Usually when people think of public sculptures in Puerto Vallarta, they think of the Malecón. However, there is a wealth of beautiful sculptures scattered elsewhere through town.
“John Huston” by Carlos Ramírez, 1988
Director John Huston’s 1964 film The Night of the Iguana and the media frenzy that went along with it are widely credited with showing Puerto Vallarta to the world. This sculpture of Huston sitting in his director’s chair was unveiled in 1988, the 25th anniversary of the shooting of the film. It’s located on the Cuale River Island in the middle of town.
“El Pescador” (“The Fisherman”) by Ramiz Barquet, 1996
Located at the triangle formed by the meeting of three streets (Libertad, Agustín Ramírez, and Insurgentes), this sculpture depicts an image from Vallarta’s past: a bare-footed fisherman, his pants rolled up, with the day’s catch slung over his shoulders. Sculptor Ramiz Barquet says the fisherman’s name is Isidro.
“Tiburón en Espiral” (“Shark in Spiral”) by Ramiz Barquet, 1996
Barquet sculpted this piece in honor of the shark itself, which he sees as one of the most physically perfect and efficient creatures on earth. He named it Casper after one of his friends, Gaspar Elizondo. The sculpture is located where Púlpito Street meets Los Muertos beach.
“La Rinconada del Juglar” (“The Corner of the Minstrel”) by Ramiz Barquet, 1999
This piece depicts a minstrel playing a flute. Located where Galeana Street meets Hidalgo Street, the sculpture is surrounded by a public sitting area.
“Un Niño, Un Libro, Un Futuro” (“A Boy, A Book, A Future”) by Ramiz Barquet, 2000
Located outside Los Mangos Library on Francisco Villa Street, this sculpture of a boy sitting and reading a book recognizes the importance of both education and the role Los Mangoes Library plays in the community.
“Vallarta’s Whale” by Octavio González, 2001
“Vallarta’s Whale” took over four years to complete, and is probably the biggest sculpture in town. It depicts a humpback whale and her calf swimming close by her side. According to sculptor Octavio González, the piece represents the importance of family, and more specifically, it honors mothers as the anchors of families. As well as being visually stunning, the sculpture is technically impressive, as well – its entire weight of twelve tons rests on only one of the whale’s flippers. “Vallarta’s Whale” is located at the entrance of Marina Vallarta.
“Bailarines de Vallarta” (“Vallarta Dancers”) by Jim Demetro, 2006
Inspired after seeing Vallarta’s famous Xiutla dance troupe performing the Jarabe Tapatío (Mexican Hat Dance), Jim Demetro decided to honor this national dance of Mexico with a sculpture. The life-sized figures are unique among Vallarta’s sculptures for their colored patinas. Under “Vallarta Dancers,” there is a plaque with the following message from Demetro: “The inspiration for the sculpture is the youthful energy, flowing movement, and colorful costumes of the talented Xiutla dancers and their instructor and choreographer Prof. Enrique Barrios Limón.”
“Eriza-Dos” (“Standing on End”) by Blu (Maritza Vasquez), 2007
Located near the beginning of the new Malecón extension, these two oxidized steel sculptures resemble sea urchins.
“San Pascual Bailón” (“Saint Paschal Baylon”) by Ramiz Barquet, 2008
Saint Paschal Baylon was a Franciscan friar in 16th century Spain. Today, he is considered the patron saint of cooks; this sculpture honors chefs from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and abroad.
“The Washer Woman” by Jim Demetro, 2008
This piece depicts an elderly woman scrubbing her clothes by hand on a rock, as is still done by many people along the Cuale River. Using a local 76 year-old woman as his model, sculptor Jim Demetro made this piece in the hopes of preserving a local custom in bronze.
For more public sculptures, please also see our article Malecon Sculptures.
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