Randall Garrett, artist, writer, college professor and owner / creator of the experimental art space Plush Gallery in Dallas makes a move to México City (CDMX). When most Dallas artists leave to grow their creative essences they often head to the Big Apple, New York City. Not Garrett- he went south to the Big Enchilada aka México City. And Garrett doesn’t move to the hipster area that is full of foreigners and chic boutiques– but a working class neighborhood called: Col. Moderna: always unconventional places for this Renaissance man.

Garrett first traveled to México City via bus from Dallas’ Oak Cliff in 2003. And like most folks he liked the city and he kept returning – for he was inspired: why not? México City is the art mecca for the Republic of México and Latin America. A city that hemorrhages art and is a surreal place and is most inviting to all artists that venture into what was once the thriving Aztec capitol.  Too, working class people in México that Garrett meets that most inspires him, “like the vegetable vendor.”

Prior to moving, Garrett had already closed his Plush Gallery, a gallery that he ran for 12 years, so he could concentrate on being an artist, writer, and professor in Dallas’s Community College District. Being an art instructor that occasionally shows his works on college campus alumni and student exhibits was not really for him. He knew something bigger was waiting for him south of the border — so off he went.

In the summer of 2017, Garrett spent the summer in México City to get fully immersed and it was then that he realized he couldn’t leave: he had to move to México City. And while only knowing only a couple of people and knowing very little Spanish he took the jump: go now and figure it out along the way.

Though Randall did not have a studio, this didn’t prevent him from following his new inspirations for he decided to create his new works on the streets of México City. He literally walked the streets with art supplies and paper in his backpack. He searched for suitable places to stop on the street and create his works: which was basically also a street performance for it generated lots of gazes from Mexicans walking by. Not only was he an artist creating art on the streets of México City, but – a Güero aka Gringo: something most new.

Garrettl was now longer a tourist – like a chameleonhe was blending into México’s culture and channeling a Mexican aura: from güerode rancho to güerodel barrio.

These art pieces that Garrettcreated on the streets were used in a CDMX exhibit titled, “Diseñando Lo Impredicible,” (Designing the Unpredictable). A Two-person exhibition with Alba Vida, his fiancée, at Galería Mexicana de Diseño in México City’s Colonia Juárez. Not only were people able to enjoy the art on the walls of the gallery, but both Garrett and Alba did a performance piece as well; the 11 minute performance can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79pIHGFIeDg&t=487s

Shortly after the Designing the Unpredictable exhibit, Garrettgot his studio with other artists that call their collective “Oficina de Arte,” (Art Office), located in México City’s El Centro (downtown) area and in a neighborhood called Col. Merced.  La Merced was well known as a market area during the Aztec’s and the early conquest when people would arrive from all around México to sell and trade; too a neighborhood known for being rough and not a place you would like to find yourself alone at night.

La Merced area has something for everyone and a lot of people go there looking for bargains: the street where Garretthas his studio is not only packed with automobile traffic, but people and vendors on the crowded sidewalks. Walking on the street, curbside makes for easier maneuvering in La Merced. Arriving at Garrett’s building, you arrive to a large wide steel door, with no doorbell, buzzer or concierge.  So I knock on the door and wait. Soon a dark, short, full-bodied man opens the door slightly; standing behind him are two other slightly taller men, wanting to see who is at the door. I tell them I am there to see Randall Garrett: I get a spaced out look. I then say I am there to see el güero, gringo un artista (a white boy artist). They know, they smile and open the door and direct me to where I can findGarrett.

As I walk through the high ceiling empty corridor, I am reminded of a warehouse, a building used mostly for storage. Greeting and blessing everyone at the end of the corridor, next to the elevator, is a big altar to the Virgen de Guadalupe, patron saintof México. I take the elevator up and Garrettis there to greet me.

Walking into his studio, there is no table to work from: nor chairs to sit. But there is art supplies, spray paints and books scattered around the floor clearly indicating you are in artist studio. Though Garretthas not indicated he is traveling anywhere, there is one big suitcase in his studio. A suitcase I am told that will not be used for personal travel items, but one that will be filled with art once Garrettjourneys back to Dallas to have a México City, Dallas art exhibition.

On the wall of the studio, you see recent works, collages that Garretthas created. The collages are not created in a computer – like those I normally see in Dallas. These collages are Garrett’s creations he took from Spanish language books & magazines -mixed with religious and Mexican motifs, reminding me of the street art I see on the streets of this mega city.  Garrettsaid that, he was “interested in creating a new body of work inspired by the streets of México City, because the streets have been inspiring to me, immensely chaotic, things changing at every moment.”

Garrett does do some larger art collages, created in a computer but these are never anything sterile for once the poster-sized creations are complete – they are placed on the streets of CDMX to be weathered and also admired. His collages are often placed on top of other weathered street posters that gives them an added bizarre effect. The idea of taking the posters off the street and studying them and creating his own posters, “Is the attraction of layering of history, a multi-layering culture that exist here in México City,” says Garrett.

Garrett’slife as an artist is not a solitary life, but one filled with creative-like artists:  his fiancée is also an artist, whom he met on a chance meeting – a loving creative relationship that inspires each other. TooGarretthas taking to socializing and collaborating his art projects with young artists from Nezahualcoyotlaka Neza a municipality located in the State of México, touching the northeast corner of Mexico City. Neza is known for being an overcrowded working class haven and is known for having some of the best graffiti in México.

At the end of July 2018, Garretthad an exhibit titled, “Mi barrio me respalda,” (My neighborhood has my back). This show explored Garrett’snew works inspired by living in México City. Others in this exhibit were Garrett’sartist allies from the city of Neza – Neza York.

So after“Mi barrio me respalda,”it was time to head back to Dallas in September to reopen, resurrect, Plush Gallery in Dallas’s Design District with the group show titled Ánimo. Ánimo was an exhibit mixed with Dallas and Mexican artists and was the debut exhibition of the new Plush Gallery. “The word ánimo is a slang term in Spanish, something along the lines of “go for it” says Garrett. So how did he get all the art from México City to Dallas? Not by working with Mexican or US customs, but by suitcase. Yes suitcase. The big one located Garrett’s studio – Garrett loaded up and off he went.

So with life as an artist in México City and Dallas and with his reopening of Plush Gallery – is Garrett ready to slow down? Not for a moment for he is also having workshops titled, “Conscious Creativity.” Workshops that bring a feeling of freedom to the student: …”of being in the flow of life, and helps to identify and manifest your intentions more easily. It gives the opportunity to recognize your goals and open morefully to life, whether or not you see yourself as an artist or creative person,” saysGarrett.

The experience of living in México City has changed Garrettfor he says, “I’m definitely not the same person I was a year ago.” When Garrettfirst came to México City he was a gringo with an idea of México and now he is like a part of the other 25 million Mexicans living in this mega city …”deep connections to family, friends and neighborhoods.” Something he says he was missing in Dallas where people are more isolated.

More information about Garrett at: https://www.randallgarrett.com

Short interview with Garrett: talking about making art on the streets of CDMX: https://soundcloud.com/plushgallery/randall-garrett-jesus-chairez-interview-pt-ii-art-on-the-streets

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I created this blog years ago to write about my personal quirky observations, opinions and writings of life of as a Latino from Dallas, Texas now living in México City; in the heart of the city, En El Centro.

But I have found that quick short posts are an easier to read especially for peoples most busy schedule so I now just post on FaceBook. My FaceBook page is open to the public so follow me there and/or send me a request at: https://www.facebook.com/jesuschairez

I retired from producing and hosting a weekly radio show, Sin Fronteras, and my alterLatino gallery art space, ArteFacto,  in Dallas, Texas and recreated himself as a writer. My writings have been featured in The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Voice, the Chicago Free Press, Gay Chicago, L.A. Times, CNN.com and TheGuardian.com. To view my recent published articles and those I have been featured, please go here — CLICK

If you want to know more about the good life here in México City and wish to be given a personal tour of this wonderful international city, contact me at ChairezStudio [at] gmail.com

Se Habla Inglés

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One of the things many things I like about living in Mexico City’s El Centro Historico district is hearing all the street musicians, especially those that play to the crowds at the bars and cafe’s downstairs from my apartment building.

One Friday April 2016 evening, I was at home having a cocktail listening to classical music. I went to change the channel on my iPad, and though I was no longer streaming music on my iPad, I continued to hear classical music – cello at that AND from where? I stepped outside onto my balcony and saw that two young cello musicians where playing down stairs. This was the second time I had heard them before.

Being that I did not provide a tip the first time I heard them play, I decided to go downstairs and hear them and to also make a donation. It was all lovely. The boys, who appeared to be older teenagers or early twenty’s played well.

After listening for awhile, I decide to give them a tip and go back up stairs to my apartment and cocktail. As you will note in the picture above, they had a red glass tip jar, an old flower vase. I pulled some change out of my pocket and counted some coins out.

As to not miss my mark: I stood over the jar lowered my arm to drop the my coins in. THEN IT HAPPENED!!! There was a crash and glass flew. The boys stopped playing their cellos and yelled at me, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? OMG, I clucked my pearls, for I thought that they were thinking that  I was putting my hand into their jar to take money, not put any in! A THIEF!!!

I said, I don’t know what happened: I was just putting some money in. You have an old jar I exclaimed. They believed me cause they told me not to worry about it. I said sorry and went on my way, but too, I knew I had a smilier vase I was not using. So I ran up stairs to my apartment, grabbed the red vase, cleaned it and ran outside.

As I got near to the musicians, they were putting things away, with one young man asking the seated crowd for change — of course without their vase!  LOL

I went to the young man that was asking for the money and tapped his shoulder and he looked at me like: you again! I told him I was sorry for breaking their vase and that I wanted to replace it. The kid said, you didn’t have to. He accepted my gift, and said Thank You with a cute big dental braces smile: I live guys with braces.   I gave them the vase and walked away.

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Jesus Chairez is a writer, published author, photographer, originally from Dallas, Texas now living in México City. Follow him on Twitter @JesusChairez or on FaceBook/JesusChairez

#CDMX #MXDF #MexicoCity #JesusChairez #JesusChairezPhoto #ElCentro #Centro #StreetMusicians #Classical #ClassicalStreetMusicans #SanJeronimo #Isabel96

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I had heard about Javier Marín’s sculpture and seen some pics of his recent works on FaceBook too. So I had to go see for myself: went to see his works at Palacio de Culture – Banamex and Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso.

I was totally taken aback by the size of works. His bio reads: “The increasing presence of larger pieces in public spaces evidently parts from a contemporary conceptualization about urban interventions. Marín’s public artwork opens up towards its physical and human context, offering alternative interpretations of it, as well as of the piece itself. His sculpture takes its exploration to all sorts of places and towards different kinds of experiences, encouraging a constant and dynamic feedback. In his creative work, Marín explores human interactions and follows a sense of balance, in a formal as well as in a conceptual aspect.“

Javier Marín’s work is a must see: To view the rest of my images I took, Please go to my Javier Marin album on Flickr.

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Jesus Chairez is a writer, photographer, originally from Dallas, Texas now living in México City. Follow him on Twitter @JesusChairez or on FaceBook/JesusChairez

  #PalaciodeCultura #Banamex #JavierMarin #Corpus #SanIldefonsoMx #CDMX #MXDF #MexicoCity #DFArt #MexicoCityArt #JesusChairez #JesusChairezPhoto #JesusChairezBlog

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Though people in the U.S. are glad the holiday festivities are over after the New Year’s Eve party, the festivities in México continues: REALLY!

After the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day festivities in México City, comes January 6, Dia de los Reyes [Epiphany]: The day that the Three Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus, Christ the King. In México children get gifts on this day and is also the day when families also gather to have Rosca de Reyes, a king cake, and hot chocolate to celebrate the three Magi, Wise Men.

Mexicans place a small Christ child figurine in the cake, and the person who bites into the small figurine host a dinner party on February 2, Día de la Candelaria. The dinner party is made of tamales and atole, hot corn masa beverage — that’s of course the person getting the baby Jesus figurine doesn’t choke on it first.

After January 6^th, there is a lot of activity in dressing baby Jesús, though one can find various baby Jesús shops around the city, nothing beats the section of México City’s historical center where there is a baby Jesus tianguis, market.

A square city block that is full of beauty supply stalls of wigs, eyelashes and places to have your nails done through out the year is now full of vendors selling various sizes to baby Jesus figurines: from less than a inch size to actual new born sizes.

At the tianguis you can buy baby Jesús clothing: one can select a baby Jesus outfit that reflects ones profession, like a doctor or rancher or dressed as you favorite saint, like Juan Diego, St. Judas or Santo Niño de Atocha. Like the Pope? You can find outfits of a Pope too, complete with a Papal Tiara, see image above.

Some people have had their baby Jesus in their family for generations. And if the baby Jesus breaks or is broken into small pieces – one can find artisans at this market that fix the baby Jesus like new. It is fascinating seeing the artisans working on the baby Jesus. Seeing various headless or armless baby Jesus is sort of strange; with trays full of spare parts, like miniature arms, legs and eyeballs.

The most amazing part of attending this market was finding a couple of stalls where one can buy clothing for the baby Jesus figurine that one would find in their cake, Rosca de Reyes. A Figurine a little bigger than a quarter that too one has knitted outfits to purchase: see image below.

The baby Jesus market continues until February 2^nd where last minute shoppers buy their baby Jesus outfits and takes their baby Jesus to mass for more blessing. And once the mass is over, people go the home of the person that got the baby Jesus on January 6, Dia de los Reyes to tamales and atole.

Then baby Jesus is then put away, until next year, when the whole process starts over again. To see more pictures of the Baby Jesus Market in Mexico City CLICK HERE.

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Jesus Chairez is a writer, photographer, originally from Dallas, Texas now living in México City. Follow him on Twitter @JesusChairez or on FaceBook/JesusChairez

#CDMX #MXDF #MexicoCity #DFArt #MexicoCityArt #JesusChairez #JesusChairezPhoto #JesusChairezBlog

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I had heard about the Dr. Atl art exhibit while I was in Dallas and just had to go because not only had I admired Atl’s paintings but I also live in the neighborhood Dr. At lived in, Col. Santa Maria la Ribera, and too, I live on Dr. At street as well.

The is show was great, I loved seeing all the works in one place, in the Museo Colección Blaisten in the Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco.  Andres Blaisten, art collector and connoisseur, and for whom the museum is named after, did a great job in the presentation of Dr. Atl’s works.

As reported in the LA Times:

Dr. At, … was a muralist, an educator and a civic activist who once helped save a colonial-era convent from demolition by moving in and living there. He published books, invented paints and signed his works “Dr. At,” an imaginary honorific using the Nahuatl-language word for water.

Born Gerardo Murillo in Guadalajara in 1875, Dr. At is one of the most accomplished and enigmatic figures from the golden period of modern art in Mexico. …

I say, this is a must see exhibit of one of México’s utmost painters and a big part of Mexican history.  Exhibit runs through April 16, 2012.

click image below for a slide show exhibit of Dr. Atl

Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco
Ave. Ricardo Flores Magón N. 1
across from the Plaza de las Tres Culturas – “Square of the Three Cultures”
Col. Nonoalco-Tlatelolco
Cost is only $20.00 pesos, like $1.50 USD
How to get there

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With Michael Parker we didn’t do the Olmedo museum because we were going to spend the whole afternoon on the canals – stopping at the la Isla de las Munecas – Island of the Dolls.

click image above for slide show of my day

Though I had been to the canals in Xochimilco several times, this was the first time I was going to the Island of the Dolls, a place I often heard and read about: and I was looking forward to it.

I won’t say much except to say the island creepy and I wouldn’t want to be there after dark alone.  The time we went, there were no people just dolls, dolls that were slowly deteriorating.  There was a sitting area so all eight of us had tequila drinks!  LOL

click here for a short video of my day visit to Xochimilco

So why the dolls?

The story goes that the island’s only inhabitant, Don Julian Santana, found the body of a drowned child in the canal some 50 years ago. He was haunted by her death, so when he saw a doll floating by in the canal soon after, he hung it in a tree to please the girl. He hoped to both appease her tortured soul and protect the island from further evil.

One doll in a tree, however, was not enough to ease Santana’s troubled mind. He continued to fish dolls and doll parts out of the canal whenever he saw them, hanging each one carefully on the island. There weren’t enough canal dolls to satisfy Santana’s tortured spirit, so he began scavenging more from trash heaps on his rare trips away from home. Later in life, he began trading his home-grown fruits and vegetables for dolls.

Many stories have been associated with the island over the years. A popular tale was that Don Julian had gone mad and believed the dolls to be real children who he pulled from the canal and tried to revive. But the truth, as told by his family members who now run the island as a tourist attraction, is that Don Julian simply believed the island was haunted by the spirit of the little girl. For reasons only known to Don Julian himself, he believed that he could make the dead girl happy and keep evil at bay by hanging discarded dolls in all of the island’s trees.

Info from the Web Urbanist.

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Here I am in a group shot

Well, this good thing didn’t last. Turns the landlord was a real ass and I moved with in a month!! Such is life in Col. Santa Maria la Ribera!!!

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While visiting, my friend Bernardo Plasencia, who lives in Col. Santa Maria la Ribera, asked me over for dinner.  After dinner he said, I have something to show you: we went to the roof of his building where he showed me a small apartment he was remodeling.  The apartment had panoramic views of the city and a roof garden.  The evening quite, cool breezes and view of the stars and the moon, was most enjoyable – it felt like sanctuary.  Though remodeling was not completed, what had been done looked great.

I said, this is wonderful and then he says, “I am doing this for you.”  He said he was hoping I would like what I saw and that I return to Santa Maria to live and to WRITE.  I was so honored, how could I say no.  So we made a contract and after my summer visit I return to Dallas to downsize so I could afford the apartment in D.F. and await the completion of the remodeling. And the thought of no more staying with friends and carting heavy luggage around town when in Mexico City sounded charming.

On Thursday evening January 12, 2012, I picked up my keys to once again live in Col. Santa Maria la Ribera on Dr. Atl across from the park Alameda Santa Maria with the Moorish Kiosk.   Having arrived on an airplane, I of course didn’t have much, no bed or furniture: but I did have enough that customs asked if what I was bringing was personal or items to sell! LOL

My first evening in my new apartment I borrowed a pillow and blanket and slept on an air mattress.  As I laid down to sleep, I couldn’t help but think  of the time I first moved away from my parent’s house: with nothing, sleeping on the floor, starting a now life adventure.

The first few days I spent tending to workers finishing up the apartment and getting things for my home.  Then nine days later I had my first soirée.  It was good seeing old friends and to be hanging once again in México City

I do keep getting the question: Are you permanently back in México City?  Well, I don’t see my world as permanent:  wife’s/husbands, lovers and even friends get divorced: people die and I too will one day die, hopefully not soon though LOL!  So to me, it seems, nothing is permanent.

BUT  I do have two places to live now:  I have a small apartment in Dallas’ Oak Cliff in an artist compound with a wonderful courtyard and then I have my small apartment, an art/writer’s studio, on the roof of an apartment building with a roof garden in México City’s Col. Santa Maria la Ribera. Living one day at time, living each day to the fullest in two countries – enjoying my wonderful ride.

photo of Chester voguing on the roof – click image for slide show of apartment

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Well yesterday, Sunday, August 28, 2011, I was in México City’s Alameda Central in Centro Historico and I saw that this guy had made quartz crystal rings – I thought cool.  Why not wear a quartz crystal instead of having it in my pocket with my change – always gets in the way when making change; carrying the quartz crystal in my back pocket didn’t work – especially when sitting down, OUCH.

Well, I wore my ring with great pride: thought it looked cool.  BUT this morning, I took my laundry to be washed and the laundry lady’s little girl of about five years of age noted my ring.  And in a tiny five-year old Spanish language voice asks me: Why are you wearing that big ring?  At first I ignored her, but she asks again.  AND then I said, because it looks pretty.

Well this tiny little girl cracks my face when she says:  Women only wear big rings like that, men don’t.  Needless to say, I CLUTCHED MY PEARLS: I was at a loss for words — and her mother didn’t say a thing either: like we didn’t hear that. LOL

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