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by Marianne Carlson (Founder and Coordinator of Feria Maestros del Arte)

What does the future hold for Mexican folk and indigenous art? Only time will tell. But does it not seem likely that potters will abandon gathering their own clay from the earth, pulverizing and processing it by hand, when commercial clays are now available? That artists who use the traditional stiff brushes chewed from the midrib of a yucca leaf or made from the hair of children will begin to use commercially made brushes to paint designs. That rather than take the many hours needed to gather and process wool, spin it, dye it, and then weave it on handmade looms, weavers may go to automated equipment and store-bought yarns.

Mexico’s indigenous and folk art is in danger of extinction. This is not an exaggeration; many of the world’s cultures have lost most of their indigenous art due to the same hardships that face Mexican artists today.

The 8th Annual Feria Maestros del Arte’s (November 13-15, 2009) sole purpose is to create public awareness of the plight of Mexican folk art, rapidly disappearing because artists cannot sustain a livelihood on their art alone. In Mexico, more and more artists are abandoning their work to take jobs in cities where they are assured of a guaranteed income. Many art forms are becoming “endangered” of being lost forever unless something is done to promote and sell this work.

This is where Feria Maestros del Arte comes in. Created by an expatriate, this event is now a legal Mexican non-profit organization manned by expats and Mexicans who have come together to do their small part in keeping Mexico’s art alive. The artists are hand selected and invited to participate. Artists pay nothing to attend the show – no booth fee, no percentage of their sales – and, they are housed by Lakeside residents for the 3 days they are in Ajijic and fed one meal each day. This means they can sell their work at the best prices possible and, hopefully, find new contacts such as gallery owners or collectors to purchase their art on a continuous basis. All artists invited to the show are Mexican and many are considered to exemplify standards of excellence set in their art medium for generations.

Mexico has many moods and faces and is, without a doubt, steeped in ancient Indian lore and seasoned with Spanish colonial customs. The array of folk art and crafts in Mexico is simply mind-boggling. Each region has its own specialty, with villagers maintaining the traditions handed down from countless generations. A common thread throughout has been the creation and re-creation of tradition.

Craftsmanship has no boundaries or government: pottery, basketwork, and weaving have survived Mayan priests, Aztec warriors, and Mexican presidents. Craftsmen have no country - they are from their village, from their neighborhood and first and foremost, from their family. The craftsman does not define himself in terms of nationality or religion. His workday is not ruled by a rigid time schedule but by a rhythm linked more to his body and senses than to the abstract necessities of having to produce.

There is a tendency today to downgrade the value of the beautiful and overstress the value of the useful. Because the value of art can be sensed through emotions and requires no intellectual analysis, appreciation of art is ultimately in the eye of the beholder and its value is whatever you will pay for it. The job of the artist is to awaken that eye, to offer you something you cannot make yourself, something that moves and stirs your imagination and love for beauty.

Feria Maestros del Arte is a small but important vehicle in helping to promote the indigenous and folk art of Mexico, to help educate the consumer about Mexican art, and to offer it at the best prices anywhere. Ask someone who’s been to Maestros del Arte and they will tell you it is a unique and very worthwhile experience. If you attend Feria Maestros del Arte, your senses will be tantalized, your eye will behold some of the finest art Mexico has to offer, and your wallet will delight at the low prices offered because there is no middleman involved – just the artist and you. Better prices are not available if you should travel direct to the artist’s homes.

All 2009 artists have their own web page on the Feria website www.mexicoartshow.com. For the first time visitor to Guadalajara or Lakeside, information on the area is also found on the website - everything you will need to know for your visit.

For more information or questions, contact Feria Coordinator Marianne Carlson at (01152 from outside Mexico) 376 765 7485, mariannecarlson@gmail.com.

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