Galeria Contempo Announces Meg Munro Opening

Expect to be dazzled by the bold, heartfelt authenticity of master watercolorist Meg Munro’s latest works, to be revealed at her upcoming Galeria Contempo show February 19. Nature’s infinite shifting shapes and plays of light shine through these new pieces in astounding precision as they have in all her paintings, because for this award-winning artist “it is not the subject, it’s the patterns and the light.”

A favorite with international collectors since 1995, she has called Puerto Vallarta home for 30 years. It was while perusing a booklet about the Virgin de Guadalupe—patron saint of both Mexico and Puerto Vallarta—that she was struck by how deeply the picture of another feminine Mexican saint resonated with her, triggering a spiritual impulse demanding expression.

“In all my work is the spark of the new work, which is now more polished, meaningful and constantly evolving. With a non-Catholic upbringing, painting religion icons into my work is truly an opening of my filters. Now, in my studies and my meditation I see her, so on a personal level it’s like a healing for me. I can feel the spark of divinity in and behind an image with a more inclusive judgment of what I think divinity is. Striving for wholeness, I am putting myself out there in my work, heart and soul.”

Munro captures the delightful nuances of familiar scenes and objects,breathing  fresh intrigue into each through a time-consuming process that begins with a photo, proceeds to a drawing and ultimately to a painting in a limited palette of six colors.  Employing a technique used by the old (oil paint) masters, known as grisaille, she under-paints her work in purple, which allows more variety in painting values – similar to the effect one achieves in stained glass work.

As a photo realist, she is faithful to replicating what the eye sees, but infuses her work with a charming fluidity that not only has viewers marveling at the accuracy of the representation, but also responding more emotionally to the subtext.  As she paints, Munro sees beyond the image, and personally connects with the energy implicit in the subject matter.  In a jungle-scape, for example, she experiences the vitality of the birds, plants, trees and flora/fauna within.

Galeria Contempo cordially invites you to meet this award winning watercolorist at her opening reception on February 19, from 6 pm to 10 pm. Galeria Contempo is located at Basilio Badillo 252, in Colonia Emiliano Zapata.