Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Friday, March 7th from 6-10 pm, during this week's South Side Shuffle, a cocktail reception will open two special art exhibits at Galleria Dante, located at Basilio Badillo #269 in the heart of the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone.

Jorge Coste

Born in Cordoba, Veracruz in 1959, Jorge Coste received a degree in hydrobiology by UAM-I before taking classes in sculpture and ceramic and obtaining a diploma of plastic arts from the Helenic Cultural Center. His work was exhibited for the first time in 1983, and he has since participated in 19 individual exhibits and 55 collective exhibits. His work is collected in the US, Canada, France, Spain, Israel, Japan and, of course, Mexico.

Coste uses his work as a positive invitation for the spectator to reflect on all the good things that exist in the world that we sometimes forget to enjoy. He chooses to deliver his message by giving life to an object, a subject, or the sentiment of the situation by using lines, geometry and volume to create forms within this paintings and sculptures. He allows his imagination free reign, letting inspiration come to life by providing strength and movement to material and making it susceptible to molding.

Although most of his pieces are bronze, he also works in clay, concrete, fiberglass, wood and different types of resins and will even combine these with other materials like crystal, marble and bronze to convey a single idea. In general, Coste expresses himself through four basic themes: marine fauna; horses and bulls; human figure in motion; and stylized minimalist figures. Many of his new resin works tell a story in the painted collage of memories that are depicted on each sculpture.

Jorge Coste’s work is currently available in 10 galleries around Mexico and one in the US.

Luis Castellanos Valui

Born in Guadalajara in 1955, Luis Castellanos Valui is a painter who infuses his Latin American roots with the traditions of tropical jazz and cafe culture. Valui loves to paint people and animals alike - crabs, parrots, lions and tigers show up frequently in his paintings. Musicians and dancers also recur frequently, and their heat and energy are palpable. "We say in Mexico, when you are a musician who is very..." he says rolling his hand in the air, "... very talented, very into it, we say, 'tiene duende', he has it in his blood, in his soul."

Valui paints in oil as well as watercolor. His paintings make you smile and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. He is a painter of our senses. His images are rhythmic, coming to life and making the observer want to dance, to sing, to dream, to love. His paintings are fresh, luminous and definitely tropical. They are full of humor and saturated with color and light.

After studying for two years at the Fine Arts University in Guadalajara, Valui moved to Mexico City at the age of 20 to study at the "Esmeralda" school. He restored Colonial and pre-Hispanic art for 4 years at the request of the Mexican government before establishing himself in the Bohemian community of Tepoztlan, Morelos, a small village south of Mexico City. It was there he began his formal career as a painter. In 1986, he had his first individual exhibition at the prestigious OMR Gallery in Mexico City. Today, his works are in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Institute, Capitol Records, Atlas and Mambo Restaurants, Go West Productions, Televisa, Ripstein Collection and Univision.

Upcoming Galleria Dante Art Openings:

March 21st - Juana Cortez and Oscar Solis
April 4th - Enrique Loza and Patricia Garcia

While you are there, be sure to check out Di Vino Dante Wine & Tapas Bar, a new addition to the old hacienda that houses Galleria Dante and the gallery's sculpture garden. The brainchild of Joe and Claire's daughter, Gena Guarniere, Di Vino Dante focuses primarily on Mexican Wine, and Gena is enthusiastic about introducing people to, and educating them on, these fine wines. This chic wine and tapas bar is open Monday through Saturday from 4:00 to 11:00 pm.

Open Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm, Galeria Dante is located at Basilio Badillo #269 in Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone. For more information, call (322) 222-2477, or send an email to info(at)galleriadante.com.

Click HERE to learn more about Galleria Dante.