Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Friday, February 8 from 6:00-10:00 pm, a cocktail reception will open an art exhibition by Canadian artist Marc Galipeau at Galleria Dante, Basilio Badillo #269, in Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone. Be sure to stop by and meet him while you're out doing this week's South Side Shuffle.

A native of Montérégie, Quebec, self-taught painter Marc Galipeau has been painting for more than 25 years. Devoting himself entirely to his art, he transforms as he pleases a palette of multiple emotions. He interprets movement, color, character, form in order to make "relationship" possible.

First recognized in the artistic community for his characters, he continues to develop this style that sets him apart and engraves his name in the middle. Filled with a great joy of living his characters make us travel through a universe of its own.

M. Galipeau introduces us to what can be the fantasy of curved lines under the influence of bright and vibrant colors. He brings viewers into his work through the joy of living.

His abstract works break down the barriers of methodology and let talk about spontaneity.

He sometimes uses clean lines reminiscent of nature, life flowing in the winding vein found in marble, the endless labyrinth that composes the fallen leaf of the tree, the heartbeat that we imagine when looking at flamboyant motifs of a butterfly wing or the beauty of a flower blooming under the sun...

Filled with contrast, Mr. Galipeau can also in his abstraction, leave the delicacy of the line to offer colors and shapes using large spaces on the canvas. Solid colors, imposing volumes, a strong harmony in emotions. A more masculine universe giving up roundness to leave room for a universe where forms translate into three dimensions. Its movement becomes wider, the brush gives way to the spatula and the energy in thickness of the painting appears.

By working on the integration of all his forms of work, Galipeau united his fantasy and abstraction to create a brand new collection dealing with the theme of birds.

To paint this universe is for him a way of diving into a world of uncertainty, perplexity, questioning and questioning. It's causing this imbalance that drives him to go further, to explore unknown areas. It makes life appear amidst splinters of paint using transparency. The roundness of the body reminds us of the ovoid form or births all forms of life. From this moment everything becomes "true" and the birds have the possibility to take all directions.

If you succeed in traveling to the heart and his work then the artist in him will have succeeded his mission.

This is Marc's 6th year at Galleria Dante. Always with the goal to go further and to perfect his art, Marc explores a new way to express his uniqueness and creativity. Come meet Marc at Galleria Dante, Basilio Badillo 269, while you are out doing the South Side Shuffle on February 8 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.