Locals in Baja California call Tecate el pueblo magico. Nestled beneath the awesome Mount Cuchumá, sacred to the Kumeyaay, Tecate embraces the visitor with her quiet tranquility.

A new exhibition of paintings by Tecate native Sayllí Salazar Gil--opening Friday, September 5 at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Tecate--draws upon the magical power of this ancient, sacred space.

Titled "Mitocosmos," the work in this show speaks of universal roots, human beings and the astral body, universal, cosmic knowledge and wisdom, and the transmutación of life.

Sayllí Salazar Gil, native of Tecate, studied for seven years in the studio of Alvaro Blancarte in Tecate and Tijuana. In her paintings--both watercolors and acrylics--Salazar Gil notes that she is not as rooted in the abstract as Blancarte, but rather, uses abstract and surrealist composition to express the figurative, developing themes of the animals, plants, the mountains of Baja California.

Salazar Gil speaks of opening herself to the natural world, weaving a telaraña cosmica that, like a dreamcatcher, absorbs ancient stories, the mythological, dreams and hidden or repressed knowledges that we have been alienated from in our modern world of machines.

Like many contemporary artists and experimental musicians of this generation, Salazar Gil works with the "accidental" to let go and let the work develop. "With manchas (random stains on the page) you can always make a figure," she explains.

This process of creation through serendipity and accidental inspiration has been embraced in recent years. But in fact, the "fortunate accident" is an insight that goes back to the great masters of Renaissance painting. Leonardo da Vinci encouraged young artists to walk away from the blank canvas and turn instead to the marks and imperfections in the plaster walls for shapes, forms and inspiration.

And the paintings speak to this cosmic energy. Strong forms and give the compositions center and balance while fine line and detail draw the viewers close for deeper examination.

Come on out to Tecate and feel the magic!

Opening Date: Friday, Sept 5

7:00 PM

Autonomous University of Baja California, Tecate

School of Arts, Gallery Space North

Calzada Universidad # 1, Fraccionamiento San Fernando

Tecate, Baja California 21460

MEXICO

For driving directions, click here

For information on the gallery hours, contact Marco Polo Navarro

+52-665-654-2606

jill.holslin@sandiegored.com