Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On December 28 from 6-10 pm, during the Puerto Vallarta South Side Shuffle, Galleria Dante will host a cocktail reception with live music for new art exhibits by four artists. Stop by the gallery's two showrooms at Basilio Badillo #269 for a fun evening - and some fantastic art!

OSCAR ZAMARRIPA - Born in Guadalajara in 1949, Oscar's career as an artist started some 44 years ago. He studied in the Fine Arts school at the U of G, where he received the Luis Echeverreia medal for the best student of sculpture.

He is in a constant quest for perfection, working up to 20 hours a day. Over the years, his admirers are in awe as his jumps between mediums: bronze, silver, resins, polymers, metal, stainless steel, wood, granite, alabaster, onyx, petrified wood, semi-precious stones, ceramic, found objects and stained glass. We marvel at his exquisite, elaborate textures, elegant curves, use of color.

Oscar is a master of the ancient technique of estofado, which involves a special paint finish over silver & gold lead that has been applied to finely chiseled wooden used within the Catholic church for centuries Oscar always personalizes his "one of a kind," two-sided sculptures with his unique style of "magic realism." Every sculpture has a story, every story includes a time and place in the memories of Oscar, past and present.

"My work arises from my need to share my soul with the viewer, through images of my childhood, rescuing pre-Hispanic dances and rituals, them alive in time. The cultural roots of my people are recognizable in my work," he says.

We welcome you to have the first glance of his newest sculptures - which have been selected from a large group of works from his upcoming museum show in early 2013.

ALEJANDRA ZAMARRIPA - born in 1975 in Guadalajara in one of two daughters born to Rosa and Oscar Zamarripa. She was raised in a family of artists. Her mother a dancer, her father a set designer and long time sculptor and painter.

Many of her aunts and uncles are artistic, so she was raised surrounded with artistic stimulation. After graduating with a degree in Architecture, and working for many years, she found herself drawn back to sculpting, when faced with a lull between Architectural projects. What started as a moment of boredom and lack of work in her trade, has fired up her passion and confidence in ceramics.

For this exhibit, Ale has prepared 47 high fired ceramic sculptures - I call that passionate. Her first exhibit was in 1999 in Tlaquepaque. Her first exhibit in Vallarta was in 2003 at Galeria Uno, along side her dad. This will be the 4th time she has exhibited in Vallarta. It has been 6 years since her last exhibit, but I do not think we will have to wait that long again.

How can one family have so much talent? This father / daughter duo will not disappoint you. Please show your support of this Master artist, in celebration of his incredible career and that of his very talented daughter.

UTE HAGEN - Born in 1944 in Meissen, Germany, Ute emigrated to Canada in 1965 and moved to Mexico in 1973. At the age of 16, she entered an apprenticeship for cabinet making in Oberursel, Germany. Later she studied art under the tutelage of artists: Gerda Werner & Georg Hieronymi in Germany, Gita Segerscog in Mexico City & "Emily Carr College of Art" in Vancouver, Canada.

Ute realized her first solo show at age 15 at the Heinrich Olle Gallery, Oberursel, Germany (1959). "Expressing on canvas is what speaks to my heart, my objectives are color, movement and feeling. It is important to me that a painting 'sings,' has 'life' and projects emotions."

Her work captures the colors and textures of Mexico and presents them with a powerful clarity of European design. With perfect technique, her paintings are powerfully executed and exciting to view.

Never static, full of movement, her work is reminiscent of Van Gogh, a brilliant spirit shining through. Fascinating is a work to both describe Ute, as well as her paintings. Ute has spent the last year living in Puerto Vallarta - the positive experience of exploring Vallarta brings a new light to her latest works.

YVAN GENEST - An international painter, Yvan now shares his time between Montreal and Puerto Vallarta. This tall, gentle-natured man created his first exhibit in 1976, at Galeria La Chamade in Rennes, France. Eight years later his reputation followed him to Montreal, where he exhibited at the Galerie Au Coin des Artistes.

In the mid 90's his work was introduced to Puerto Vallarta and ever since he has been one of the main artists of the Vallarta Art scene. His experiences with different cities, other people and their customs are reflected is his paintings - airplanes, fish, trips, people.

In Mexico he is particularly inspired by the freedom he finds in Mexican crafts and the colorful life here. With his light, luminous and eye-catching colors, his distorted and imaginative forms and figures, Genest brings to life a fascinating world which parallels our own.

He will tell you that he was greatly influenced by expressionism of different periods, such as Francis Bacon, Picasso, Satin and Chagall. Yvan has an incredible sense for color. His paintings are bright and cheerful, all combined with sense of freedom and fun. Even if you do not understand them, you want to see more of his paintings and are compelled to purchase one.

South Side Shuffle 2012/2013

This is the 3rd year for the South Side Shuffle! Basilio Badillo may have seen a lot of changes over the last 25 years, but it has always been known for either it’s restaurants or it’s great shopping. It is only getting better.

Below are the 2012/2013 Southside Shuffle dates, including the artists Galleria Dante and ANDante will feature every other Friday from 6-10 pm:

Galleria Dante Show Dates

28 Dec 2012 - Ute Hagen and Yvan Genest
11 Jan 2013 – Ignacio Guerrero and Jesse Reno
25 Jan 2013 – Pipo Brockmann, Alvaro Zardoni, and Edgar Martinez
08 Feb 2013 – Cherie Sibley, Javier Zepeda, and David Zepeda
22 Feb 2013 – Kathleen Carrillo and Andy Marcus
08 March 2013 - Luis Valui and Jorge Coste
22 March 2013 – Jean-Gabriel Lambert and Brewster Brockmann

AnDante Show Dates

28 Dec 2012 – Oscar Zamarripa and Ale Zamarripa
25 Jan, 2013 - Israel Zzepda
22 Feb 2013 – Guillermo Gomez

Open Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm, Galeria Dante is located at Basilio Badillo #269 in Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone. For more information, call (322) 222-2477, or send an email to info(at)galleriadante.com.

Click HERE to learn more about Galleria Dante.