As shoppers flock to Feria Maestros del Arte this weekend to buy exquisite pieces from scores of talented Mexican artisans, many may not consider the deeper significance of this extraordinary marketplace.
Feria founder Marianne Carlson summarizes it best: “The purpose of the show is to bring awareness to the plight of Mexican folk and indigenous art—it is disappearing over time due to many factors, one of which is the public’s lack of knowledge as to why it is important to keep this art alive,” she states on the fair’s website.
Cathey Merrill, lakeside’s leading folk art collector, provides further insight into why the Feria is so important. While younger generations may want to continue crafting traditional art passed down from their ancestors, many are forced to find other work to make a living, she observes.
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