THE SERPENT MURAL in progress, West Ajijic,Mexico

     Last year the village of Ajijic built a retaining wall on the main highway directly across from us. They were happy when I agreed to paint a mural on it. (My expense, of course.)  The wall is 4 feet tall and a block long. I took a sabbatical from writing   Max Bird of Aztec Studios  in March to accomplish  this. This mural reflects the work we do in our painting and weaving studios.  It re-creates the tapestries we weave on our Spanish colonial looms in a more lineal form.  Intertwined among undulating serpents are the monkey god, running possum, crocodile that inhabited the bottom of Lake Texcoco in Aztec times-- and a baby eagle.  You Tube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwVd8CGt_Z0

     I have taken photos of my original to scale drawings and a duplicate pattern painted in color which my painter used as reference in painting the wall. Last week, as the painters were putting the final touches on the mural, I walked along beside it filming with my digital camera. 

     The mural was painted by a sign painter from Chapala, Abel Rivera.  He is an artist in his own right, and if you are interested in painting a mural he can make a pencil sketch from your photos. His telephone # is 331-362-8916.  Our gallery is open Thursday and Friday. If you would like his business card, or want to contact him and don’t speak Spanish we would be happy to help you.

This is a continuation of janicekimballtapestries.blogspot.com and maxbirdstales.blogspot.mx combined.

Janice Kimball's Aztec Studios in Ajijic, Mexico

 Sales of original weavings and Janice's paintings.

This is the view from the entrance facing the street--after passing through the garden you come to the weaving and workrooms, then the gallery, now professionally lit. Off the garden is an outside stairway leading to the "great room," that also serves as another gallery.  A beautiful view of the mountains can be seen from the front terrace and off the back veranda is a view of the lake with a stairway leading to the mirador (widow's watch) for an unobstructed 365 degree view of the whole world.