If Hippocrates or Oscar Wilde said to you, "Hey, if you're shopping for unusual and unique art, be sure you go to Galería Maestros del Arte," would you listen to them? Well, I know I might‑would‑well, probably would‑should!
Galería Maestros del Arte has moved (yet again) to join Galería La Puerta in bringing to Ajijic the most eclectic collection of art to be found at Lakeside. All this can be found at Colon #13, Ajijic.
Here is what a few famous people from history (and one friend) had to say about art. Hopefully, they will entice you into our galleries, to explore and learn more about the vast array of art available in Mexico, and more particularly, here at Lakeside.
"The color! The color!" A friend visiting me for the first time..
She was referring to the Mexican art in my home that surrounds my everyday life.
"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known." Oscar Wilde
The artisan (he or she) has always been an important factor in the equation of their society and culture. He earned for himself a certain status and a responsible position in society. He made things mainly for the use of the people around him and not so much for sale in a distant marketplace. He was an heir to the people's traditions and he wove them into his craft, making it into an art.
"Art hath an enemy called ignorance." Ben Johnson
I don't think I would be inaccurate to assume that most of Mexico's visitors do not know very much about folk art. Most tourists do not realize that pottery they purchased may have been made in the same family for generations. Neither do they know it can take a month to weave a rebozo. And it's almost certain they are unaware that the woman who wove the huipile they believe is priced "too high" may give up weaving these indigenous garments to weave placemats for tourists because she cannot get a "fair" price for her work.
"Art is long, life is short." Hippocrates
Craftsmanship has no boundaries and systems of government, it outlives republics and empires: the pottery, basketwork, and weaving have survived Mayan priests, Aztec warriors, and Mexican presidents. They will also survive American tourists. Craftsmen have no country; they are from their village. What is more, they are from their neighborhood and 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 sensibility than to the abstract necessities of production. As the artisan works he may talk with others and sometimes sing.
"Art is a deliberate recreation of a new and special reality that grows from your response to life. It cannot be copied; it must be created." Anonymous
Handicrafts are rightly described as the craft of the people. While many of these art forms serve a positive need in the daily life of the people, they also act as a vehicle of self-expression. The story of art and handicrafts goes back into the mists of antiquity, when the story of man was beginning to advance into an age when the capacity of the hands to create was respected, even revered. Handicrafts thrived through the ages helped by a vigorous folk tradition and a time when individualism was cherished, and detail and precision were valued.
Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." Pablo Picasso
When an artist puts his/her brush, pen, or charcoal on paper or canvas, they are expressing their view of world as they see and feel it. I recently was talking with a well-known photographer here in Ajijic who believes fine art is not given the respect it deserves. I agree with her and would go on to say that "art" in general is not respected - I include folk and indigenous art in this statement.
"Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see." Paul Klee
There is no specialized knowledge required to be an art collector or to simply purchase a piece of art, nor must you spend exorbitant amounts of money for it to have value. The value is realized moment by moment as one looks at the newly procured treasure. What does the work say to you? Do you care? Perhaps you seek inspiration, healing, a sensory, emotional, intellectual stimulus that enhances your life now and stays with you afterward. A piece of art like that is one you'll never tire of.
Anyone who has traveled to Mexico has been exposed to the abundant handcrafts created here. But here at Lakeside, we also have many fine artists and photographers who bring to life what I like to call "my Mexico" - a piece of art, whether a handcraft or a painting that captures the color and wonder of this special country. Bringing home one or two treasures; is like bringing a bit of Mexico back with you.
Galería Maestros del Arte can now be found at Colon #13 in Ajijic. Come in and browse. Marianne Carlson can be reached at 045 331 098 4850 (cellphone), 376 765 7485 (home) or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
