By Alan Jacobson What happens when the spotlight fades? That’s the question at the heart of Quartet , Ronald Harwood’s insightful and often very funny play about four retired opera singers sharing life in a home for musicians. But beyond its elegant setting, the play becomes a reflection on something much more universal—how we hold onto identity, relationships, and purpose as time moves forward. What makes Quartet so engaging is its honesty. These characters are accomplished,

By Colleen Sorenson An ancient stream runs through our city. For centuries, its waters sustained people and wildlife, enabling settlement, nourishing orchards and livelihoods, and shaping daily life. To celebrate this ancient stream and our local artists, La Vida de Las Cachinches is a captivating new mural project along the arroyo , promoting respect and the beauty of our urban nature. Twelve San Miguel artists are coming together in April 19 th through 22 nd , partnering wi

By Natalie Taylor Stephanie Hough Lanier  grew up in Philadelphia. She began with a Catholic school education, but in the sixth grade, she convinced her mother to let her go her to a school run by Jewish mothers, with a more open education she loved. From a young age, Stephanie’s passion was ballet, and she got a scholarship to Elmira College in New York, dreaming of a dance career. But a ballet teacher gave her a reality check: “Have you ever seen a Black prima ballerina?”  

By Alan Jordan Live theater, since the beginning of time, has been, and remains, the cultural spine of a community, whether story telling around a campfire, on the Broadway stage or in magical San Miguel de Allende. For fifteen years, Caja Negra , professional repertory theater group of actors and technicians has strived to present thoughtful, dynamic theater to San Miguel.  I believe that quality theater can be presented in a grand space or a street corner. Life is theater a

By Colleen Sorenson I first met artist Merle Herrera  way back at the very beginning of San Miguel's Street Art movement when painting on the street was not yet allowed. Together, we reminisced about the very magical weekend in 2013 when she painted in the first Muros en Blanco  festival in Colonia Guadalupe, securing the permission for legal painting on the streets. She was invited to paint by Francisco (Nadie) Vega who was in charge of artist invitations. Merle then invited

By Judith Jenya In a sunlit house tucked into the rhythms of San Miguel de Allende, art is everywhere. It hangs on the walls, leans against furniture, spills across tables in the form of drawings and half-finished ideas. More than that, it animates the life shared by Britt Zaist  and Henry Vermillion —two artists whose love story is inseparable from the creative paths that brought them together and kept them together for more than four decades. Zaist, born in Jamaica, New Yor

By Charles Woollett It’s the life of a photographer and none other than globe trotter Ian Gough  - capturing the world, as it unfolds in front of his lens and that split second shutter. Ian Gough has a plethora of images that are, what’s the word, timeless. As a young boy he left Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, England. At 19 he picked up sticks and headed for the South of France, for several years, hopping all through Europe doing odd jobs and skiing, his favorite sport

By Catherine Marenghi When you think of places that attract the world’s top writers, you might think of Paris in the 1920s, Dublin, or New York. Or you might recall the famous Algonquin Round Table , a group of literary figures who met daily at the Algonquin Hotel, New York, in the 1920s and 1930s. Also known as the Vicious Circle, the group included Dorothy Parker , George S. Kaufman , and Robert Benchley , as well as occasional members like Noël Coward . Who would imagine t

By Meryl Truett San Miguel's vibrant art scene burst to life this past January with one of the city’s most anticipated community-driven cultural events: the Guadalupe Art Walk.  In 2026, artists, neighbors, collectors, and visitors alike gathered in the colorful streets of Colonia Guadalupe on January 24 th  and 25 th  for a weekend of open studios, lively encounters with art, and an authentic celebration of creative expression that reflects the heart and soul of this artisti

By Staff Writer This exhibition is the first of its kind.  It is a glimpse behind the scenes to unexpected moments of the Easter week; each image sheds light on to intimate, powerful and passionate expressions of faith. The exhibition is offered as an expression of gratitude to the community of El Oratorio and the people of San Miguel who have graciously welcomed Martha Gabriela Dressen and her lens without hesitation. In the style of street photography, Martha’s work shows a

By Pascual Hijuelos The art world is made up of many isms . The most recent is Metamodernism , a movement that describes how contemporary culture, art, and ideas have evolved after postmodernism. In simple terms, Metamodernism reflects how many people today live and think: moving between belief and doubt, seriousness and humor, without needing a single fixed answer. In the arts, these concepts are represented in an eclectic manner, borrowing from historically important moveme

By Felecia Ford With decades of work across jazz, rock, and classical composition, San Diegueño  mega-pianist Doug Robinson  has been one of San Miguel de Allende’s musical heavyweights for over 20 years. FF: Your group, The DVR Trio  just returned from a huge music festival in Cuba. How was your experience? DR:   It was an amazing trip, profound and beautiful, and filled with contradictions. Such a vibrant  and joyous culture, despite so many layers of hardship and oppressio

By Carolina de la Cajiga “My full name feels like a litany: María del Socorro Magdalena Aguilar Uriarte. Honoring my two grandmothers resulted in an administrative sentence,” she begins. At university in San Francisco, her name never fit on class rosters; professors called out cryptic abbreviations wrapped in a gringo accent that made them unrecognizable—even to her. “I ended that bureaucratic via crucis by calling myself simply Soco.” She grew up in Celaya and México City, b

By Meryl Truett This March, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro will open its doors to a powerful and deeply humanistic exhibition by celebrated artist and art therapist Kate Van Doren . Titled The Healing Words Project , the show marks a major solo museum presentation of Van Doren’s visionary work—a culmination of years of collaboration, storytelling, and artistic exploration rooted in empowerment, resilience, and connection. This is more than an art exhibition—it’s a global init

By Colleen Sorenson Yazmin Prescott  is well known for her beautiful murals on the streets throughout San Miguel and also in many private homes. She is equally well known, along with her sister Linzee, for painting the dance floors commissioned by many of the best wedding planners in town. They keep very busy. "For 4 or 5 years now, dance floors for weddings are the main income. We paint in a team of artists and graphic designers, working on-site and finished all in one day.

By Charles Woollett Artists find their way into our hearts and minds with stories captured from their vivid experiences that are somehow relatable. Seared into our memories as if by some mutual alliance.  In this case, William Martin  brings his still life, portrait paintings, seascapes, and western images from his mind of imagination and the land of enchantment. Having lived in Taos, we can identify with the Native Indian and artist community there. Like Pueblo amigo, Standi

By Pascual Hijuelos In San Miguel, there are individuals who have had rich, fulfilling careers in the creative realm while also pursuing other interests. Nathan Schneider  is one such person. For over 20 years Nathan was the Chief Architect for the City of Austin. He was responsible for the planning and design of the city's physical and aesthetic environment, but his true passion has always been ceramics. He has created exceptional ceramic pieces that reflect his architectura

By Catherine Marenghi Last month, this column explored the economic and cultural benefits that the  San Miguel Writers’ Conference and Literary Festival  brings to San Miguel. This month we spotlight four young Mexican writers who got a career boost from the Conference’s Scholarship Program. Each year the Conference invites local educational institutions to nominate talented young people with an interest in writing. These students receive a full scholarship to participate in

By Carolina de la Cajiga “So far, the best I’ve heard in 2026 is: ‘Nos encanta tocar las flautas dulces!’” (We love playing recorders!). This is what two of my fourth-grade students yelled when they saw me coming on a recent cold morning.” Since 2019, Barbara Lee Ungar , Barbarita , has been a volunteer music teacher at Pedro Moreno Primary School, in Salitrillo, a poor, rural community on the outskirts of San Miguel. “I teach a recorder class and a general music class using

By Felecia Ford Mexican vocalist Alain Arroyo grew up listening to the voices of Pedro Vargas and Jorge Negrete, alongside artists like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Ray Charles. His voice was also shaped by country, soul, blues, pop, and even hip-hop. We are fortunate to hear his voice resonating through the streets of San Miguel de Allende on any given night. FF: When I first heard your voice, I thought to myself, who is this guy, and why is he not famous? What first in