Insiders’ Emerging Artists: Galeria Potranca, Art For Today

By Iven Kelley-Dobson

Galería Potranca focuses on emerging artists along with additional artists who have had limited exposure. A wine & cheese reception on Friday of the second and final weekends each month kicks off the weekend featuring new work. In May, on the 9th and 30th, we will be introducing four new artists and their work, with ten artists returning, introducing new work.Among our artists in May you will meet:

Christina Ross: Christina is from the Bay Area of California.  Her heart’s desire was to be an artist but that was sidelined for a career in business, advertising, tech, and financial services.  After career changes and with San Miguel calling, she started her adventures in our wonderful town in 2020 with her trusty dog, Jack, at her side.  Initially returning to painting upon landing in San Miguel, the magic of our town brought Christina an opportunity to pursue another passion: photography. Photography allows her to satisfy her love of simply wandering, observing, and documenting.   Christina loves to travel, write, and attend various festivals and celebrations; all which contribute to a broad range of subjects in sharing her experiences.

Rosario:  Born in Mexico City and with her father’s family from San Miguel de Allende she has known our town all her life.  In her years of travel throughout Mexico, she became inspired by the colors, people, and culture and learned to make jewelry along the way, being mostly self-taught. She experiments with various materials and techniques currently focusing on leather, feathers, crystals, and various symbols; all coming together to create more than an accessory but to become an object of power and protection. She also creates shadow boxes -“miracles” of mixed media and found objects.  All of her work is a delight to study, seeing the interpretation and expression of her inspiration from her life’s experiences.

Ficus: Ficus came to San Miguel de Allende in 2016 and is originally from Quintana Roo. She expresses her passion for color and mandalas using 100% cotton yarn in vibrant Oaxacan colors in crochet. Ficus creates mandalas on a palm mat, a wooden board, or simply as dreamcatchers. Her work is truly a celebration of color.

Johnnie Boswell: Originally from Houston, she grew up as the child of a professional artist. Being immersed in art since the age of seven, she initially worked in oil and has expanded to include acrylic, ink, pigment powder, fabric, and encaustics. Johnnie has studied with artists in Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, and Mexico.  The fluidity of her work evokes the beauty of nature and landscapes, especially in her new home of Mexico. Johnnie’s complex work in mixed media on wood, paper, and plexiglass reveals her perceptions of our world.

Approximately 50% of the artists at Galería Potranca are Mexican, and many could be considered “outsider artists” in that they have not had formal art training but their talent and creativity are natural and readily apparent. Other artists have had studied art and techniques (some having art degrees).  Our goal at Galería Potranca is to give artists a platform to show their work and meet the public, giving them the opportunity to receive feedback and encouragement.  You have two opportunities to view new art, meet the artists and enjoy wine & cheese at both events every second and final Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the following Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Galería Potranca is open by appointment, guided byIven Kelley-Dobson who brings a lifelong career as an entrepreneur in the creative fields of floral, art, and interior design.  His work in Galería Potranca is called FACES, mixed media sculptures created from found objects.

Galería Potranca Potranca 4, Guadiana 415 117 2923