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Lifestyles Profile - Joe and Claire Guarniere Another Puerto Vallarta love and success story: Joe and Claire Guarniere. Claire, originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was an English teacher in Vallarta when Joe met her while on vacation from Battlecreek, Michigan, some 14 years ago. He returned six months later and three months after that they were married. With Joe's business and art history background, they opened their popular restaurant, Pizza Joe, in 1988 where they displayed the sculpture they had collected with their children, Daniela, Marco and Tatiana Gena, on the family's annual trips to Florence, Italy. All three of their children share their parents love of art. Tatiana has been studying acrylic painting locally for the last four years and has plans for more formal education after graduation. Eventually the Guarniere's discovered foundries in Mexico that produced fine pieces, which they lovingly added to their collection. As their restaurant flourished so did the interest in their sculpture - their patrons started buying from their collection. It was always Joe and Claire's goal to "do something we loved to do" consequently, after eight years in the restaurant business and a growing sculpture concern, in 1995 they transitioned to a showroom of fine sculpture. The couple named their gallery, Galleria Dante after the famous Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, the author of "Dante's Inferno." This summer they remodeled their gallery from a courtyard setting to "an environment where our art would present itself better," Joe explains. Their new gallery is complete with marble floors and over 2000 square feet of covered display area. Joe and Claire proudly represent 25 main sculptors in the classic, contemporary, realistic and abstract styles. Sculptures range from desktop appropriate to "public monuments," including limited edition sculptures of the famous Marina Whale by Octavio Gonzales. Joe and Claire Guarniere are happy living their dream showcasing the art that they both love, though Claire says Joe made the best pizza in town and still does!

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