PRESS KIT
At Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, guests are immersed in more than unsurpassed luxury and pampering. Las Ventanas is also an aesthetic world, of refinement and creativity, showcasing both stunning original art and the centuries-old design traditions of master Mexican artisans.
More than anything else, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts created Las Ventanas to be an experience, all its own. And art and artisanry imbue the resort with romantic and cultural flavors, as well as rich colors and textures, that add emotion and graciousness to the overall experience.
Wilson & Associates, the acclaimed Dallas-based interior designers who created the distinctive, Mexican-Mediterranean environment at Las Ventanas, teamed up with San Diego-based Art Consultant Joan Warren-Grady in a painstaking search for the artists and artisans whose work would embody the essence of Las Ventanas. The effect is achieved through a unique combination of original pieces of art from highly accomplished Mexican and U.S. artists, along with the traditional work of local artisans and craftsmen which is found throughout the resort.
Original Works of Art Abound at Las Ventanas
The artistic foci of Las Ventanas are a vivid painting in multi-colored cultural themes by Mexican master Rodrigo Pimental and the bronze sculpture of a mermaid by noted American sculptor Deloss McGraw. Pimental's work, which was purchased from a museum in Mexico City, adorns the reception area. His credits include more than 80 solo and joint exhibitions throughout Latin America, the United States and Europe. McGraw's valuable pieces hang in museums and buildings throughout the United States. Often drawing inspiration from literature, a Spanish poem about paradise appears on his mermaid, which welcomes guests as they pass from the lobby area into the heart of the resort.
Two original works by Santa Barbara artist Dorothy Churchill-Johnson hang in the lobby and depict oversized images of cactus. Churchill-Johnson, whose meticulous drawings have been characterized as super-realism, has had numerous gallery showings and her works are also in many private collections.
Both pottery and large murals comprised of colorful tiles by acclaimed Mexican artist Fernando Andriacci appear in the lobby and public corridors, and feature the fanciful animals and cultural themes for which he is renowned.
The beautiful mural in the dining room was painted on-site by Los Angeles artist Hampton Hall, and provides a striking and colorful backdrop for the resort's fine restaurant. His pieces enhance many luxury hotels as well as such private collections as that of the Sultan of Brunei.
San Diego artist Barbara Weldon produced a "paradise" series of original and individual pieces for every suite at Las Ventanas. The oils on paper are numbered and beautifully custom framed. Her original paintings are displayed in the entryway and over the luxurious bathtub in each suite, where guests can enjoy her artistry while relaxing in private. Weldon is a highly recognized artist whose works hang in countless public and private collections.
Master Craftsmen Set the Mood
The meticulous handwork of local craftsmen is evident throughout the resort. A local husband and wife team, Isidrio and Amora Sorya, hand-painted the textured, faux finishes that grace the walls in many public spaces, the wine room, and the bathrooms in the suites. Two master artisans from Mexico City, directing a team of tilers, created stunning headboards in every suite, featuring inlaid pebbles in a dramatic, stylized sunburst design.
Meandering throughout the resort are beautiful, raised-pebble walkways, every one of which was hand-laid by local artisans, as was the impressive stone carpet in the reception area and in each guest room. The artisans were given a general pattern and then allowed to interpret and let their artistic talents flow -- assuring that the result would have a true Mexican feeling, rather than a contrived, modern look.
The handwork by Mexican artisans includes many subtle touches. The expertise of Mexican artist Alberto Grave is displayed in the suites, where subtle designs and detailing in Mexican motifs are hand painted on all the built-in night stands and over every fireplace. Master woodcarvers in Guadalajara meticulously hand-carved the impressive cedar doors to each suite that provide an oversized welcome for guests.
Adding another dimension, there is considerable wrought iron work throughout the resort – the artistic, yet functional, locks that adorn the windows and doors in every suite were created by a Los Cabos metal artisan. Lighting up the night at Las Ventanas are two incredible, hand-made, wrought iron chandeliers with a remarkable celestial theme – giving the impression that stars hang from the enormous thatched palapas in the bar and the reception area.
The overall effect of the art and artisanry at Las Ventanas is stunning: time-honored artisanry and original works of art give depth and significance to the resort experience, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the heritage of a celebrated culture while reveling in the luxury of a world-class resort.
