Celebrating Javier Niño
Heavy rain this morning; odd timing, but whatever it takes to fill our rivers and aquifers. I wish we could (would) capture it and use it later.
Last weekend, a downpour didn’t deter friends from attending the City of Vallarta’s public recognition of Pata Salada painter Javier Niño Close to a hundred of us flanked the soaking-wet courtyard/patio of the Presidencia, the old City Hall just off the Malecon, downtown.
The requisite speeches by City officials, photo ops, and the unveiling of Javier’s latest triptych, a fantasy of local flora and fauna mixed with the history of his beloved Vallarta, preceded tres leches cake and wine.
Each of us received a laminated bookmark as a remembrance of this fitting tribute to one of Vallarta’s finest artists.
When Javier was a child, one of his neighbors handed him three tubes of paint and sent him off to go and play. That neighbor was none other than the legendary naïf painter, Manuel Lepe!
I have known Javier for more than 30 years and was so delighted when he married Nathalie Herling a year and a half ago in April. Nathalie is the founder and director of the Arte Vallarta Museo, truly a match made in heaven!
The next day, on September 06, the Arte Vallarta Museo had its regular First Saturday Fiesta and combined it with Javier’s 75th birthday celebrations. The lovely mango tarts – instead of a birthday cake – were made from the fruit of the mango trees in the courtyard of the museum.
We all had the pleasure of listening to Diego Arreola Gonzalez sing and play guitar. You may remember Diego from Incanto days when his band, the Red Suitcases, used to perform. He has been seriously studying voice, and the results are incredible! He aced Freddy Mercury’s range and sang ”Time to Say Goodbye,” a la Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, but in Spanish, and fairly flew over the notes with power mixed with sweetness – an often hard-to-come-by combination. Diego is available to entertain your birthday guests or at any other event. We were all very impressed with young Diego; find him and book him on Facebook!
Another aficionado of Diego, who also has some pipes, is Armando Mafud, an extraordinary clothing designer, born in Oaxaca to Syrian parents. We had some laughs with Sandra Bradley, who is always my date for the Museo! Be sure to visit Armando’s shop on Venustiano Carranza, and be prepared to be amazed at his creations – each one a dedication to Mexican artisans and history. I hope Nathalie will have another fashion show, featuring Mafud’s extravagant and beautiful designs.
Back briefly to Javier Niño and Nathalie Herling. After being at the Museo with their guests for hours, the couple went home with their dog, Blanquita, packed and flew away on Sunday to Argentina to celebrate Javi’s 75th with, perhaps, a bit of Tango and some fine Argentine empanadas.