By Wendy Huntington

 

Nine member artists of the newly formed Galería Obraje@Muro are partnering with Feed the Hungry San Miguel, an organization dedicated to alleviating hunger and improving the well-being of children in our community. Each of the artists will sell selected works of art with 100 percent of the revenue going directly to Feed the Hungry San Miguel. The artworks are priced accordingly to encourage donations to a much needed cause.

 

All of the works can be seen and purchased through PayPal at www.galeriaobraje.com. The process is simple, and the entirety of your payment becomes your direct donation to Feed the Hungry.

 

Earlier this year, Gerardo Arteaga and Carlos Muro, the owners of Cafe MuRo, generously offered the entire second floor of their popular restaurant for use as a permanent gallery to showcase artists in the community. The gallery was to have opened its inaugural exhibition in April, but the exhibition was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Cafe MuRo closed its doors temporarily. Now Cafe MuRo has reopened, and a virtual inaugural exhibition will be announced soon.

 

In operation since 1984, Feed the Hungry San Miguel delivers more than 5,000 hot, nutritious meals in 36 communities and seven local charity organizations each school day. The organization has also worked to ensure there is clean water for drinking and cooking in communities at risk.

 

When the schools and kitchens were forced to close due to the pandemic, Feed the Hungry was able to quickly pivot and is now spending US$66,000 every two weeks and distributing 40,000 pounds of food to nearly 20,000 people including the elderly and the disabled. Donations received by Feed the Hungry through the sales of artwork will go directly to the purchase of food for these struggling communities.

 

The art selection ranges widely in medium, subject matter, and style. Carlos Muro is a photographer of striking black-and-white images, as well as a painter. 

 

William Whittle is a painter of expressive linear portraits. He also creates acrylic and mixed media still lifes and landscapes. 

 

Susanna Turino is an oil painter who creates up-close images of botanical subjects as well as landscapes.

 

Al Skaar is a plein air landscape painter who captures the effects of natural light. He also portrays various studio motifs and views of Mexican street life. 

 

Lorie Topinka creates landscapes in both watercolor and pastels, often drawn from rural Mexico.

 

Bill Morrow creates detailed images in both watercolor and graphite.

 

Linda Whynman is a watercolorist whose work includes picturesque ruins, beach and street scenes, and colorful images of mojigangas. 

 

Richard Huntington is a painter and printmaker who combines popular culture depictions with imagery borrowed from art history. 

 

Wendy Huntington is a documentary and street photographer who captures enigmatic figure, nature, and situational subjects.

 

For more information or to make a donation to Feed the Hungry by purchasing artwork, please visit www.galeriaobraje.com.