Art Seen & Scene: Merry Calderoni, A San Miguel Original

by John Dodge Meyer and Meryl Truett

If you’re visiting Fabrica La Aurora on one of our bright, promising San Miguel afternoons, you just might be surprised to hear what instinctively sounds like fireworks popping. Don’t be surprised when you emerge from that long main hallway into the sunlight and see a very impressive display; it will indeed be Merry Calderoni, artist extraordinaire and owner of Calderoni Gallery wielding one of the largest whips you’ve most likely ever seen! What, pray tell, is an internationally known painter doing cracking a magnificent, large and intimidating whip? Would you taken aback to learn that she’s keeping up her “Whip Painting” skills?! All right, we’ll get back to that mystery, but let’s back up a bit.

Merry Calderoni grew up in Texas and became interested in painting as a child, but as a self confessed “Odessa Cowgirl,” she excelled in all things athletic and after learning to use a whip, actually did demonstrations and shows for the rodeo. The dual interest in painting was put aside when she decided to get a degree in physical education at The University of Texas, Austin and became a Phys. Ed. teacher. In her own words … “that didn’t last too long!” Newly married to her husband Ben who was in the oil business, they moved to Venezuela and that’s where Merry rekindled her love for painting (don’t worry, we’ll get back to those “whip paintings.”

Merry’s first visit to San Miguel de Allende was in the early ’70’s. She specifically came here to study painting, but it was then that she fell in love with this Pueblo Mágico and decided that one day she and her family would make it their permanent home. “One day” proved to be many years off, but Merry came back in between to do more study in painting, and to learn more about her future home. By the early 2000’s she and her husband and their daughter Crystal were living here and operating a bed and breakfast.

Now Merry was ready to turn her passion for painting into a full time endeavor, but the bed and breakfast just didn’t have nearly enough space for a studio. She became aware of the once thriving textile mill on the North side of town and decided to explore it. After seeing the potential of the many factory workrooms which once hummed to spinning looms, she approached the owner. He, unfortunately was adamant that he wanted the property sold. Merry persisted. Finally, in 2002 the owner’s wife encouraged the rental of spaces to Merry and two other artists and the tone was set for converting the old textile factory into Fábrica La Aurora Art and Design Center.

Okay, the “whip paintings.” You may have already guessed, but Merry, having been adept at cracking and placing that lightening fringed end of the whip exactly where she wanted, decided to try dipping that end of the whip in paint and cracking sharp lines in an abstract pattern on a blank canvas! Needless to say, she had developed a completely unique painting technique!

Another of Merry’s claims to fame involves her collaboration with the Bravo channel’s Top Chef program. A season 12 episode was to be shot and centered on San Miguel and the increasingly vibrant food scene here. Top Chef is one of the most popular reality shows on television. The premise is always a location somewhere in the world with several chefs, also chosen worldwide competing to survive or win challenges over several days. San Miguel’s challenge was a little different.

Three chefs from around the world were paired with four artists from San Miguel. The chefs were supposed to pick a work of art from each artist and produce dishes inspired by that artwork. Merry was chosen as one of those artists and she was paired with a chef from Texas! She said it couldn’t have worked out better. He was inspired by one of her paintings and proceeded to prepare dishes that matched the colors of the painting! Long story short, they won the competition!

Merry continues to be an influential force in San Miguel’s ever expanding art world. Her current paintings can best be described as abstract expressionism, adventures into mazes or puzzles, with unknown content and without a plan. The end product will be the result of fitting together the pieces of the puzzle. The mystery of the experiment and the unknown result of the journey are the reason she paints.

Meryl Truett is an artist and workshop instructor in San Miguel de Allende www.meryltruett.com IG @madinsma

John Dodge Meyer is an artist and writer living in San Miguel working on his memoir.