Art Is Increasingly At The Heart Of Rosarito Beach As Association Forms
ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA--- As the city’s newly elected administration works hard to improve the city, it hasn’t forgotten about the importance of arts and culture.
Mayor Hugo Torres, who took office in December, is a strong supporter of the arts and understands its importance to the community. Arts have always been a strong part of the Mexican culture the city should honor its heritage with special attention to this sector.
Rocio Hoffman was recently elected as president of the newly formed AMAR, the Association del Movimiento Artistico de Rosarito, the Artist Action Association of Rosarito. Rosarito Beach has a thriving artist colony, estimated to be about ten years old, with several hundred artists of different types living here now.
Some of them are full-time, making their living as an artist while others are part-time, doing other work to supplement their income while cultivating their craft and building a following. “The art community is definitely getting more organized and growing significantly each year,” said Hoffman.
“As for artists working in paint or plastic, we have at least seventy who make their living with their artwork,” Hoffman said. “And there are many composers, musicians and writers, probably four hundred now living in Rosarito,” she went on to say.
Hoffman’s goal as president of AMAR is to create the best artist community in Mexico and feels that Rosarito Beach has something that no other community in all of Mexico can offer: geographic location. To take advantage of that fact, she plans on having two big art festivals every year, each lasting two days and attracting thousands of American as well as Mexican tourists.
“Plans in are in the works to create an international art committee with San Diego which will raise awareness and give the community the recognition and respect that it deserves,” Hoffman stated.
In the community there are 12 major fine art galleries representing artists like Ugi, Juan Angel Castillo, Jorge Luna, Francisco Cabello, Miguel Nigera, Angel Valera, Manuel Lizarraga Garibaldi and David Silva, to mention just a few. These galleries all help to create a unique and wonderful artistic ambiance.
Condominium developments, which occupy much of the landscape now, are one of the best markets for art. New owners are investing in local artists for their new homes and at least one development features original art as part of the sales price.
Many of the art buyers from the US are shocked to see how inexpensive much of the artwork here is when compared to the prices they are used to seeing across the border, sometimes one-fifth the price, Hoffman said. They can purchase an original oil or acrylic for the cost of a limited edition litho in America.
“And here, people can get to know the artist much easier than other places; they are more receptive and open to allowing people to become a part of their lives,” says Hoffman who also does portraitures of both people, emphasizing on the eyes, and pets.
The city also has a cultural committee, headed by Luz Del Carmen Calderon, which is responsible for organizing concerts and other cultural events throughout the year.