Art in Playa

kccooper · 01-10-2008

My wife and I have a tradition of purchasing some form of art from every place we travel to so we can have a trip memory other than just photos. Please help inform us about the local art scene in Playa.
The biggest requirement is that it is created by a local and will remind us of our trip. It doesn't just have to be a painiting - pretty much any medium is ok and it can be very simple. We brought home a small handpainted ceramic "housefront" from Puerto Rico that just seemed appropriate. We try to find something that is fairly economical but it must have a local influence.

Daddy B · 01-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kccooper

My wife and I have a tradition of purchasing some form of art from every place we travel to so we can have a trip memory other than just photos. Please help inform us about the local art scene in Playa.
The biggest requirement is that it is created by a local and will remind us of our trip. It doesn't just have to be a painiting - pretty much any medium is ok and it can be very simple. We brought home a small handpainted ceramic "housefront" from Puerto Rico that just seemed appropriate. We try to find something that is fairly economical but it must have a local influence.

Celeste, Synistere's wife paints some gorgeous local scenes/scenery. Search for a thread titled 'what's on the easel today' and you'll see what I mean.

Babaloo · 01-10-2008

Turtle Beach Art
Calle 10 between 5th & 10th

Joana · 01-10-2008

I second the idea to have a look at Celestes wonderful paintings.

On my last trip I bought two small paintings in a gallery that is a few meters behind Casa Mediterranea on the left of that little ally.
In the same alley (which goes off fifth between 6th and 8th or 4th and 6th.....someone help me here..........the one where Casa Mediterranea is?) there are a number of galleries that sell amazing art.

The gallery I bought in only sells pictures that are painted by a Mayan community- all in very vibrant colours and showing scenes of their every day life (like a market, picking coffee etc.). The nice thing is that 80% of the sale go back to the community- so it is sort of a social project as well.

himynameisjan · 01-10-2008

I have one of those paintings as well Joanna. They are so beautiful, it was hard to pick only one.

psa24 · 01-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joana

On my last trip I bought two small paintings in a gallery that is a few meters behind Casa Mediterranea on the left of that little ally.
In the same alley (which goes off fifth between 6th and 8th or 4th and 6th.....someone help me here..........the one where Casa Mediterranea is?) there are a number of galleries that sell amazing art.

Between 6th and 8th. The alley is between Bourbon Street and the Cubano cigar shop. Beautiful little alley!

CaroleLB · 01-10-2008

There is also a gallery, Celeste's work is there, on 14th between 5th and 10th (across from Hot Baking Co).

The easiest way to find the alley is head south on 5th, past the Burger King (8th), glance to your left and you will see a small, oval yellow sign for Casa Mediterranea (I think there's also a Banamex sign too).

btw, you really should enjoy a dinner at Casa Mediterranea too - my favorite restaurant in town. Their homemade spaghetti pomadoro is exquisite and the gnocchi are little pillows of fluffy lightness.

(oh my, gone off on a food tangent

)

Joana · 01-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by himynameisjan

I have one of those paintings as well Joanna. They are so beautiful, it was hard to pick only one.

I know! It took me a gazillion years to pick out the two pics I was buying for my parents- and I went for the smallest ones due to budget!!! Can't imagine how long I would have been "camping" there if I needn't worry about money.

It was funny- I spoke to the owner of the gallery, turns out he is German and from a town near Hamburg originally. He has adopted 12 (!) Mayan kids to give them the possibility to go to school etc.- some of them are in Germany.
The story of how he got to Playa was also interesting- so all in all it wasn't bad that I spent ages in that shop!

And Carole- not only the pasta was awesome but also the roastbeef carpaccio..... the thought of it still makes my mouth water!

psa24 · 01-10-2008

We've eaten at Casa Mediterranea about 6 or 7 times and neither one of us has had a bad dish yet. It is one of our favorites in town. I am starving right now and just thinking of their pasta/seafood dish is killing me.

Sol · 01-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joana

I know! It took me a gazillion years to pick out the two pics I was buying for my parents- and I went for the smallest ones due to budget!!! Can't imagine how long I would have been "camping" there if I needn't worry about money.

It was funny- I spoke to the owner of the gallery, turns out he is German and from a town near Hamburg originally. He has adopted 12 (!) Mayan kids to give them the possibility to go to school etc.- some of them are in Germany.
The story of how he got to Playa was also interesting- so all in all it wasn't bad that I spent ages in that shop!

And Carole- not only the pasta was awesome but also the roastbeef carpaccio..... the thought of it still makes my mouth water!

I am so glad that he re-opened his gallery. He had closed it for awhile. I have one painting that I bought from him a few years ago. There is a huge painting of a Mayan woman that we almost bought. I think we made a huge mistake not getting it because most of the paintings there are one-of-a-kind.
He's adopted twelve children?! Wonderful!!!

Joana · 01-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol

I am so glad that he re-opened his gallery. He had closed it for awhile. I have one painting that I bought from him a few years ago. There is a huge painting of a Mayan woman that we almost bought. I think we made a huge mistake not getting it because most of the paintings there are one-of-a-kind.
He's adopted twelve children?! Wonderful!!!

Yes- that was what his employee told me. He himself didn't boast about it or anything and just confirmed it when I asked him. I think that it is very awesome as well!

Sach · 01-10-2008

The same gallery has an abundant supply of Mexican jade, some beautiful stuff.

dianep · 01-10-2008

love all the art

Maverick69 · 01-10-2008

We bought some originals as well as prints our last trip. Couldn't be happier.I'm just sorry we couldn't bring back more.

01-10-2008	#1 (permalink)
kccooper toe in water Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 51	Art in Playa My wife and I have a tradition of purchasing some form of art from every place we travel to so we can have a trip memory other than just photos. Please help inform us about the local art scene in Playa. The biggest requirement is that it is created by a local and will remind us of our trip. It doesn't just have to be a painiting - pretty much any medium is ok and it can be very simple. We brought home a small handpainted ceramic "housefront" from Puerto Rico that just seemed appropriate. We try to find something that is fairly economical but it must have a local influence.

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01-10-2008	#3 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Paamul, Q Roo Mexico Posts: 10,372	Turtle Beach Art Calle 10 between 5th & 10th

01-10-2008	#4 (permalink)
Joana Niiiice!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The House of God Posts: 4,917	I second the idea to have a look at Celestes wonderful paintings. On my last trip I bought two small paintings in a gallery that is a few meters behind Casa Mediterranea on the left of that little ally. In the same alley (which goes off fifth between 6th and 8th or 4th and 6th.....someone help me here..........the one where Casa Mediterranea is?) there are a number of galleries that sell amazing art. The gallery I bought in only sells pictures that are painted by a Mayan community- all in very vibrant colours and showing scenes of their every day life (like a market, picking coffee etc.). The nice thing is that 80% of the sale go back to the community- so it is sort of a social project as well.

01-10-2008	#5 (permalink)
himynameisjan reposado Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mankato, Minnesota Posts: 1,398	I have one of those paintings as well Joanna. They are so beautiful, it was hard to pick only one.

01-10-2008	#7 (permalink)
CaroleLB Go Cougars! Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,945	There is also a gallery, Celeste's work is there, on 14th between 5th and 10th (across from Hot Baking Co). The easiest way to find the alley is head south on 5th, past the Burger King (8th), glance to your left and you will see a small, oval yellow sign for Casa Mediterranea (I think there's also a Banamex sign too). btw, you really should enjoy a dinner at Casa Mediterranea too - my favorite restaurant in town. Their homemade spaghetti pomadoro is exquisite and the gnocchi are little pillows of fluffy lightness. (oh my, gone off on a food tangent )

01-10-2008	#9 (permalink)
psa24 life=playa Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Delran, NJ Posts: 657	We've eaten at Casa Mediterranea about 6 or 7 times and neither one of us has had a bad dish yet. It is one of our favorites in town. I am starving right now and just thinking of their pasta/seafood dish is killing me.

01-10-2008	#12 (permalink)
Sach very sparkly Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 39	The same gallery has an abundant supply of Mexican jade, some beautiful stuff.

01-10-2008	#13 (permalink)
dianep very sparkly Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan Posts: 38	love all the art

01-10-2008	#14 (permalink)
Maverick69 añejo Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Regina, Sk , Canada Posts: 1,779	We bought some originals as well as prints our last trip. Couldn't be happier.I'm just sorry we couldn't bring back more.

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