Travel & Art

Hotels all over the world are incorporating Art into the hotel experience, and Argentina is no exception. Some time ago I posted about James Turrell and the Hess family collection at Estancia Colomé, in Argentina's North West. Today, I invite you to see another beautiful property: El Casco Art Hotel in Patagonia. A place where art and nature meet design and comfort creating a unique setting for an extraordinary experience.

From the moment you walk into El Casco, you are inspired and stunned by gorgeous views and magnificent paintings from outstanding, Argentinian artists like Soldi, Quniquela, Campos, etc.

One could say El Casco is a classic. Although little remains from the original building, the hotel has been around since the 70's. It was then that an aristocratic German couple built the lake-side property which soon became the IT spot for well-healed South Americans and international travelers with a special love and interest for the far lands of Patagonia.

The hotel was eventually closed for many years, until Ignacio Gutiérrez Zaldívar - art collector and world promoter of Argentinian art, bought the property and turned it into what is undoubtedly, one of South America's most beautiful art hotels. El Casco Art hotel was reborn in 2006.

Each suite homes art works from a different artist bearing his or her name. Surrounding gardens are decorated with sculptures, and public spaces are filled with splendid paintings and books. Even the restaurant, with it's majestic views serves dishes worth a frame!

For more information, get in touch with one of our luxury travel experts.

Colon Theater to reopen

Last night, construction workers, arquitects, artisans and other people who
worked in the restoring of the theater, participated in a special function. It
was the first concert there since restoration began. According to the experts,
the superb quality of acoustics of the theater remains as always.

Restoration of the stunning theater began just before 2002. A little over
$25 million USD and almost 8 years later the Colon theater - considered
one of the best five opera houses in the world, is about to officially reopen.

Argentina's Colon Theater, which rivals Old World opera houses in splendor
and sound quality, has hosted international legends such as Maria Callas,
Richard Strauss and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The 2,487-seat Colon is located in the heart of Buenos Aires and it
is central to Argentina's European cultural identity.

Mountain Hideaway

The Mapuche word "Araucana" in local native language stands for
"woman of the earth". La Araucana lies in the solitude of
Patagonia's rolling hills, next to the sweeping melody of a
stream and amid the silence of the trees, only 7 km away from the
Andean town of San Martín de los Andes.










































































For more information on luxury vacation rentals in Argentina and Uruguay, visit: Curiocity Villas

Futuristas in La Boca

Proa presents the Futurist Universe. 1909 - 1936, a historic exhibition with more than 240 works from the Modern Art Museum of Trento and Rovereto (MART) curated by MART'S Director, Gabriella Belli.

The exhibition reveals the creative passion of the futurism movement that originated in Italy in the early twentieth century. A movement that was founded by the poet Fillippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909. A new vision of the world which serves novelty, ignores the past and admires technology, speed and industrial cities.

- What? Music, Photography, Paintings, Fashion, Objects, etc. from this revolutionary movement.
- Where? Fundacion PROA - Av. Pedro de Mendoza 1929. La Boca, Caminito
- When? April - July 2010

See more: Fundacion Proa
Photos borrowed from Proa.

Getaway

Buenos Aires is a beautiful city. With it's mad traffic, crowded streets, loudness, French-style cafés, parks filled with Jacarandá trees, exciting nightlife, art scene, architecture, grand avenues, city polo fields... there is everything to love about it.
What I also love is how easy it is to get away and enjoy some slow time. I usually go to Punta del Este or Patagonia, where I am a completely happy person. But, there are also beautiful hideaways within a close distance from the city that are ideal to go unwind, play polo and enjoy nature. Estancia El Rocio, owned by my friend Patricio is an example.

Fuerza Bruta

Fuerzabruta, an original production from the Argentinian creators of the hit De La Guarda, is back in Buenos Aires!
Breaking free from the convention of spoken language in theater, Fuerzabruta is an event where physical performances - some of which take place in waterly worlds just above us, speak a universal language. The language of emotions!!
A trip of exciting images and sounds.
Where? Centro Cultural Recoleta SALA VILLA VILLA - Junín 1930
When? April. Tuesdays through Saturdays at 9:00pm.

Photo from La Nacion

Friends

Saw this photo in a mag and it made me think of my close friends and I, so I drew it - making some changes, and adding one more to the group!! Guess which one I am?

Argentina helps Chile with a charity concert

This afternoon, some of the greatest Argentinian artists - including Gustavo Cerati, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Andres Calamaro, Luis Alberto Spinetta, etc. will offer a charity concert (ARGENTINA HUGS CHILE), to assist the victims of the earthquake in our neighbor country.
The concert is free, so everyone is asked to contribute with clothes, mineral water, UHT milk, and medicines, etc. Products will later be delivered to the victims, by Red Solidaria.

Where: at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta y La Pampa
When: from 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Easter travel ideas

The Atacama desert in Chile (the driest desert in the world) is one of the most amazing places I've ever been in. It's not only the dramatic landscapes composed of sand dunes, caves, and salt flats, the beautiful towns and people, or the sky full of stars and sunsets which make it so special, but the energy there is truly hard to describe!! To stay: Tierra (photos) and Awasi. In Santiago, the W hotel.


















































The far-flung, romantic Lake District, has some of most stunning views of lakes, mountains and forests in the world!! it's also a paradise for people who love combining good rest and that special contact with nature: rafting, horseback riding, biking, sailing, etc. My favorite thing is to stay in place like Arroyo Verde, on the countryside and enjoy the beauty of nature and home comfort. Here's my second pick for Easter: Patagonia!! I love you!!!

Eyes wide open

iLOVE

The art of Tigre

Tigre is not only about blissful boat rides, kayaking, river-side markets and island retreats, there's also MAT - The Tigre Art Museum (ex-Tigre Club, built in 1912 and reopened as a museum in 2006). Displayed are figurative paintings from Argentinian artists that date from the late 19th century through the 20th century... check out Pellegrini, Spilimbergo, Butler, Castagnino and Roux.

Stay tuned for new and exciting temporary exhibitions.

GOTA have water!

Gota comes from Argentina's Esteros del Ibera, the second biggest wetland of the world, after the Brazilian Pantanal. The name Iberá comes from a Guaraní word that means "brilliant water". The Guaraní Aquifer is estimated to contain about 37,000 km³ of water, arguably the largest single body of groundwater in the world, with a total recharge rate of about 166 km³/year from precipitation.

Faithful to its motto, “Be true. Feel Beautiful. Do Good”, Gota intends to raise consciousness and contribute to the vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. The brand allocates part of its revenues to finance programs that facilitate access and potabilization for those who need it most in Argentina and other parts of the world.

Gota's packaging respects premises of environmental care and recycling. All the packaging components are 100% recyclable and come from the pharmaceutical industry.

And just a comment re water: with the significant water reserves in Argentina, one has to wonder how there are 297.232 people in Argentina's cuenca Matanza-Riachuelo who do not have access to drinking water.  I know, it doesn't make any sense. 

El Secreto de Sus Ojos - Film

El Secreto de sus Ojos (The secret of your Eyes) from Argentina, goes to the Oscars!! nominated as best foreign film!

I am so excited that this film did so well. Honestly, when I saw it I was quite surprised. The film is brilliant! it evokes all sorts of emotions from start to end, you feel sadness, love, fear, excitement, and curiosity. It's brave and mysterious, It's romantic... touching subjects like friendship, alcoholism and obsessions, with care and sensibility. Plays with your expectations. Truly a work of art.

Once again, Campanella's has done an amazing job! this is his second nomination for the Oscars. In 2001 he competed for the prize with “El hijo de la novia”

Regarding Argentine cinema this is the seventh film that has been nominated. The first was La Tregua in 1974, and the only winner was La historia oficial in 1985.

Bravo!!

Pretty Space

A friend recently posted a photo of her parents commenting that they've been married for something like 35 years. I asked her to ask her parents: "what's the secret"? she got back to me a few days later and said: "they told me separate bathrooms" .  

Photographed: El Colibrí, La Teta y La Luna, Mio, Casa Calma

In Mendoza, Art & Environmental commitment

Familia Zuccardi's Cava de Arte is currently presenting “Tierra” (Earth), the latest work by Mendocinean artist, Fernando Jereb. The show is an invitation to become aware of - and perhaps reflect upon - crucial issues such as the impact of global warming and the earth's natural resources crisis.

Fernando Jereb has presented his work in several cities of Argentina, Chile, México and Spain and has obtained many prizes in our country as well as in Europe.

In his work, nature is presented in it's various manifestations, showing a particular concern on climate change, and the importance of finding a balance between our needs, what the earth gives us, gratitude and care.

-> When? Now!! it's only until Februray 2010, every day, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
-> Where ? La Cava de Arte de Casa del Visitante - Ruta Provincial 33, km 7,5, Maipú, Mendoza.

About la Cava del Arte: Since 2004, la Cava de Arte de Casa del Visitante dedicates a large space for the exposition of Mendocienan art, providing local, upcoming artists the opportunity to present their work to people from all over the world.

More than 50.000 people visit Casa del visitante per year to enjoy it's wide range of offers in wine, art and gastronomy. Thumbs up!!

Exhibitions

For this new edition of Art in the Auditorium (subsequent to its presentation on March of 2009), Fundación PROA has embarked again in a collaborative project organized by the Whitechapel Gallery, featuring artists such as Charly Nijensohn.

Nijensohn's last video creates an experience that points to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the environment by global commercial interests.

Charly Nijensohn lives and works in Berlin.

- > When? 21 January - 18 April 2010
- > Where? Fundacion Proa, Buenos Aires / Whitechapel Gallery, London.


Image from Artrabbit

Summer in the city

Jardín Botánico, Buenos Aires.


Buenos Aires is one of the few cities in the world, aside from Paris and Madrid, where half the people take a month or two off from work. This turns the city which is usually chaotic and loud, into a lazy and glorious sauna.

It is steaming hot and calm.

During January and February the city is completely yours. No crowds, no lines. You can cruise through BA without the annoying traffic, show up at your favorite restaurants with no reservations, go to Malba museum and have a delightful lunch, go to the gardens of Duhau for a chilled rosé, go shopping, grab a bike and glide through the green parks of Palermo, hang out by the pool, read, people-watch at a sidewalk cafe. The city is clean, quiet,uneventful, and beautiful.

Happy New Year

Sorry I've been away for a little bit, I was on a short beach break in Jose Ignacio. I wish you a great 2010, with much love! thanks for all the love.