Exciting New Developments at Peter Gray Art Museum

If you haven’t been to the Peter Gray Museum lately, now might be a good time to visit. The trees on the CUC campus are in full spring bloom, and the permanent collection of art was recently rearranged by curator Bill Megrail to provide better flow and visibility. There have also been additions to the art collection, plus significant improvements to the physical facilities and our administrative structure.

ART ACQUISITIONS -- We’ve added three major works of art in the past month:

1. Tapestry: The Museum was fortunate to be offered at a very attractive price the lead weaving from the Tapestry exhibition this past February. A number of our major donors chipped in to acquire the featured tapestry “Unfolding Knowledge II” by world renowned weavers Jean Pierre Larochette and Yael Lurie. It now hangs proudly and prominently in the Museum.

2. Barragan: Well known Puerto Vallarta naive painter Ramon Barragan is now represented in the museum through a generous donation of one of Ramon’s most recognized works of art “Detail from La Plaza”. The donation was made from the Gail and Frank Rudin Collection.

3. Paco: Frank “Paco” Rudin from the Genius of Paco Gallery also donated one of his masterful contemporary paintings.


PATRON BENCHES -- To enhance the viewing experience for museum visitors, four teak benches were purchased and placed at convenient intervals within the art collection. These benches are now available for “adoption” at a contribution level of 2,000 ps each. To adopt a bench, for which a recognition plaque will be attached, contact Buri Gray at 221 5285 or albans@pvnet.com.mx.

SUN SCREENS -- Bill Megrail assisted by Meg Munro’s husband Jorge installed cloth sun screens under the sky lights near the entrance to the museum. These screens will help to preserve art work placed in the hallway near the front of the museum. A special thanks to Sra. Gracia Olivares of Villas Maria in acquiring the screening material at a steep discount.

CHILDRENS PROGRAM -- We’re particularly excited to announce the startup of an art appreciation program for primary school children from less advantaged neighborhoods in PV. This has been one of our key priorities over the past two years. We’ve set up two initial sessions in May, under the competent direction of our own Meg Munro and Ada Colorina, both locally known artists who are well represented in collections both locally and around the world.

The program will consist of some time spent viewing the museum collection, with explanations by CUC staff plus Meg and Ada, followed by an art demonstration workshop with the kids getting hands on experience painting under Meg and Ada’s guidance, a visit to the adjacent reptile conservancy, and a lite lunch. The major advantage we see with this program is the encouragement of kids at an early age to appreciate art as a positive form of expression and enjoyment. Who knows, we may even help to plant seeds for a few of the kids to pursue hobbies if not careers in the arts. Our plan is to schedule additional art appreciation programs in the fall and throughout the 2011-12 school year.

ADMINISTRATION -- The museum has been approved as an Asociación Civil (A.C.). Our official name is “Patronato del Museo de Arte Peter Gray.”

The Museum’s Board (Patronato) has been expanded with the addition of two outstanding new members. Gail Rudin and Dr. Irv Readerman have joined the Board effective April 1. Gail brings considerable experience in public relations and marketing, and has served on the Board of the Whitney Museum in NYC for many years. Irv is not only a patron of the arts but an accomplished sculptor, working mostly with alabaster. Welcome to both!

We hope to see you at the Peter Gray Museum soon. The museum is located on the beautiful campus of Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUC) in the northern part of the city. To get there take Highway 200 North past the airport. Turn right at the roundabout just past Home Depot following the signs to the University. Travel approximately 2 kilometers east to the turnoff right to CUC. The entrance to CUC is on the right only about two blocks from the main highway. Park in the lot to the right as you enter the campus. Then simply walk a short distance through campus on the tree-lined main walkway to the museum, which is on the left near the reptile conservancy. If you think you may be lost, just ask any student for directions. The museum is open when the university is in session, from 10 am to 6 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast Comes to the Aid of Needy Boys

The Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast has visited our beautiful city many times over the past twenty years. She’s what one would call a happy return visitor. Their love affair with Puerto Vallarta is perhaps attributable to our many attractions for young sailors, the friendliness of our people, or maybe an exceptional climate, particularly for a ship home ported in Oregon. But it goes much deeper than that – to include a desire to assist less fortunate people in the ports they visit. That was certainly the case this past week, as more than 30 volunteer Steadfast sailors dedicated five hours of their liberty time to rehab the DIF Boys Shelter in Coapinole near El Pitillal. When you add in the 10 Navy Leaguers who assisted, more than 200 hours of labor were volunteered on behalf of this shelter.

Results were impressive. A good percentage of the extensive exterior and interior walls were scraped, sealed and repainted. Additionally, the roofs were cleaned and sealed against the coming summer rains, bathrooms were remodeled to eliminate old and rusty shower stalls, toilets were repaired, faucets and shower heads repaired or replaced, and the landscaping cleaned of debris.

DIF chipped in with the needed paint and plumbing supplies; the sailors offered their expertise and labor to get the job done.

One of the sailors said it best – “we do this because we enjoy helping people, particularly kids who are less fortunate than us.” The enthusiasm of the sailors was contagious, as they were joined in their work by some of the kids of the shelter, who particularly enjoyed wielding paint rollers.

But most of all they enjoyed being around young sailors, speaking a strange language, who were genuinely interested in showing them how to do their jobs. We should not be surprised if five to ten years into the future a few of these impressionable boys decided to enlist in the Mexican Armada. Our hats are off to Chief Caitland Cunningham, who led the volunteers, Commanding Officer CDR Matthew Walker and Executive Officer Chris German for turning out a work party that was near half the crew of 75. This is perhaps a record level of participation that may not be matched for years to come.

Following the work at the Boy’s Shelter, the volunteer sailors were treated to a seafood lunch at Mauricio’s Restaurant in Las Juntas, complements of the Navy League. In Navy terms, this was a way of expressing BRAVO ZULU (well done) for a job that was truly well done.

The three day port visit was kicked off with a cocktail/dinner reception at the home of Puerto Vallarta Navy League President Bill Clark. More than 40 officers and enlisted personnel joined by 15 Navy Leaguers enjoyed traditional Mexican fare and a wide variety of adult refreshments.

Lively conversations built comradeship and new friendships which carried over to the next two days. During the evening it was revealed that the Steadfast has an exceptional record for intercepting smuggled drugs from Central/South America. They sport a number of awards, the most impressive being one of only two ships to have captured more than one million pounds of marijuana.

The Steadfast was given the nickname “El Tiburon Blanco” or “White Shark” by Colombian drug cartels because of their great success in interdicting drugs headed north. While not loved by the druggies, Steadfast crew members take great pride in this nickname and use it on their t-shirts, stationery and just about every other item of ship merchandise.

Throughout the port visit the Steadfast opened up their ship to tours by Navy Leaguers and guests. Included were the residents of the Boys Shelter, who must have thought they were living the “Star Wars” dream. The kids were given a full tour under the watchful eyes of both male and female sailors, who gave the kids personal attention and tried to explain everything in easy to understand terms. A number of crew members happened to speak Spanish, so were able to get the kids talking and better understanding what they were seeing.

All in all, the Steadfast’s most recent visit to Puerto Vallarta was a huge success. The Navy League and Mexican Armada handled coordination matters with considerable skill, and the Steadfast crew was perhaps the most generous of any ships’ crew to visit Puerto Vallarta in the last ten years. We wish them well as they sail north to spend the warm months in the waters of Northwest U.S. including Alaska.

As background, the Navy League is dedicated to welcoming Navy and Coast Guard ships from all nations to the friendliest port city in Mexico, painting and repairing schools and other non-profit and public facilities, transporting donated medical supplies from the U.S. and Canada aboard visiting ships, and running the local Toys for Tots program.

Plus of course we have an active social program! To join this outstanding civic and charitable organization, contact President Bill Clark at 222 36 16, or clarkbill@earthlink.net. No prior military experience is required, only an interest in helping the less advantaged citizens of our region. Visit our website at www.vallartanavyleague.org.

Navy League Charreada Excites All Who Attended

Last month’s second annual Charreada (Rodeo) performance created considerable excitement and thrills while benefiting the local Navy League council and Toys for Tots. About 200 were in attendance, including 21 kids from Refugio Infantil de Santa Esperanza (RISE) under the sponsorship of generous Navy League members.

The charros put on a rousing performance, accompanied by the lively music of the “Nuevo Continental” mariachi band. Also performing was a “skirmish team,” or sidesaddle female riding group from nearby Bucerias. The professionalism and enthusiasm of all performers were clear to see, matched only by the warm reception of a very appreciative audience. We hope for a repeat performance in 2012. So those who missed out this year should definitely plan to attend next year. You won’t be disappointed.

Following the charro performance, a delicious Mexican luncheon was served to all under a beautiful blue sky.
The mariachis continued their excellent music throughout lunch and even coaxed a few guests to join in a conga line that snaked throughout the crowd. What a fitting end to a traditional Mexican fiesta.

We’d like to thank our generous donors for helping to make the event successful, including the Jalisco Governor’s Office, the Charro Association of Puerto Vallarta, Tequila Hacienda Vieja, the Bucerias Skirmish Team, and of course the site of the event – Lienzo Charro Miguel Prieto Ibarria Arena.

As background, the Navy League is dedicated to welcoming Navy ships from all nations to the friendliest port city in Mexico, painting and repairing schools and other non-profit and public facilities, transporting donated medical and school supplies from the U.S. and Canada aboard visiting Navy ships, and running the local Toys for Tots program.

To join this outstanding civic and charitable organization, contact President Bill Clark at 222 36 16 or clarkbill@earthlink.net.

No prior military experience is required, only an interest in helping the less advantaged citizens of our region.