February may not generate the buying fever of November, but six artisans who make the trek to Tlaquepaque from various points in Mexico will probably be happy for the opportunity to showcase their work during Grandes Maestros, a six-day conference and sale at Del Corazon de la Tierra gallery, February 16 to 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Gallery owner Guillermo Manzano, who started his business 26 years ago, learned about Mexican artesania under the tutelage of the legendary Jorge Wilmot, credited with the introduction of high-temperature stoneware to the country.
Manzano shows dedication to cultivating the 1,000 or so artisans he works with, and in particular the six he has invited to this event. The gallery pays for their hotels and food for the week, while the artisans give presentations (most days at 5 p.m.) and sell their work.
“It’s quite dangerous for them or anybody to drive from some remote places,” says Manzano, who speaks excellent English. Several artisans travel from mountainous Oaxaca, Tabasco and other remote rural areas. Artisans from Tintorero Mextico, for example, come from the Oaxacan seasides where they search out a snail, the caracol purpura pansa, for its beautiful lavender dye.
The gallery usually buys the artisans’ work and resells it. But for this event, artisans sell their work and do not pay any commission. “It’s our way of giving back,” says Manzano.
The gallery has cultivated seminal artisans, such as the Linares family, who began the tradition of alebrijes (fantastic winged animals) after their grandfather became ill, hallucinated, and wanted to depict what he had seen in paper.
“Diego Rivera bought some, and they became part of Mexican folk art. They were even in the Disney movie ‘Coco,’” Manzano explains.
Leonardo Linares is an invited artist at Grandes Maestros and will give a talk on the last day, Sunday, February 22, 4 p.m.
Manzano also has longstanding connections with people living at Lake Chapala, who may be building or decorating and want to collaborate with the artisans and gallery in designing furniture or furnishings. The gallery works with designers, decorators, collectors and business people from around the world.
Manzano also expresses a strong desire to promote the artisans among their fellow Mexicans. “These artisans have won national awards and represent Mexico internationally,” he says.
On a practical note, Manzano says parking lots in Tlaquepaque have been expanded, and freeway congestion near the Guadalajara airport is much improved. The wholesale show ENART will be going on at nearby El Refugio in Tlaquepaque in the same week, as well as Expo Mueble in Guadalajara, he notes.
Grandes Maestros, February 16 to 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, at Del Corazon de la Tierra, Independencia 227 (the pedestrian street), Tlaquepaque. Telephone: 33 3657 5682. See the complete schedule at delcorazondelatierra.mx.