New sculpture unveiled in Puerto Vallarta: Jim Demetro’s “Salud”

Puerto Vallarta’s urban artistic heritage is constantly being expanded. The interactive sculpture “Salud” (Cheers!), a life-size bronze piece donated by its creator, Jim Demetro, was unveiled this past Monday afternoon at the Maleconcito II of Olas Altas beach, very close to the Lázaro Cárdenas Plaza in the so-called Romantic Zone.

About 50 foreign residents, friends of the sculptor, and his family attended the emotional event where the artist unveiled his work. The artist and his family have lived in Puerto Vallarta for many years.

On November 18, 1942, James Michel Demetro was born in Battle Ground, Washington. He left his engineering career in 1992 to pursue his dream of becoming a sculptor after receiving numerous awards for his amateur works.

Bailarines de Vallarta on the Malecon and Guerrero Street, Los Amantes at Liz Taylor’s house, Los Pescadores on the Malecon II and Manuel M. Dieguez, Las Lavanderas at the mouth of the Cuale River, and Andale Bernardo at the Lazaro Cardenas Park are some of his other works that have been installed on public areas in Puerto Vallarta.

The bronze sculpture “Salud” is 1 meter and 80 centimeters tall, 170 centimeters wide, and features a happy donkey sitting on a connected chair. It was inspired by the donkey “Panchito” who was once kept there by his owners and used to sip wine with them.