Amigos de San Cristobal invites you to visit us in the highlands of southern Mexico as we assist you in hosting your group of dedicated artists for a week of plein air painting, fascinating workshops, the unique cuisine of Chiapas, and a series of hospitable gatherings in San Cristobal de Las Casas. This Spanish colonial town was founded in 1528, elevated as one of three Royal Cities in Mexico by Charles V, and awarded a Bishop’s seat by Pope Paul III in 1538. It is nestled in a pine-fringed valley of the Sierra Madre Mountains and is a remarkably-preserved architectural jewel.
Your group will lodge and breakfast in historic buildings that have been given new life as small hotels and guest houses. Each morning, you may lead a workshop in a secluded patio as your students compose a still life with tropical fruits and flowers, or we’ll assist in selecting an appropriate street corner where plein air painters can set up their easels and capture colorfully-attired Maya who come daily to market their crafts and produce, or the centuries-old Moorish, Baroque, and neo-classical structures.
Local artists and craftsmen who are members of our organization have volunteered to offer several optional workshops at no charge to those who want to learn new techniques and crafts.
Your group will gather for comida each afternoon in a different restaurant to sample our cuisine based on European traditions and indigenous influences. The remainder of the day is yours to paint, explore museums, churches and markets, or shop for a new collection of Maya textiles or Lacandon folk art.
On several evenings, you’ll be guests of honor for cocktail suppers in three of San Cristobal’s lovingly restored colonial homes. On your last night, we’d like to host a gala reception in the 16th century Convent of Santo Domingo where you may choose to exhibit your week’s work in the gallery there and meet our members who work so hard each year to benefit our charities. There are many other options available to make this artistic experience a memorable one for your group. We hope you will consider bringing your group, whether they are beginning students, weekend painters, or important contributors to the arts, to paint the palm-shaded parks, ancient churches and convents, bustling public squares, and mountain meadows of one of Mexico’s oldest and most exotic locales.
About Amigos de San Cristobal:
Amigos de San Cristobal is a group of local volunteers—Mexican citizens and foreign expatriates living here in San Cristobal de Las Casas. We’re a non-profit, charitable organization committed to discovering resources to fund proven charities that serve the most disadvantaged people in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state. Paint San Cristobal has been conceived as an important project to aid in our efforts on behalf of abandoned mothers, undernourished children, promising students who deserve an education, and parents who lack the basic education and training to provide for their families. Whether you are an artist coordinating activities for a group of fellow painters or an experienced teacher searching for a new venue to offer your students, we will be grateful for your considering our offering and you may be sure we are flexible in structuring the experience to your needs and desires. Your participation in Paint San Cristobal will be not only an exciting artistic adventure for your group, but a significant contribution to a very worthy cause.
What’s Included?
Tuxtla Gutierrez is the modern capital city of Chiapas with shopping malls, multiple universities, and a recently completed international airport, code-named TGZ. This will be your destination and where we will meet your group for a scenic, one-hour drive that climbs more than 5000 feet through the mountains to your destination. You will be returned to the airport for departure. Our suggested eight-day package (which does not include arrival and departure days) includes accommodations (based on shared occupancy), all breakfasts and lunches, three evening events including meals, required airport transfers, a city orientation tour by trolley, and optional workshops. In addition, we’ll provide volunteers to assist in directing your group from one activity to the next. The package price is $1295.00 per person.
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When to Come and What to Bring:
Spring is glorious in San Cristobal. Our location in the tropics at some 7500 feet above sea level makes for a perfect climate with sunny days and clear, starlit nights. Expect average daytime temperatures of 68 degrees and a brisk 55 at night. We highly recommend that you consider a late February to April date, with the exception of March 16th to the 29th (these are Easter holidays in Mexico and accommodations are already booked). We will be glad to discuss your chosen dates and will be pleased to customize your group’s experience.
Dress is casual in San Cristobal. By all means, leave your heels at home! Lightweight, long sleeve shirts are good for daytime, along with a sunhat and comfortable walking shoes. Cooler nights require a light jacket or sweater and dressy casual attire is appropriate for evening events.
Plan on bringing whatever art supplies are required, as well as your cameras. Film is readily available, as well as one-hour processing. Digital flash cards and memory sticks are much more expensive here than in the United States. Be sure that your participants have prescription medicines that may not be available locally and an extra pair of prescription eyeglasses.
Of course, by now most U.S. citizens know a passport is required to return to their own country. A Mexican tourist visa is available at the point of arrival in the country for up to six months of travel within Mexico for a nominal fee. You may want to suggest to your group that they have their bank provide a starter package of Mexican pesos. Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted and the most convenient way to obtain cash is with a debit card or credit card at any one of a dozen automatic teller machines downtown. To ensure that cards will be accepted in Mexico, request a four-digit PIN number, if one is not already furnished.
For Your Consideration:
You will need to arrange roundtrip air to Tuxtla Gutierrez. We have not included personal necessities or alcoholic beverages during meals in the price.
We would need to know about any dietary requirements in advance.
Your daily itinerary will likely require strolls of six to eight city blocks on fairly level, but sometimes uneven, ground. We regret that we are unable to arrange for transportation for those who are physically unable to walk the distances required and ask that you not include individuals unless you are certain of his or her physical abilities.
For planning purposes, we are only able to provide airport transfers for the entire group arriving simultaneously. However, taxis are readily available for later arrivals at the airport at a reasonable fee.
To Contact Us:
Please email Duncan T. Black at paint.sancristobal@gmail.com. We will be pleased to discuss our proposed package in more detail or work with you to customize your group’s experience concerning dates, length of stay, optional workshops, and costs. We recommend a group size of 12 to 18 participants. Activities for spouses and/or non-working artists may be arranged at an additional cost. Because we are only able to offer a limited number of packages, please understand that we will require a commitment in the form of a non-refundable deposit to reserve dates. All travel arrangements to and from Mexico are the responsibility of the group organizer and any liability associated with the trip and visit in San Cristobal must be assumed by the organizer. We are very grateful for your interest and welcome you as a partner of Amigos de San Cristobal in helping us to help those less fortunate in Chiapas.
Individual Artists?
The possibility exists that one of our groups would welcome additional artists. If you would be interested in having your name placed on a list of potential participants, please contact us at the email address provided above and we will be glad to add your name.
Amigos de San Cristobal
APDO Numero 111
San Cristobal de Las Casas
Chiapas, 29200
Mexico
Website: www.amigosdesc.org |
