RATING: ♦♦♦♦♦
Everywhere you look in Ajijic, there is color. The walls and doorways of restaurants and shops are vividly painted with scenes of Mexico. Even the sidewalks and light poles are decorated. There are many galleries where you can see artists at work, or stop by a booth at the Wednesday tianguis (street market) and request a special painting. The artists are happy to make whatever you want.
Many of the artists learned to paint at the Lake Chapala Society’s Children’s Art Program, which was started by Neill James* in 1954. For more than six decades, the program has produced many well-known local artists and has helped position Ajijic as a center for art. The legacy of this program can be seen in the lives and paintings of its many famous graduates whose murals now adorn public buildings and beautify villages in the area.
The art program continues to flourish today, through the support of the Lake Chapala Society and many dedicated volunteers. The program is free of charge, and all children are welcome. Fun fact: The skateboard park was repainted three times during the summer we spent in Ajijic, each time with a very different look. Light posts would be painted and repainted also. Maybe the artists practice their painting on the streets?
*See the Lake Chapala Society post for the amazing story of Neill James.
