Cinco de Mayo show featured at Open Door Gallery
Open Door Gallery in downtown Sturgis is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with an exhibit of work created by artist Gail Suess-Brandow in Chiapas, Mexico.
Suess-Brandow had an apartment in Chiapas up until the pandemic put an end to it in 2020, she said. It was close to her son, Jesse, a resident of Guatemala.
Suess-Brandow and friend Karlene King, also of Sturgis, made the trip to Chiapas in summer of 2019 where they captured the sights and sounds of the city of Comitan.
Suess-Brandow had planned to have the ODG show for Cinco de Mayo in 2020, but the pandemic postponed it until now.
Suess-Brandow wanted to honor the Hispanic community of Sturgis with the show, she said. Plus, she loves Mexico.
“It’s such a colorful, beautiful place,” she said.
Suess-Brandow said she created all but one of her pieces en plein aire, or outdoors. They’re all watercolor pieces, some with ink as well.
Some of Suess-Brandow's favorites are “El Chiflon” and “Manuel’s Mountain.” But she invites the community to come see which they prefer.
Suess-Brandow is hopeful she and King can return to Chiapas to paint again. She’s also hoping the gallery might have a show to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day Sept. 16.
Suess-Brandow, one of the founding artists of Open Door Gallery more than 20 years ago, said we’re fortunate in Sturgis to have a place for local artists to show their work.
Opening reception for the show is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo). The exhibit is up through the end of May during regular gallery hours.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: news-Open Door Gallery-Cinco de Mayo-Gail Suess-Brandow
