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Down the street from the new Gateway development on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City, art enthusiasts can admire a painting by local artist Ruby Chacon and sip an espresso.
according to its owners -- to be a cozy place, the coffee shop complementing the art.
"A lot of gallery settings we have are marketed toward a limited group of people," Chacon said. "I want my mother to be able to come in here and be comfortable."
Chacon shares wall space with photos by gallery manager Rosalba Dominguez, stoic busts by Guillermo Colmenero and colorful paintings by Pilar Pobil.
"I think people have their stereotypes of what Latino art is, but it's just as diverse as anything else," Chacon said. "We have amazing talent here that nobody knows about."
Chacon revealed her ongoing dream of a showcase of Latino talent a year ago at a "Wildest Dreams Party" on New Year's Eve.
"I just put it out there, but I never thought it would happen," Chacon said. "It's like the universe opened up for it."
Chacon and her husband, Terry Hurst, approached the owner of their building with the idea of opening just an art gallery, with a coffee shop to come later. But the landlords offered a break in rent if they opened the coffee shop at the same time as the gallery.
"We expected to have a little place and grow," Hurst said.
The gallery, 511 W. 200 South, Suite 125, moved into its building Feb. 1, five days before opening to the public. Chacon, Dominguez and Hurst worked 20-hour shifts, building walls and slathering paint to get the building open for the Olympics.
"We were still hanging paintings while people walked through the door," Chacon said.
Yet, she said this week, few visitors in town for the Olympics have come through the door. Their biggest support comes from area residents.
"It was slightly disappointing," Hurst said, "but at the same time, it was settling."
Hurst took a lesson from Rico's Mexican Market owner Jose Fierro, who said the Olympics are temporary but his customers will still be here.
Like their customer base, the gallery's roots also come from the community. Local artists, including painters Brian Szyuge, Jose Rojas, Marla-Lepe Colmenero and Oscar Castillo also share their work.
To complement their local talent, Hurst spoke with the owner of Tamayo restaurant in Los Angeles to arrange for a loan of artwork by internationally known artists, including George Yepez from Los Angeles, Maestro Vladimir Cora from Mexico and Colombian Juan Rosio. In March, the gallery plans to bring Yepez to Utah for an exhibit.
"We didn't expect to have international artists," Hurst said. "The owner [of the Los Angeles restaurant] said take what you want. I didn't have insurance so I thought, 'What can I cover when I file bankruptcy?' "
The gallery also wants to have the artists hold workshops and lectures. To help children with their own talents, Chacon said she will hold workshops every Friday.
Every Saturday, the gallery will have poetry readings led by Hector Ahumada and Alex Caldiero.
Mestizo Gallery is open every day, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the Olympics, and Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. after the Olympics. The coffee shop is open from 6 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Jesus Lopez Jr. /The Salt Lake Tribune