“Pico de Gallo” Pop Up Exhibit by John Hillmer || Casa de la Noche/Bordello Galeria

Pico de Gallo
Paintings and prints by John Hillmer

Sat., Nov. 16, Noon-6 p.m. / Sun., Nov. 17, Noon-5 p.m.

Bordello Galeria Courtyard / Organos #19, Centro SMA

johnhillmer.com

By Kristen Fry

John Hillmer returns to the Bordello Galeria with a pop up exhibit of paintings and prints entitled “Pico de Gallo” a salsa-like mix that celebrates the grand salsa which is Mexico.

Recently Hillmer returned from a trip to the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Africa. “What I learn when I travel is that life itself is a trip. Every single day. And the most important ingredient is gratitude. Of course other ingredients play a part, too. Like who do you meet and what kind of conversations are you having? How are you feeling? Where do you go? What do you see? Perhaps it’s a bit like making a good pico de gallo? How fresh, chunky, or spicy is it? And who is chopping up all these ingredients anyway?”

Pico de Gallo, literally “rooster’s beak”, is also something of a global wake up call. Everyone knows the world is in a state. Will the planet eventually give everyone the boot or will humanity soon rise to the occasion and actually make real changes to a recipe that seriously needs some new ingredients? And can art help?

In this show Hillmer brings old, new, borrowed, and blue buddhas in hopes to inspire, engage, delight. “Playing is a very important thing,” he says, “where would musicians and children be without it? I think that goes for everyone. My work is very playful, but it’s really about working through, as joyfully as possible, a world that’s also loaded with sorrow.”

Hillmer’s work has historically been a big mix of tasty ingredients. His large stage murals have accompanied Ray Charles, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Maya Angelou, and many others. His art and design work has been used to celebrate more than 50 art, music, and community events throughout North America. He’s also worked as a teacher with kids of all ages, including creative high schoolers at the American School Foundation of Guadalajara.

Today Hillmer lives part time in another pueblo magico not far away—Tequisquiapan, Queretaro— and has opened there, along with a seasoned German silver jeweler, a gallery called Studio Quixote. He invites everyone to come over on a weekend and stroll the lovely plaza and ponder art and life in the very center of Mexico.

For now, we’ll see you this weekend on Organos in Centro—in the lovely, light-filled Bordello Galeria courtyard. ¡Andale!