City of Inspiration
By Sarah Muñoz

There is a sense of seaside whimsy in Puerto Vallarta that has long galvanized the artsy masses to create and expose creative visions unto the curious shores of the Pacific Ocean.

Certainly, the fame of Manuel Lepe in the 1950s and '60s, along with his followers and the frenzy of interest created by John Huston and his gang of merry Hollywood folk, whipped up the lure of Puerto Vallarta. It was during this time that art galleries began to pop up around town. Today there are more than 30, displaying a wide assortment of work by local, national and international artists, although quality Mexican art is the most abundant. Locals and visitors alike come together one evening a week to enjoy ArtWalk, a traipse along galleries in the historic center that stay open after hours.

Of course, sculpture reigns in Puerto Vallarta, as witnessed with a brief stroll along its Malecón, or boardwalk. Public artwork has adorned this Pacific shore promenade since 1976, when Rafael Zamarripa's The Seahorse was erected; today, this is one of Puerto Vallarta's most recognized symbols. Eight years after The Seahorse, other permanent fixtures started selecting their own choice location of oceanfront real estate, including Sergio Bustamante's In Search of Reason, C. Espino's Neptune and the Nereid and Alejandro Colunga's The Rotunda on the Sea.

Puerto Vallarta's architecture is also a testament to past and future cultural splendor. For instance, the Teatro Saucedo, which opened its doors in 1922, invokes the golden era of Europe's belle epoque. Designed by Italian Angel Corsi, it housed a casino and theater area that also doubled as a ballroom. On the other side of the spectrum is Los Arcos, an amphitheater that also faces the sea (across from the Main Plaza and just two minutes away from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe). Los Arcos hosts live performances and music festivals throughout the year. With its array of architectural influences tied together by cobblestone streets and the backdrop of a roaring Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta's historic center is one to be savored again and again.

It is this paradox of Puerto Vallarta—a beach destination that sparkles with cultural awareness and creative passion—that makes this city one of unparalleled personality.

Beyond the Cutting Edge
By Josef Kandoll W

In just six short years, Jean Pierre Renucci and partner José Villavicencio not only founded the most exciting art galería in years, Galería Córsica, in downtown Puerto Vallarta, but nearly single-handedly changed the face of the art world in this increasingly cosmopolitan coastal pueblo. From the first day he visited this city on a trip from Montreal where this Corsican native was living at the time, he says "I identified completely with Puerto Vallarta from the first moment."

Within Galería Córsica, the two partners are proud to present some of the country's top talent. "Our focus is on artists who exhibit in galleries in Mexico City, many of whom already have an international following." The secret, he admits, to his success is "having a good eye. I don't represent someone for commercial reasons but because I like their work. The fact that we've been so amazingly successful is almost beside the point. I wanted to do something that I really like, so our decision from the beginning was to be very choosy."

Attending art school in his youth, Jean Pierre studied with sculptor Cesar Baldaccini who "taught me the difference between good art and art that is commercial. I'll never forget how it changed the way I saw things. Forever." Jean Pierre and José have expanded from their original tiny but elegant space to two downtown Vallarta spaces. Additionally, they have galleries in the modern Plaza Peninsula and in Los Cabos, as well as a corporate office in Mexico City.
www.galeriacorsica.com