Tags
Carlos Fernandez Ferrin, Ivo Uquillas, Museo Portoviejo Ecuador, Vicente Ferrin, World Museum Day
Warning! This is an extremely ‘image-dense’ post!
Manabi Province/Ecuador – Opening Event/Museo Portoviejo – Friday May 17, 2019 – 7 pm. Art Exposition/Presentation by artists Ivo Uquillas, Vicente Ferrin and Carlos Fernández Ferrín.
November 2018 – Kind words from Ivo Uquillas at the opening of “Lisa Brunetti – a Journey”
Quiet and focused on a set of illustrations, I had lost track of time. Like emerging from a deep sleep, I pondered, “Is this Friday – or is this Thursday?”
It was Friday, and I needed to stop working and prepare to attend the World Museum Day event at Museo Portoviejo. The first stop would be the cyber to confirm the date and time of the event.
“Time to stop working, Gringita!”
Sorting through ten pages of my day’s work, I spotted several areas that needed more attention. “Just five more minutes,” I thought.
A stronger voice overruled, “No. Stop. You need to support your friends.”
Two of the three artists for the event are friends; they are true masters. I reflected on how they support my work, especially Ivo Uquillas, who mentors many artists, and who spoke at the past two inaugurations/expositions of my work.
I realized that I was tired and thought about the hour’s drive to Portoviejo, the event, then an hour’s drive home. I pondered the crowded auditorium and that no one would notice if I were there – or not. I considered my concerns for the planet, and how this drive would negate my attempts to be more sensitive about my choices. I even pondered the costs to drive there and back (fuel prices have risen!)
That “stronger voice” gave a more-assertive nudge, “This isn’t about you. It’s about your friends and their work – and you need to attend. Period.”
If I reached the cyber and discovered that the event was scheduled for next week, I could have a nice long session of internet!
Rippled skies caught my attention and shadowed my drive to the museum… Hmmm.
I reached the museum half an hour early and greeted Vicente Ferrin, who was carrying items from his vehicle into the museo.
We took the (light) load upstairs and joined Ivo and the third artist Carlos Fernández Ferrin, the latter a cousin to Vicente. All three artists were preparing for painting demonstrations – yay! Without perusing the paintings, I dashed back downstairs until time for the formal opening.
7 o’clock arrived, and I ventured upstairs while wondering how I missed seeing people arrive. But no- in the auditorium were three other people – perhaps I was wrong about the hour? Carlos Wellington, director of expositions, was equally baffled. The newspapers, television, social media – all had given notices about the event. Where were the people of Portoviejo?
Skipping the formal opening in the auditorium, the three men took their places in the adjacent gallery and began to work; half an hour later, one new person joined the audience. In a way it was an amazing honor, to witness in an ultra-serene setting – three maestros at work. In total contrast, I was also witnessing that sobering reality of a question that nags any artist, ‘What if no one shows up?”
At 7:45, five new people arrived! Yes! Friends of Ivo Uquillos drove from south of Manta and added a much-needed injection of energy to the event! Sylvie Bond, a master painter with a solo show opening May 21st in Jipijapa, joined Ivo’s magical doodling. Over the next hour, more people trickled into the room and watched the artists complete their works.
When visiting earlier, the artists agreed about lack of decent painting materials – finding a brush that holds a good point for more than one day’s work is difficult. They said that I should bring brushes back from the USA – or better yet, perhaps I could arrange for the four of us to have a show in the USA. Can anybody ‘out there’ help make this dream show happen?!!!
An impromptu session of music, song and poetry provided a perfect finale to the evening. Those three artists are indeed multi talented! True to their professionalism, they returned to their work areas and resumed work.
Knowing that an hour’s drive awaited me, I said ‘Goodbye’ around ten and left my friends still working. Perhaps they worked all night and the entire weekend!
If you’re in Portoviejo, drop by the museum and see these works in person!
The Ferrin cousins paint while Ivo sings. Director of Events, Carlos Wellington, basks in the talent!
What’s for sure is that you all do what you do, and you don’t need the world to tell you that it’s brilliant, Lisa. It just is! 🙂 🙂
Thank you Amiga! It was a very serene evening, everyone comfortable with the small group… I’m glad those guys are seasoned veterans of the arts or they might have traded in their brushes for peddling candy bars at traffic lights!
God bless ’em. The world needs the artist’s vision — now more than ever.
I thought of you often, Hugh, and your concerns about how our cultures are changing – at the expense of quality education and the arts.
I’m glad you went. You have some talented friends.
janet
Yes, they are very talented – always good to have kindred spirits in good times and in not-so-good times!
Especially important in the not-so-good times, but you can’t expect that without being there in the good times, too. 🙂
Oh yes, and we can easily recall the ones that gave comfort in both areas… Thanks Janet, and thanks for all of the time you devote to others – encouraging and giving support as well!
Wonderful, Lisa. Your friends are so talented, and so lucky to have you for a friend.
I’ll bet you have stories of times when few turned out of an event – and the theatre was more empty than full.. but those people are usually the luckiest, as they sometimes get extra impromptu entertainment!
We had a blizzard and only two people showed up at the Guthrie to see the performance.. The show went on and after the cast, crew, and the audience went upstairs to the Dram Shop to party.
Wow, the show went on – even in a blizzard.. perhaps there will be a post about that show?!
You are such an inspiration to me. ❤️
Hi Debbie! I was thinking of you a few days ago.. I hope that Ron is doing well, and that you both are enjoying the change of seasons – especially experiencing the flowers — even more beloved to see them after so many years of missing those periods of bloom. Thank you Amiga!
Great work by talented people
Thank you Eddie – yes, very talented!
It seems you’ve preserved your North American sense of time. The event’s attendees, in contrast, were following the hora latina, which often brings an even greater offset than the one hour of Daylight Saving Time.
I sometimes forget about the Daylight Saving Time — but yes, Ecuador is known for being fashionably late – but wow, they were exceptionally late last week!
You have the best adventures. Here’s a thought. While we may not have the talent of creating a masterpiece , we all have creative spirit that must be expressed. I agree with Hugh – the world needs the artist’s vision – now more than ever. We must all play a part, however small. And leaving all the work to a few will not be enough to transform our complex world. As Thomas Merton once wrote: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Always a joy to stop by…love the discussions.
Ah, to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.. so very true! It’s nice when there’s a balance – true in all things.
Thank you for always adding great insight from your vantage point.
Oh wow. I admire you dedication to your friends. My heart sank when you describe the empty-but-you venue. I hope your plea for an invitation to show/demonstrate in the states lands with the right person. That would be so cool and rewarding for these fine artists. And, btw, I love your little “Time to Stop Working” illustration!
“Empty-but-you venue.” – How you, and how great! That makes me smile!!! It would be great for these talented artists to experience a show in the usa.. Ivo has had one, but the other two – it would be so great!
The illustrations are for a friend’s little book of fables we are doing together!
So glad you went because you clearly enjoyed it and the artists were glad to see you.
It was a great event. the people in the museo said that many people visited the next day… thanks emilie!
I’m happy to see smiling faces, absorbed in painting (and singing!), even with the difficulties.
Yes, Ecuadorians seem to be perpetually optimistic, and though no one seemed upset at the ‘no shows’ – they were definitely happy that I made the effort to attend!
Pingback: And I Cried | Zeebra Designs & Destinations