If you plan your time around what’s happening in Cuenca’s creative community, then this column is for you. Published every Monday, “What’s Happening Under the Domes” highlights the exhibits, concerts, workshops 
and other not-to-be-missed artistic events scheduled for the coming week. We cannot guarantee a complete listing, but we’ll try our best to keep you informed.
This week:
North Pole Pop-up: Holiday Gifts South of the Equator
idiomART’s “North Pole Pop-up” will give you an early peek at the holiday gifts Santa’s elves have created right here in Cuenca. Yes, south of equator.
If you’re looking for unique, one-of-a-kind items created by artists and artisans, then this is your chance to find them at affordable prices. All items will be under $100, some as few as $5.
Participating artists and artisans: Barbara VanAbel, Carolyn Hamilton, Collyer Ekholm, Daniel Williams, Dean Keyes, Devine Williams, Diana Ham, Enid Altstedter, Frances Knighton, José Sequera, Julio Machado, Karen Varney, Kathryn McCullough, Kelly Harding, Kimberley Wood, Leonardo Ruzza, Linda Wooten-Green, Lynn Mizono, Mazhyx, Michael Wanner, Michele Catino, Nancy Laughlin, Nancy Rybeck, Nancy Thornton, Patricia Lee, Scott McDonald, Sharon McIntosh, Sherry Thompsett, Susan Armstrong and Sylvia Koreen.
This holiday extravaganza will begin on Tuesday, November 27 and continue through Thursday, November 29, each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. idiomART is located on Presidente Córdova 1-77 and Manuel Vega.
Monday, November 26
Fishbon del Sur Presents a Salon de Refusé Exhibition with artist-in-residence Howard Taikeff
A native of Manhattan, NYC, Howard teaches at the University of San Francisco in Quito. His work may stir some controversy, but that’s part of its appeal.
Gallery Hours:November 26 through 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fishbon del Sur is located at 14-25 Mariscal Lamar y Estevez de Toral.
Tuesday, November 27
Azuay Community Theater’s “Clever Little Lies” tickets sales open!
Bob Fry and Deana Culp are back with A.C.T. NAKED Readers Theater, accompanied by newcomers to A.C.T. Rachel De Salvo and Matthew Hart in “Clever Little Lies” written by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro. Show times: Saturday and Sunday, December 15 and 16, at 4 p.m.
$10 advance purchase.
Ticket sales begin November 27 at the following:
Tuesdays at Veggie Bar Trivia from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday at A.C.T. Theater from 2 to 3 p.m.
Thursdays at Sunrise Café from 10 a.m. to Noon
Monday thru Friday at idiomART from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m.
PayPal tickets using family and friends to r.m.appel65@gmail.com or contact Marilyn’s same email, cell: 099 138 9130.
Wednesday, November 28
Asamblea Provincial
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free.
Concert at the Casa de la Cultura Núcleo del Azuay.
Location: Edificio Mayor on Luis Cordero 7-22 y Presidente Córdova.
Su Terry with the Esteban Encalada Quartetat the Jazz Society Café!
Food and beverage service begins at 6:30 p.m.
Live Jazz from 7:30 through 10 p.m.
Su Terry
Jazz Society Café is located at 5-101 Luis Cordero y Juan Jaramillo, upstairs of the La Viña Italian Restaurant.
Email for reservations at jazzsocietyofecuador @gmail.com
Thursday, November 29
Vino & Van Gogh — Cuenca’s favorite fun and creative night out!
5 to 9 p.m.
Artist Amelia Earl, will guide you step-by-step through creating a featured painting and help you unleash your inner Van Gogh. All while making new friends and sipping wine. At the end of the night you’ll take home a one-of-a-kind painting and hopefully a newfound talent.
This week’s featured painting is inspired by Hummingbird and Hibiscus.
Located at Café San Sebas on Plaza San Sebastán – Sucre y Coronel Talbot.
All supplies and your first glass of wine are provided. And a special dinner and snacks menu is available.
Cost: $29
More information is available on its event page at www.fb.com/vinovangoghcuenca/ or you can contact Adam at sansebascuenca@gmail.com.
Friday, November 30
Windshield Cowboys at the Castle!
If you dig music like Lucinda Williams, Van Morrison, Stones, John Hiatt, and the Grateful Dead, then you’ll love this event.
Come to The Castle for pre-show dinner and drinks overlooking the Tomebamba river.
8 to 10 p.m. $5 cover
The Castle is located at 3 de Noviembre, 70 meters down river from the Broken Bridge.
Flamenco at el Mesón Español
Flamenco? It’s passion, it’s emotion, it’s strength . . .
A two-hour show where masters of flamenco dancing and flamenco will delight you.
Jaleos Trios: Santiago Gomez on Spanish guitar, Boris Bustos, percussion; JosepWhazhima on bass and Gustavo Pazmiño on vocals.
And as a special guest, the dancer, Arlette Barreras.
7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Dinner and show cost: $22.
For reservations, call: 096 906 2808 or email: textil.aguilera.mangas@gmail.com
Mesón Español is located at Calle Borrero 7-51 entre Presidente Cordova y Borrero.
Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2
Daniel Betancourth – Concierto en Vivo
Saturday, December 1, 9 p.m. at the Mall del Río Convention Center.
Tickets are on sale at Mi Boleteria EC in the Mall del Rio for $ 25.
Daniel Betancourth is a singer and songwriter who became known in the television program “Protagonistas de la Música” in the city of Miami, where he won the 5th place among more than 10 thousand applicants. He returned to his native Ecuador to release his first album in 2007 and won recognition as the “artist of the year”.
Mathew Hart at the new Boogalo!
Saturday at 7 p.m. Free.
Come visit Cuenca’s newest fun spot, Boogalo Forever Retro Music Cocktail Lounge, Great music. Relaxing atmosphere. All your favorite cocktails,plus wine, beer and juices. Also, a range of delicious tapas.
Address: Francisco Moscoso 3-31 and Luis Moreno Mora, 1 block north from Ecu 911 Plaza.
Moxy Players at Common Grounds
Saturday at 7:30 p.m. $5 cover charge.
Cuenca’s newest band, Moxy Players, will be performing at Common Grounds Sports Bar and Grill. The band serves up a mix of Rock, Soul, Reggae, Funk and Jazz.
Band mates: Julio Bossenmais on on guitar, Roxy Carrasco on vocals, Jeff Jones on drums, Steve Ligett on keyboards and Freylar Lopez on bass.
Common Grounds Sports Bar and Grill is located at Eduardo Crespo Malo and Gran Columbia. For reservations or information call: 098 107 9406.
Coming soon:
Sustainable Cuenca Fund Raiser – Helping to create a “Happy Holiday” for those less fortunate
Cuenca Soup Kitchen is in the beginning process of creating the 2019 budget and tentatively looking at needing $2,800 a month to continue serving on average 140 refugees four days a week and 20 Ecuadorian working poor in the coming year.
The meals include a bowl of soup, an entree, a dinner roll, rice, juice and a piece of fruit. The children also get cookies and milk and volunteers make baby food for the infants. They also run a dispensary of warm clothes, bedding, kitchen items, diapers, etc.
Please plan on joining this fundraiser on Friday, December 7, starting at 6 p.m. at The Vegetable Bar Restaurant.
Donation: $25, includes first drink and strolling hors d’oeuvres service.
If you would like to help the Soup Kitchen but will be unable to attend the fundraiser,you can still make a holiday donation by PayPal to account SustainableCuenca@gmail.com. And if you have questions or comments you can send them to Bob Higgins at SustainableCuenca@gmail.com
Can Art: The Holiday Edition at idiomART!
Tuesday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This workshop adds whole new meaning to what one considers a can(vas). And what a tree ornament should look like.Oh, what one can do with cat food cans. The op-PURR-tunities are endless.
If you’d like to make green, good-for-the-planet ornaments, if you’re interested in morphing junk into joy, then this four-hour workshop is for you!
Instructor: Kathryn McCullough
Cost: $15 (all supplies included)
Enrollment is secured through payment in advance, either via PayPal using studio@idiomart — friends and family or in cash. If you’d like to pay cash, just email to arrange payment at the same email.
idiomART Studio is located at Presidente Córdova 1-77 y Manuel Vega, in el Centro.
Have a ball: Ornament-Making as Holiday Ecology
You too can have a ball during the holidays. Especially in Cuenca. Practice holiday ecology at idiomART.
Make quilted ornaments by up-cycling fabric from old skirts and shirts and recycling papers from magazines and out of date maps.
Come play with us. Have a ball and make new friends.
Instructor: Kathryn McCullough
Cost: $15 (plus $5 supply fee)
Enrollment is secured through payment in advance, either via PayPal using studio@idiomart — friends and family or in cash. If you’d like to pay cash, just email to arrange payment at the same email.
idiomART Studio is located at Presidente Córdova 1-77 y Manuel Vega, in el Centro.
Coffee, Cupcake and Carols – Casa Maria Amor/Mujeres con Exito’sAnnual Christmas Thank You!
Casa Maria Amor/Mujeres con Exitois having a Coffee, Cupcake and Caroling event on Tuesday, December 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.
No charge.
The International Christian Community Choir will be leading in the singing of Christmas Carols while coffee and cupcakes are served. Raffle: Diana Ham Baskets – $1 a ticket
Please bring pennies to the event. We are filling bags of pennies to include in the Christmas bags for the children.
Also, if you have a nice handbag to donate for the mothers’ Christmas present from their children, please bring to the event or drop off at Mujeres con Exito at your convenience.
Lastly, if you have any hotel soaps, shampoos etc. please bring to place in mothers’ handbags.
Fo rreservations, email Susan McBride at: mcbsusan75@gmail.com
Address: Baltazara de Calderon 2-26 y Miguel Velez.
Photography Exhibition, “Ecuador YMÁS: Su Tierra y Su Gente”at Miguel Illescas C. Galeria De Arte
Photographers Michael Hamilton, Burt Johnson and Evelyn Johnson will be showing their work in December. Opening will be Thursday, December 13 from 5 to 8 p.m.
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What’s Happening Under the Domes is a weekly column by Sara Coppler. Sara has lived in Ecuador for over 5 years. She is an architect by training, who has worked for more than two decades in the field of international development and poverty housing. She is a co-founder of idiomART, a creative community center in Cuenca. Having admired the creative process throughout her life,she describes herself as a “Head Cheerleader for the Arts.” It’sthis enthusiasm that she hopes to bring to this weekly column. You may contact her at info@underthedomes.org and feel free to check out her Under The Domes website at www.underthedomes.org.
