Last night I had the opportunity to attend an Art Gallery opening in San Pedro Sula and it was amazing.
To begin with, I didn’t know things like this even EXISTED here. However, about a month and a half ago I was sitting in Popeye’s chicken – yes, they have those here and the only reason I went in was for the air conditioning – with a bunch of friends from church. Everyone was talking in spanish and I didn’t understand anything so I was daydreaming. Next thing I knew, I heard the guys sitting at the table next to me speaking English. I got really excited and mustered up the courage to talk to them to find out where they were from and hope that they didn’t think I was ‘weird’. Turns out, one was from Canada and the rest were locals from San Pedro. They were all covered in paint looking very ‘artistic’ so I asked them what they were doing and they told me they had just finished painting a giant mural in the city… for fun. They are all painters. Well, one’s a photographer and the rest are painters. So I was really excited to have met them and we exchanged info and have kept in touch through facebook.
I have been impressed by these guys because they are passionate about what they do and they love their city and their country. They use their gifts and talents to beautify this city – which most days is not a happy, pretty place. Every part of them longs to paint and to share it with others and so they are always looking for blank canvases = cement walls, to fill with color and art. How COOL is that!!? There is a fire and a light inside them that I haven’t seen in many people – this deep desire to go out and do what makes them come alive. They inspire me.
Anyway, last night was the opening of their art gallery along with some other artists. I was able to stop by with some friends just for a little bit and I’m SO glad we did. An otherwise ‘normal’ scene in the US… it was not at all a ‘normal’ scene here in San Pedro so I was thrilled. There was a seating area outside the gallery where people were sitting and mingling while a gentleman played the guitar and sang (and he was really good) and then we went inside the gallery to view the incredibly beautiful paintings and works of art while servers came around and served wine and appetizers. WHAT?! Again, this doesn’t happen in San Pedro! Or if it does… I didn’t know about it! I got to talk for a bit with Rei Blinky, Baruc Selim , and Carlos Badia and to be honest, I didn’t want leave! It was great and I wish that I could’ve purchased all of the paintings to take them home with me! You can check out the facebook page for GALA Galeria de Arte HERE.
I snapped a few photos – check them out below.
