“Art is a primary necessity” once stated Sara Palacios. Here before us stands the gallery that carries her name. The Sara Palacios gallery is more than just a space. It is a testament to Sara’s vision. It is located just outside Quito in Nayón. The gallery was inaugurated in 2012. Since then, it has showcased over 20 Ecuadorian and international artists.
But how did this gallery come to be? Let’s rewind to 2013. Sara Palacios and Iranian artist Mitra Hashny were preparing an exhibition. It was called ‘Mother Art Project’. They had paintings video art and sculptures. But they lacked a venue. Hashny suggested Sara’s large country house outside Quito. Sara was hesitant.
At that time Nayón was quite remote. The streets were cobbled and there were no streetlights. It seemed crazy to Sara. But they had no other options. They decided to go for it. They named her house ‘Sarapa Gallery’. Then they started promoting the show.
The response was amazing. 250 people filled her living room dining room and garden. The art was everywhere. But the success didn’t stop there. That night many artists asked Sara to use her space for their exhibitions.
The gallery grew organically. It was all word of mouth. Sara admits she didn’t have clear objectives at first. She learned as she went. This wasn’t the first time Sara had taken a leap of faith. After high school in the US she studied journalism. She married and became a mother.
But Sara felt a strong need to express herself. She didn’t know how. Her family thought she had thyroid issues. They didn’t understand what she was missing. She took many courses. At 30 she started painting. Two years later she met Ulises Estrella. He was a poet and the director of the National Cinematheque. He became her mentor. Sara worked with him for 30 years. Ulises guided her to find her voice. He pushed her to exhibit solo. He gave her the discipline she now demands from artists.
Once the gallery opened Sara implemented rules. She refused group shows. Artists had to have a clear vision. She disliked artists who asked her to choose their work. She also disliked those who asked what would sell best. Sara believed a gallery is not a store. The artist must know what they want to say. Their voice shouldn’t be driven by sales.
Sara also says that art collecting has changed in Quito. It is a limited market. Large-scale collecting ended when banks stopped investing in art. The closure of many Quito galleries was the final blow. Today acquisitions are rare.
However Sara believes the market will return. New generations will have more buying power. People are interested in art. New audiences are forming. They research art themselves. This generation doesn’t buy art to decorate. They buy it because it resonates with them. Sara finds this very important. Art should connect to your life.
Sara’s gallery hasn’t benefited from Nayón’s growth. Instead it has grown through social media. Sara handles the gallery’s publicity. She has also opened it to new projects. On Saturdays Juan Estrella hosts an outdoor film club called ‘La Parada’. On Sundays Tadeo Gangotena organizes recitals.
The response has been impressive. Eighty to 100 people attend the film screenings. They also tour the gallery. People keep coming back. Sara believes this combination of events and art is vital. It brings people together. They share their experiences on social media. Word of mouth has been crucial.
This support has allowed Sara to return to her studio. She is writing poetry again. Without this help it would be hard to keep creating. She has also reduced the number of exhibitions this year. She is focusing on shows by Rafael Díaz Recalde José Unda Nicacio Duno and a posthumous exhibition of Oswaldo Muñoz Mariño.
This reduction has also given Sara more time for her family. She has five grandchildren. Two of them are artistic. Her oldest grandson loves to draw. The second one paints. Sara doesn’t know if they will pursue art. But seeing them create is a privilege. She believes the future of art lies with the new generations.
Sara Palacios’ work combines sculpture poetry drawing and video art. Her work has been linked to the Interaesthetic Project and Quitology for over 20 years. Her art feeds the spirit. It helps us grow. It lets us see ourselves through others’ eyes. It promotes understanding and creativity.