Feria Maestros del Arte

Just received the following from Marianne Carlson, director of the Feria. For those who have never hosted an artisan it is a unique and fun way to get to know some of Mexico's most talented artists.

Hola all of you volunteers and hosts,

We may be looking for a few more hosts this year. There are some names of former hosts who couldn't host last year we will be contacting but if you know anyone who might be interested in hosting this year, please have them contact
Sandy Spencer at sandraspencer(at)gmail.com as soon as possible. This is a very wonderful experience if you've never done it. Those of you who have been hosts, perhaps you know friends that might be interested this year. Thank you all for all you do for the Feria - we couldn't do this show and continue to grow without you.

Marianne Carlson
Feria Maestros del Arte
www.mexicoartshow.com - English
www.feriamaestros.com - Spanish
November 16-18, 2012
NEW LOCATION: Plaza de la Ribera
(formerly Sol y Luna), Rio Bravo #10,
West Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

We're hosting and I copied and forwarded your information to another couple in the neighborhood that definitely wants to. Your post was very timely, thanks!

Hey RoofBob are you hosting, or have you done it in the past? Tell us of your experience. Thank You in advance.

We've hosted each year for the past 6 years. Usually we allocate 1 or 2 apartments plus we have the Paredes (dad and son) stay in our extra bedroom. This year we don't plan on hosting as we're booked solid and a dear friend asked to host the Paredes. Of course we usually get a call from the Feria with a last minute plea for 'just one more' and can't seem to say no so we will probably have one or two.

Hosting is one of the most interesting and memorable things we've done since we moved to Mexico. The artists are the sweetest people and each and everyone is a talented artisan. I could go on and on but briefly one of our favorite benefits is staying in their homes when we travel to their cities. In San Miguel de Allende we can have a private 2 bd. apt. right in the shopping district and in Puebla we stay with the Parades in their crown jewel of a home. It is amazing how quickly you can bond with the artists and life long friendships are developed. I'd recommend hosting if you can!

Bob...can you tell us what we as hosts will need to do besides providing a place to stay? Do we need to drive them? How do we communicate if we don't speak much Spanish? Etc.

We drove ours and we all went out to breakfast once, our treat. Otherwise, they ate here. We don't speak much Spanish either, though much better than last year. It was not a problem.

Some will drive themselves, some came by bus and have no transportation.

One of the most fun things we did was to have an informal get together of all the artists and hosts in our neighborhood.

Our neighborhood hosts, including us, go out for one big dinner and also do a potluck at one of the host homes. We've had the same artists here for 6 years. It's a wonderful annual experience!

joyfull wrote:Bob...can you tell us what we as hosts will need to do besides providing a place to stay? Do we need to drive them? How do we communicate if we don't speak much Spanish? Etc.

Your best bet would be to contact sandraspencer(at)gmail.com now and get the details on your artist. They may have transportation, may speak English etc. and take it from there.

One thing to keep in mind is this is not a vacation for your artist. For many it is their biggest sales event of the year. When they arrive they are going to be beat, having traveled all day and then set up their display space before coming 'home' to rest. Upon arrival we always have a Spanish/English speaking friend available and usually spend about 20 minutes chatting to ensure their comfort and iron out any details.

Another thing we found is that to a person the artists are excruciatingly polite. For instance, when you show them their bedroom pull the covers back or they may not sleep in the bed. Your invitation to help themselves to the kitchen, refrigerator, anything, forgetaboutit. Of course breakfast is appreciated, they buy lunch at the Feria and dinner can freestyle, going out, pizza delivery or a home cooked meal. And don't be surprised if they want to go out to dinner by themselves. It's nothing personal, they just don't want to be a bother.

These folks are not po mud brick trinkiteers, they are the best of Mexico's best and you'll be the lucky dog who gets to know them as family. (Actually I'm surprised there are any available.)

Sent Sandra an email earler and am waiting to hear from her.

We have also hosted for several years and our experience is very different from that of Roofbob but also very positive.
We host indigenous who are very poor who do not have any house you would want to stay in, no cement floor, a kitchen with chicken and turkeys running around and although they are the best in their field these people have very little.

They come from a very long way over 20 hour trip and are exhausted when they come in. We offer them a tortilla soup or hot chocolate with sweet bread the night they come in and ask them what they like to eat and what they do not like . (many of the people we had were lactose intolerant)

We show them their room give them towels although they bring their own and show them how to use the shower cold and hot water. They do not have hot water and usually bathe in cold water so the hot water trick has to be shown.
It is a good idea to open the bed as many of them do not have sheets or pillows.
We cook breakfast in the morning for them things like omelettes or dishes with eggs and buy lots of tortilla as they diet is mainly based on tortilla beans and chilis and many vegies with chicken for special days.
At night we have a regular meal like we would everyday keeping in mind what they do not like or cannot eat.
Their Spanish is very rudimentary so it is easy to understand for people who do not speak much Spanish and they are pretty good at understanding what you want to tell them. They are shy people but love the experience of getting out of their village and living in luxury for a few days.
Many of the people who stayed with us were shy but very sweet and
having them is a real pleasure .
As RoofBob says it makes the experience of travelling to their villages very interesting and rewarding. I highly recommend hosting.
Not many people are as well educated and as well off as the Paredes but the experience can be equally rewarding.

Now you have both end of the spectrum and you can imagine anything in betweenn.

Just a reminder that this event is looking for sponsors for the artists:

Just received the Feria newsletter yesterday which announced that the venue would be the Chapala Yacht Club once again:

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