Top notch crafts
Arte Popular de Jalisco, an exhibit and sale of traditional and contemporary craft items, runs Friday, December 4 through Friday, December 11 at in the gallery area of Ajijic’s Casa Colón, Colón 29 at the corner of Zaragoza.
The show will feature unique works by a dozen renowned artesanos from the Guadalajara metro area.
In keeping with Covid-19 prevention strategies, the opening reception will be spread out over three days, Friday through Sunday, with small groups of visitors admitted from 4 to 8 p.m., preferably by prior appointment scheduled by calling Santiago Baeza at 332-154-4964. On remaining dates, the gallery will be open for public viewing daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas baubles
Maestros del Arte will showcase wonderful offerings from 23 Mexican artisans from Chihuahua, Guerrero, Michoacán, Jalisco, Hidalgo, Puebla, Chiapas, Estado de Mexico and Oaxaca, at the Lake Chapala Society, Friday to Sunday, December 4-6. The event, to be held on the Neill James/Open Circle patio, will strictly adhere to social distancing and mask wearing.
The Feria Holiday Sale will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Please bring your own bag.
Dolls and Tarahumara
Rebecca Roth of Original Friends Dolls and Libby Townsend of the Tarahumara Project are teaming up to have a socially distanced Christmas sale and fundraiser for their respective projects, at the American Legion Post 7, Morelos 114 in Chapala, Saturday, December 12, and Saturday December 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On offer will be dolls, Tarahumara handcrafts, new women’s plus-size clothing, jewelry and lots of other Christmas goodies.
This year has been especially tough for these two women to collect funds for the projects they lead, which help many people. Roth reports that sales of the Original Friends Dolls have been extremely low due to cancellations of events, while Townsend says her Tarahumara Project was greatly effected by the cancellation of the Feria Maestros del Arte.
According to Townsend, some 20 artisan families were unable to raise the funds needed to see themselves through this winter. Meanwhile, Roth finds herself inundated with amazing one-of-a-kind dolls produced by women inmates in Guadalajara’s Puente Grande prison. The women count on the proceeds from the dolls to pay for personal care items, and to help cover expenses for their children and family outside the prison walls.
By attending the sale and purchasing items, you can help Townsend and Roth with their projects to assist two of the most marginalized groups of people in Mexico – and maybe give them a little bit of Christmas cheer.
You can also help with a donation of cash to either group, as well as donating warm clothing or blankets to the Tarahumara Project, or personal care items or materials that can be used to create more dolls to the Original Friends Dolls.
For more information about either group, contact Roth at 333-486-8890, or Townsend at 333-495-7263.
Christmas concerts
The Lake Chapala Community Orchestra’s 12-piece chamber ensemble from members of the orchestra will present a Christmas concert Friday, December 11, and Saturday, December 12, 3 p.m. at Unitarian Fellowship/Bare Stage facility at Hidalgo 261.
The performance will feature seasonal music/readings and guest singer Laura Medina. They will celebrate the 250th birthday of Beethoven with a special arrangement of his “Fidelio Overture.”
Social distancing will be adhered to during the performances and attendance is limited to 35 people. Reservations must be made in advance via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. State which day you would like and how many seats you wish to reserve. All successful reservations will receive a confirmation email.
There is no admission charge and no physical tickets will be issued.