my work is moving, change is for me a mark of appreciation." - Jean Jacques Hudon

A native of La Pocatière, Jean Jacques Hudon studied and completed his studies at the University of Laval in Quebec, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a certificate in higher education. After an internship in France, he has been active for over thirty years both in teaching visual arts and artistic production. He has always made his pictorial research a priority and has evolved significantly since 1982. His works are structured, often compartmentalized. Reading is formal and frequently leads the viewer into the appreciation of the work.

Hudon has exhibited and participated in numerous group and solo works. He is involved in his community as he is co-founder of the "Off Gallery" in St-Jean, Quebec. His stage is oriented around several themes, and the techniques used vary according to the purpose of the work: mixed, oil and / or acrylic.

For a few years Jean Jacques Hudon has divided his time between Quebec and Mexico. In Puerto Vallarta he is inspired by the local festive atmosphere that energizes his work by form, movement and color. He is not defined as a commercial painter but as a research artist who tends to renew himself. This is his 5th season exhibiting at Galleria Dante.

Gerald Gallant

Gérald Gallant is a native of Quebec, Canada. Self-taught artist, his perseverance and his constant work in the studio has helped him develop his style. He continually refines his technique by taking different classes of Quebec masters.

The artist's works are part of a contemporary artistic approach and he has been able to impose a particular style with the theme of urbanism of our great cities. He draws his inspiration from architectural elements and current or historical monuments that are in the foreground, thus offering a more personalized vision and reinventing the city.

The medium advocated by the artist is acrylic. On abstract backgrounds obtained by successive layers of transparent colors, he integrates forms proposed by perspectives of real or imaginary planes or vanishing points, which then complete his first opaque planes. The highly colored environment organizes and completes the work.

This perspective of the object, although it serves to the understanding of the work, is not its main concern. Gallant's work is more focused on an ambience-based proposition because the dynamic atmosphere and energy of urban environments influence his subjects in which reality and imagination overlap to create the universe of Gallant. His pictorial works are needed as a documentation of the atmosphere and energy that urban environments are creating - more than what is reality.

Parallel with the structural development of his work, the artist arranges shapes and objects in highly colored environments that organize and refine his work. Gerald was influenced by Jackson Pollock for his spontaneity through the dripping and automatism of his technique, Banksy for his street art, his message and his particular subjects and Calder for his moving sculptural forms.

His 2018/2019 collection comes from the new pictorial research of artist Gallant. Although still working on canvas, he has added works on metal - Aluminum being the basis of his new works. With the transparency of acrylic glaze overlays, he creates contemporary urban atmosphere. The addition of ultra gloss varnish enhances the metal effect and supports the brightness of the work. Last season we saw Old World Architecture meet modern urban skyscrapers. This season, we see the addition of people and material objects such as transportation (boats, taxis, buses).

Aside from the painting, which remains his greatest passion, Gérald excels in culinary art which, he says, joins his artistic and Epicurean side. The arrangement of flavors, colors and the presentation of food often become works of art pleasant to view and then to savor. For all these reasons, he puts a lot of care into the composition of his dishes which brings great delight to his friends. His first profession however, was hairstyle. Again, color, form and aesthetics were parallel to his painting for 35 successful years.

An unconditional animal lover, he adopted "Charlotte" a rescue dog in Puerto Vallarta - saving a puppy from a tragic end. This is Gerald second season at Galleria Dante, but he soon became sought after by the clients in his first weeks at Dante.

Don't miss your chance to meet these talented artists and enjoy complimentary cocktails at Galleria Dante during the 1st South Side Shuffle of the 2018-2018 season on Friday, November 30 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

While you are there, be sure to check out Di Vino Dante, a chic wine and tapas bar overlooking the gallery's sculpture garden that serves creative cuisine and cocktails. Last summer, Di Vino Dante opened a small dining area on the ground floor in a corner of Galleria Dante, for those who like to people watch. Please Note: Di Vino Dante does not take reservations on South Side Shuffle nights.

Efren Gonzalez to Offer Painting Demos & Workshops at Galleria Dante

Efren Gonzalez will be offering painting demos in the Galleria Dante garden on December 7, 12, & 17 at 11:00 am. Each demo will last 1 1/2 hours.

Efren will also be painting in the streets of Puerto Vallarta during this week to promote his December 28 exhibition at Galleria Dante. Mark your calendar now so you don't miss your chance to meet him and enjoy complimentary cocktails on Dec. 28th from 6:00-10:00 pm.

Oil Painting Workshop in January:
4 days of painting in oil. One painting each day different subjects will be done with the idea of having the students experience different situations in oil painting.

Subjects can vary from landscape, water scenes, animals, streets, groups of people, still life among others. Photographs are provided each day by Efren.

All materials included:
Canvas, paints, solvents, medium, palette, table, easel and chair. Canvas sizes: from 14" × 18" to 16" x 20" and 18" x 22"

Dates and hours:
January 17th through the 20th
January 22nd through the 25th

Workshops start at 9:00 am sharp each day and finish around 3:30 pm. One hour break for lunch at noon. Cost per person is $400 USD.