We attended the Feria Maestros del Arte festival this weekend at the Club De Yates De Chapala (Chapala Yacht Club). This is the ninth year for this event and was the inspiration of Marianne Carlson, a local Lakeside resident. She originally decided upon this forum after she had visited 17 artisan villages in Mexico several years ago. Many of the indigenous artists did their craft in their homes so it soon became apparent to Marianne that the average person would never be able to witness the beauty of this folk art. As Marianne has expressed on her website, the feria “offers a vehicle to promote the indigenous and folk art of Mexico, while at the same time educating the public that such art is on the brink of becoming endangered and disappearing forever”.
The Feria is a non-profit and the true beauty of this organization is that it provides an avenue where the artists are provided transportation to this event; are housed with local Lakeside residents for the three days that the show occurs; and they take home 100% of their sales. Although many items were clearly out of our price range, for collectors and with those who have deeper pockets than ours, one-of-a-kind pieces can be obtained for a fraction of the price one would pay for them in a gallery. Many art pieces are well within the average consumer’s budget and when you see the detail and the countless hours that have gone into the creation of their beautiful, expressive artwork, you would never begrudge them one centavo.
Marianne hand-picks the artists, traveling to their homes to gain a better understanding of the familial history of their craft. Because of the painstaking efforts by her and a number of volunteers that coordinate this event, as expressed on her website, the feria “is a “heart” show – not just another “art” show”.
Artwork displayed by the Castilla Orta family from Puebla, Mexico stood out as some of the most spectacular at the show. For the past 40 years, this family of clay potters has created stunning and whimsical pieces. In 2009, Alfonso, the patriarch of this family, passed away but his entire family still carries on his tradition.
Below is just a sample of their amazing artwork.
There were some amazing rebozos (shawls) on display at the show and a special presentation for women on the many ways to wear this artwork. Don Isaac Ramos Padilla was another artisan who passed away this past year and was a true maestro of Mexican weaving, having struggled to hone his trade since the early age of 10. This patriarch of Mexican weaving worked 12 hour days, 7 days per week to produce an average of 2 rebozos per week. He received numerous awards for his work, the most noted being the Grand Prize at the National Arte Popular Judged Art Show in 2008. Few weavers in Mexico have achieved this type of tribute.
His family endeavors to continue his unique form of weaving, in which he did all the processes himself: mixing the dyes, dyeing the cotton, setting up the loom with the thousands of strands, painting on the pattern, and finally the weaving. The level of detail and the heart and soul put into each rebozo are reflected in the price tag but well worth every peso when you watch this family at work on the loom.
So many talented artisans stood out at this festival, to include those gifted in obsidian artwork, hand-woven rugs, pottery, fused glass, hand painted gourds and huipiles (hand-woven women’s blouses), to name a few.
Isabel Mendoza of Guadalajara is carrying on the tradition of straw art begun by her grandfather. We felt that it was some of the most magnificent artwork on display at the feria. This is just one example of what she is able to do with dyed, very small pieces of straw collected in the mountains by the locals, attached to a beeswax background.
Last but not least is the infamous Mexican catrina, beautiful and intriguing.
Had it not been 10:00 in the morning, we may have ventured over to the Tequila Tasting Bar but opted instead to view the Ballet de Chapala performing some regional Mexican dance steps. The colorful costumes and enthusiastic smiles were a joy to watch!
For anyone wanting to learn more about Mexican indigenous art, there is a landmark book entitled “Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art”, published by Fomento Cultural Banamex, that you may enjoy.
Paint Your Landscape 
More beautiful pictures. That looks like it was fun to see. I really appreciated the straw art work. I’m glad you are having so much fun. Awaiting your next posting.
Great post LuAnn!
Thanks Kevin! Yours was great as well. I did not get a chance to see the artwork you and Erin purchased until I looked at your post. It is absolutely stunning!
hello I was luck to approach your topic in google
your topic is excellent
I learn a lot in your topic really thank your very much
btw the theme of you site is really splendid
where can find it
Good Morning Lu!
Melissa and I are pretending that we are there going from one artist’s area to another getting to choose whatever we want. We decided there was no need to choose-WE WANT IT ALL! If I didn’t know you better, I would say that you are taunting me! Yet again, you are showing us the colorful nature of these people and how it is woven into their culture. The pictures are amazing….the girls look just like flowers dancing in the wind! I wish that we knew that kind of abandon. Back East, where I grew up (as you know) in Boston, the color of the day-EVERY DAY- was black. I think that it was the unofficial uniform of the East Coast and we all willingly submitted to removing the color from our lives. To me, that says a lot about the reality that people are living. Where you are, there seems to be a celebration of every aspect of life-including death. It is vibrant, sensual, energizing in a way that we did not dare to experience back there. As a lover of color and nature, I always wondered what we were all afraid of. Never fitting in totally, as I dressed in turquoise, purple, vibrant green and every other color of the spectrum, I knew intuitively that something was missing for me. The somber life steming from victorian and puritan heritage, wrought with secrecy and inhibition is missing from the culture and people you are showing us. I feel, in some ways, I was born in the wrong time and place as I relate more to this place that I have never visited than to the home of my upbringing. I think it says volumes about a culture in how they value the arts as an integral part of life just as breathing. It is a rather cold day and has been somewhat overcast for a few days bringing me back to dreary grey days in Boston where a blanket of despair enveloped me. Your blog post has elevated me to a virtual mini vacation and I feel alive and uplifted once more. It makes it all the more meaningful that I get to experience a little glimpse into your world through your eyes. It takes my breath away. I miss you terribly and Thanksgiving was not the same knowing that were out there but not here. I send you and Terry loving thoughts and look forward to the day when we will see you again. Be well, Lu.
Love, Barbara
Barb,
I knew you would immediately relate to the colorful artwork and the unique sense of style displayed by these artists. I am truly beginning to understand how vitally important it is to support these indigenous peoples so that their work can continue and the gift they have been given and that has been passed down from generation to generation will not be lost. I see how you can relate as your artwork, completed back East, was so counter to what was typical to that area of the country. Given your draw to Native American cultures, you were probably born in the wrong era and the wrong place and you would certainly fit into this landscape as well. I wish you could be here with me to experience some of this. I will just have to continue to show you as best I can through my eyes and words. I love you, my anam cara, and I will see you soon!
Lu