ART & CULTURE

SceneArt

VIBRANT COLORS, ALLURING ARCHITECTURE, AND SCENIC LANDSCAPES INSPIRE BAJA’S FLOURISHING ART COMMUNITY.

Poised at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, Los Cabos is a cultural canvas painted by the Guaycura and Chochimis Indian tribes, Spanish conquistadors, treasure-seeking pirates, and Jesuit missionaries. Packed with beauty and culture, the region welcomes art aficionados with open arms. Here you can lose yourself in the enthralling history as it is reimagined in a thriving artistic community.

CULTURAL CENTER

A bit of insight into Baja’s history will show the region was quiet in the period between Hernán Cortés’ first expedition in 1535 and the establishment of Misión San José del

Cabo Anuiti in 1730, under the direction of Jesuit Nicolas Tamaral and the Spanish Crown missionaries. Fast-forward three centuries, and Iglesia de San José church, perched on the site of the former mission in the heart of town, has achieved landmark status for its bell towers, traditional art, and colorful mosaics. The revered place of worship continues to navigate its intended path with daily mass.

By Dawna L. Robertson

Tucked into whitewashed colonial structures behind the church, the San José del Cabo Gallery District has evolved from modest beginnings into an artist’s mecca. Invest in pottery shaped, polished, and painted entirely by hand by Mata Ortiz. Or score intricately beaded artworks crafted by the Sierra Madre–dwelling Huichol Indians from Nayarit and Jalisco, and Neo-Zapotec hand-painted woodcarvings from Oaxaca.

The galleries in San José del Cabo offer an impressive variety of artistic treasures. Among the high-end studios displaying original paintings and sculptures, Galería de Ida Victoria flaunts an eclectic collection from

more than 20 established and emerging North American talents. Discover intriguing works by Alfredo Romera, Angel Velasco, Charles Barth, Brooke Anderson, Ignacio Guerrero, Lorena Becerra, Nancy Brazil, and Trisha Oldfield.

Considered a “living master,” painter and sculptor Frank Arnold welcomes admirers to peruse his gallery and working studio, brimming with abstract works. Across the cobblestone street, a dramatic sculpture

RUB SHOULDERS WITH ACCOMPLISHED CREATORS ON HAND TO CHAT ABOUT THEIR PIECES AS MARIACHI AND ROCK BANDS CONVERGE ON THE STREET.

garden invites you to stroll amid a growing collection of Arnold’s sculptures and offers open space for special events.

From November through June, the district’s popular Thursday Art Walk spotlights Galería de Ida Victoria, Frank Arnold Gallery, and others, exhibiting a full scope of genres and mediums. Rub shoulders with accomplished creators on hand to chat about their pieces as mariachi and rock bands converge on the street. Eateries chime in with culinary magic like mole tamales, best consumed with a handcrafted margarita or artisanal mezcal.

IMAGINATIVE ALTERNATIVES

The Los Cabos International Film Festival

resumed its place in the Baja art scene last year following the shutdown, and it is slated for November 2023. This highly anticipated event welcomed back cinema lovers for a weekend

of intriguing exhibits and discussion panels.

Many of the area’s resorts also boast impressive art collections and exhibits. Beyond its architectural brilliance, Viceroy Los Cabos immerses guests in cinematic experiences around every turn. A new gallery will open its doors with a boldly curated collection of works by emerging international talents. The upcoming Artist in Residence program will complement unique experiences with awakened senses for guests and locals alike. Try an immersive painting class led by local artists while viewing collections that showcase the culture of Los Cabos.

THE MAGICAL TOWN OF TODOS SANTOS

The laid-back hamlet of San José del Cabo

and the artistic community of Todos Santos serve as bookends to the high-energy vacation buzz of Cabos San Lucas. Founded as a mission a decade before San José

del Cabo, the Pacific Coast colonial town remained isolated until it boomed in the late

1800s as the sugarcane trade swept through. When underground springs dried up, so did its agricultural appeal until the early 1980s, when a two-lane highway and flowing springs ushered in a new era as a sanctuary for bohemians, ex-pats, and artists.

While cruising through the colony, visitors gravitate to the Our Lady of Pilar (Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Pilar), a religious relic dating back to 1733. Former haciendas, artisan shops, artist-operated galleries, and charming restaurants emerge from the nooks and crannies of whitewashed buildings.

In 2006, the Mexican government recognized the town’s preservation of authentic history and artistic charm when granting it Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) status that nods to its “impressive rural and cultural characteristics.”

At Todos Santos Centro Cultural, an old schoolhouse turned museum, local artifacts are on display; and murals painted by socialist students emulating their compatriots Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera decorate the walls.

Music and art lovers unite at several events

throughout the year, including the Todos Santos Open Studio Tour each February, where attendees can meet artists in their

studios to purchase their work and gain insight into the heart and soul of each artist.

Nearly every season, a new artist is added to the already-impressive collection, which includes works by Diaz Castro, Nikki King, Jennifer Lindberg, Vincent Lamote, Robert E. Wood, Anibal Angulo, Angie Cimino, Peter Cole, Anne Hebebrand, Peter Holden, Francisco Merino, Erick Ochoa, Gloria Santoyo Ruenitz, and Antonio Viveros, among others.

DateSavethe

Imagine diving right into the seasons, events, and celebrations that make Los Cabos an unparalleled destination and then make those fantasies reality. This is no ordinary bucket-list stop. This is the stuff of dreams and enviable social media accounts. Make your way to a place where documentaries are filmed, a location where movies are recorded, a sanctuary for celebrities to find refuge, an ethereal space between cactus blooms and crashing waves. Find yourself where the desert meets the sea.

ART & CULTURE

FIESTAS TRADICIONALES SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO

MARCH

SCUBA DIVING

CONDITIONS ARE IDEAL IN THE SEA OF CORTÉS

SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER

INDEPENDENCE DAY

SEPTEMBER 16

WIND-RELATED ACTIVITIES

NOVEMBER–MARCH

FIESTAS TRADICIONALES

CABO SAN LUCAS

OCTOBER

SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO

RESTAURANT WEEK

SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO ART

WALKS NOVEMBER–JUNE

SURFING SEASON IN THE

PACIFIC OCEAN

NOVEMBER–APRIL

NATURAL WONDERS

SEA TURTLE

NESTING SEASON

JULY–DECEMBER

NEW YEARS EVE FIREWORKS ON MÉDANO BEACH

DECEMBER 31

ADRENALINE RUSH

SURFING SEASON IN THE SEA OF CORTÉS BIRD NESTING SEASON IN THE SAN JOSÉ

DEL CABO ESTUARY

AUGUST–FEBRUARY

WHALE SHARK

MIGRATIONS CAN BE

SEEN IN LA PAZ ORGANIC MARKET

NOVEMBER–MAY

WHALE MIGRATIONS

CAN BE SEEN FROM

LOS CABOS GOOD TO KNOW

Los Cabos hosts countless festivals, concerts, and sporting events. Go to visitloscabos.travel/events to find out exactly what is happening during your trip!