Eriza-Dos “Standing on End” (2007) Maritza Vazquez BLU

Eriza-Dos (Martiza Vázquez) Malecon II Puerto Vallarta

A unique sculpture that makes you think of a sea urchin or maybe some 2nd WW underwater mines, these rusty prickly pears are found where Libertad street intersects Malecón II.

Close to the statue of San Pascual Bailón and the Vitea Café on the malecón extension south of the Naval Museum, you’ll find these iron sea urchins.

The name is a wordplay, “erizados” means bristling, but separated in “eriza”, could mean a female urchin, and “dos”, you should know is two in Spanish, that is two urchins.

Eriza-dos, Blu (Martiza Vazquez) Plaque

This sculpture was created and donated by BLU, also known as Maritza Vazquez, an artist from the city of Guadalajara. It’s a creation that connects the city with its constant companion, the sea.

Inaugurated on May 16th, 2007, it was actually part of a temporary exhibition, but the artist decided to leave it in Vallarta after seeing how well it was received by the locals.

The sculpture as mentioned depicts two steel sea urchins and required a lot of hard work, but the final sculpture also conveys the idea of life and movement to the viewer.

Martiza Vázquez (BLU)

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in 1963. Artist Maritza “Blu” Vazquez works out of both Guadalajara, in the country of Mexico, and San Antonio, in the state of Texas.

Her work, which explores abstract forms inspired by her investigation of aquatic life, is created using a broad array of materials and draws inspiration from the fact that she is an experienced scuba diver.

In 1986, Vazquez graduated from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara with a bachelor’s degree in visual arts. . The sculptors Diego Martínez Negrete and Saúl Hernández Santoyo opened the doors of their artistic foundries to teach her everything related to bronze casting and patina. She then decided to try out the use of steel in industrial workshops with the intention of making larger format pieces. Vazquez’s work has been exhibited internationally

• Her passion for scuba diving has been a source of inspiration to produce most of her work.
• Experimentation is an important part of her artistic work.
• She is convinced that the essence of the materials used helps define the idea that she seeks to convey.
• Active since 1986, she has exhibited her pieces in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Mexico and the United States of America.
• She has permanent works on the boardwalk in Puerto Vallarta and many of her creations are part of important private collections.

Eriza-dos, Blu (Martiza Vazquez)

She went to Monterrey, Nuevo León, several times a year for two years to work on the “Corals” series with Generoso Villarreal. Villarreal makes steel sculptures for artists like Tamayo, Felguérez, Gunther Gerszo, Aceves Navarro, Colunga, Sebastián, and Friedebeg, among others.

Her work has been shown all over the world in galleries, museums, and other public places. Sotheby’s in New York sold one of her pieces.

She is still involved in the arts world, and since 2011, she has been on the Board of Directors of Blue Star Contemporary in San Antonio, Texas.

Artist’s website

You’ll find Eriza-Dos located on what is called Malecón II, the boardwalk piece located south of The Friendship Fountain (The Dancing Dolphins) and north of the pedestrian bridge over the Cuale River.

Where Libertad Street intersects the Malecon II, that’s where this sculpture is located.

Author: M. A. Gallardo