| Of all the painters
in Vallarta, I think Ada Colorina is the one who true fully portrayers the town
essences and traditions. About five years ago, by chance I saw a post card with
a painting titled "Día de Parranda" Since then I felt that at
last I had found the way in which I view and perceive Vallarta. At last I found
out that it's possible to put down on canvas the colors and joys of a town and
its people. Just like I saw it that first time when I came to this wonderful paradise
to stay 25 years ago. When I arrived to Puerto Vallarta then, I fell in love with
it's peacefulness, its scents, its spectacular natural scenery, its casual everyday
life and the constant friendliness among its almost thirty five thousand residents,
that lived here then and announced it on a sign at the north entrance of town.
Back on those days its was usual to watch donkeys loaded
with firewood or sand sacks being lead by the natives, to see fresh fish vendors
carrying their catch on ropes. It was common to greet your neighbors while they
rested on their hammocks on their porches or to hear the bread maker offer his
products in the afternoon. On every street you could hear the children's laughter
while they ran and played. You could see the celebration of a neighbor's birthday
with "piñatas" full of candy and gifts. Anybody could join in
and enjoy the neighborhood street Christmas "posadas", even if your
weren't invited. Nothing was formal. Everybody was invited to colorful christenings
or weddings parties. Nothing seemed to disturb the peacefulness and innocence
that transpire then in my Puerto Vallarta. That is the
image that has been inlayed in my mind, because that's the way I knew it. Nevertheless,
without really noticing it, as if it had happened all of a sudden, the town grew
and changed. Since then to me it's not the same and some times a tear rolls down
my cheek with remembrance and longing. I miss it. Of
course the place is still beautiful and attractive. The sea, the river Cuale,
los arcos, the Marieta islands, Quimixto, Yelapa and the mountains remain the
same. Sunsets are still breath taking, bougainvillea still adorn our city and
people are still friendly, kind, and much more. Nevertheless, the peacefulness
is missing from the faces, reflecting a changing world invaded by progress, that
even tough it has brought economic well being to the area, it has taken away the
sincere simple ness of just living without a hurry and with joy. When I first saw
Ada Colorina's work, standing there on a busy street, without moving I instantly
traveled to another place. My senses stopped perceiving the present and I was
transferred to a different dimension. My face relaxed, my eyes widened, my pupils
dilated, a smile came to my lips and my heart quickened with sincere joy. I had
rediscovered Puerto Vallarta! There it was, just as I knew it. Just as I missed
it.From my viewpoint Ada's works and their colors reflect exactly the essence
kept in the hearts of the Vallartans. And of many like me, that even though not
native, are romantic at heart and feel privileged to be here. Through
her paintings, Ada Colorina transfers the viewer to a place where reality is mixed
with fantasy, to a place where time does not exists, to a place that still can
be found in some corners of the town. That place that was a whole and belonged
to all in the past. While looking at Ada's art is to confirm that simple ness
and joy that was Vallarta, described in Doña Catalina Montes de Oca's book
"Puerto Vallarta in My Memories",
it's truly real. What a happy irony of life, that today,
describing a feeling of longing for a time in which inner peace and calm was reflected
in the daily life of a town, thanks to the technological advances, may be viewed
by anybody in the world and understand what I mean. Ada Colorina's website is
www.AdaColorina.com
and because of this the essence of that town that attracted thousands and then
millions of visitors, can be seen anytime, anywhere. Even
if it's just for a moment, try to connect with your inner child by means of an
artist from Vallarta that simply transfers and reflects what many hearts felt
when we first stepped on this land that adopted us without asking anything in
return, giving us thus the opportunity to truly live. To
you, our national or international beloved reader who lives here, and to you,
who might very soon visit our beautiful port, I invite you to visit Ada's gallery
and studio. Don't miss the chance to know and feel the warmth of an artist that
portrays everyday life, traditions and colors of a place that its said to be where
God came to rest after ending his creation. Ada Colorina
is self-taught. Her style is considered by connoisseurs as 'naïve', 'primitive'
and/or 'folkloric'. She doesn't argue about it and I think she's right. Let's
leave the experts to debate and determine that. Only time will tell the truth.
Meanwhile let's just watch and enjoy her work. Discretely
but surely Ada has acquired fame and deserved her prestige, taking her place in
Vallarta's art stage. Now a days I have the privilege of owning some of Ada Colorina's
paintings and when I walk into my home, I feel I walk back into the Vallarta I
knew and of which I will always be in loved with. Hasta
Pronto! |
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