Chinese Pirates Endangering Folk Art

Over 11,000 artisans in the Mexican state of Michoacán have abandoned  their work due to a decline in sales, and it's not just because of the lack of tourism. It's because of Chinese crafts pirates. Yes, that's right, Chinese entrepreneurs have decided there's money to be made in creating knock-offs of traditional folk art from around the world.  Artisans of Mexico's guitar making village Paracho, can't compete with cheap Chinese products being sold in Mexico and sales of Mexican made guitars have dropped an estimated 60%.  The workshop price of fine handmade traditional Paracho guitars averages 1,500 pesos or $120 US. Chinese made guitars in Mexico on the other hand, will cost the equivalent of 15 dollars.  The sales of Chinese factory produced imitations have resulted in 200 guitar workshops closing their doors in the past three years, causing an economic crisis with many artisans and their families leaving for the U.S. to find work. 

Copper artisan, Roberto Castro Hernandez.

In addition to musical instruments, traditional Mexican folk art is now been copied by Chinese pirates and imported into Mexico, endangering the economic and cultural survival of 173 indigenous communities. It is estimated that 90% of those in Michoacán's indigenous communities who now receive government food assistance are families of artisans.

Mexico By Hand has observed over the years that the decline in tourism due to headlines about drug wars has impacted the economic situation of the artisans of Michoacán, and it has deepened our commitment to continue with our work. Ten years ago we saw with our own eyes foreigners armed with cameras and measuring tape, attempting to copy the beautiful hammered copper pieces of Santa Clara del Cobre.  We were alarmed then and knew that it was just a matter of time before we would see factory made imitations showing up in Walmarts around the world.  The Mexican government  has been lax and must protect its workers and communities, and stop the Chinese imports at the port of entry. And Mexican consumers need to ask questions and then refuse to buy products made in China.  The plastic Virgen of Guadalupe and Catrina figures one sees at flea markets here in the U.S. represent a cultural rip-off that Latinos  should be ashamed to buy. 

Mexican-American vendor in Northern California

Apolonia Martinez of Ocumicho

  

Alvaro de la Cruz of Capula

With all the emphasis these days about buying sustainable and local products, we need to add BUY AUTHENTIC to the list. Thousands of people's lives depend on us saying NO. And when you shop for gifts this holiday season, I ask that you look for items made by hand.  Not only will you be able to enjoy a piece of unique traditional art, but will be doing your part to help ensure the economic and cultural survival of indigenous Mexican communities. 

It will make a difference. Really.

To purchase handmade, authentic crafts and folk art by artisans of Michoacán, please visit our website at www.mexicobyhand.com or call (510) 526-6395.

Source for this information in Spanish http://www.reporteindigo.com/reporte/mexico/artesanos-piratas

Open for Business

Leslie's new handpainted serving/baking dish (lead-free)

Yesterday we had another nice time with a local customer and frequent visitor to Mexico By Hand's "showroom" in Berkeley. Leslie has shopped with us before AND has visited Michoacán herself, so she knows about the amazing and beautiful crafts produced by the state's talented artisans. And she keeps coming back for more! She also knows how quickly some of the best pieces fly off the shelves, so she wanted to be the first to have a look at what we had acquired on our last buying trip. And then I realized that maybe you busy Bay Area folks don't know this, but y'all don't have to wait for one of our sales events to shop with us.  Lots of retail customers (most of whom met us first at a sales event) choose to come over to my home/showroom to have a personal shopping experience. And they often bring a friend or spouse, go out to eat afterwards-- making a day of it. No crowds, usually there's parking, and then you get to see everything we have, much of which I don't schlep to outside events.
Plus, if it's a nice day and you crave a bit of scenic Berkeley, we can help with that too. I also occasionally give discounts for large purchases, because you've saved me the time and money involved in exhibiting elsewhere.

Leslie chose this burnished pot from Huancito

We are available to receive folks most days, including weekends if I'm around, just as long as you don't bring rambunctious dogs or sticky hands. And call or email me before to make an appointment at (510) 526-6395 or info@mexicobyhand.com.

Small handpainted plate (lead-free) This one is still available.

Grande Maestra

 In 2011 Mexico By Hand presented the exhibit, "En las Manos de las Mujeres", featuring the artesania of master craftswomen from Michoacán, Mexico. We were thrilled to be able to bring two of the women to the Bay Area, one of whom is maque artist, Martina Navarro Gonzalez, pictured here on the right. She has been a good friend since exhibiting with us at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market in 2005, and Martina's unique story, some of which she tells in our video (see link below), always fascinates those who have the opportunity to meet her. And of course there is the beautiful traditional art she creates. Maque is an ancient Purépecha lacquer art made entirely with natural materials: wood plates or gourds rubbed and encrusted with pigments made from plants and animals. There are very few artists remaining who do this work; we've been told there are twelve, but that was ten years ago.
We were so excited to hear the fantastic news that Martina has won the most honored prize for folk art
to be bestowed on an artist in Mexico--she has been declared one of Mexico's "Living Legends"! Here's the article published (in Spanish of course) in El Universal.
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/cultura/70172.html

On the right is one of my favorite pics of Martina and Herlinda Morales visit to the Bay Area, learning how to use chopsticks at a Berkeley Chinese restaurant.




Below, Martina Navarro of Uruapan sells her maque pieces at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, where she represented artisans of Michoacán with Mexico By Hand.

Maque pieces by Martina Navarro are available for purchase in the United States at www.mexicobyhand.com.

Gratitude

As we in the United States get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I am full of gratitude for both the talented Mexican artisans and our appreciative customers we have met through this small business known as Mexico By Hand. Below are a few of the hardworking artists who put their hearts and souls into the pieces they produce, the precious pieces we pack and ship to this country for you to buy and bring home-- so that you may add more pleasure to your lives. I give thanks to you, our dedicated fans and supporters who come to every sale, who express your appreciation for the art and encourage our efforts to continue bringing it to the U.S. We wouldn't be here without you.
We send you love and appreciation, and our wishes for many blessings for you and yours during the holidays.
Peggy Stein,
Mexico By Hand

Martina Navarro, maque

Zenaida Rafael Julian, clay sculpture

Herlinda Morales, clay candelabras

Martin Espicio, clay pots

Fernando Arroyo, lead free pottery

Felipe Horta, maskmaker

Jose Guadalupe Hernandez Cano, burnished pottery

Robert Castro Hernandez, hammered copper

Teofila Servin, embroidery

Ana Luisa Cano, weaving

To see and purchase folk art and crafts by these and other artisans of Michoacán, please go to our website at www.mexicobyhand.com.  We thank you for your support!

When traditional is progressive

Artisan making pine needle baskets

If you're a left-leaning social progressive, there are some cultural traditions that you would probably like to get rid of: patriarchy, child abuse, and big game hunting to name a few. On the other hand, there are some traditional cultural expressions that many of us recognize need preserving-- and indigenous folk art and handmade crafts fit into that category. When traditional art is also sustainable or "eco-friendly", when artisans utilize natural resources and production techniques that benefit the environment and the health of the local community, then that it is also progressive and something we should all support. And if purchasing a beautiful handmade piece of art to enrich our own lives is how we show our support for struggling artisans in Mexico, then that's a good thing to do because we all benefit.

Indigenous coastal artisans burnishing their pottery

Copper artisan from Santa Clara del Cobre

Since 2004, Mexico By Hand has been buying extraordinary handmade traditional crafts and folk art directly from award-winning artisans in Michoacán, Mexico. We feature beautiful handwoven baskets made from pine needles, paper mache figures made from newspaper, and gorgeous hammered copper vases created from 100% recycled copper scrap. We also seek out artisans who have converted to using lead-free glazes and create beautiful food safe pottery, like these below:

If you appreciate the crafts you see here, please check out our website: www.mexicobyhand.com 
and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mexicobyhand.
Wholesale customers are welcome! Contact us at: info@mexicobyhand.com or call 510.526.6395

Purepecha Indian Crafts-- A Mexican Treasure

The state of Michoacán is home to four indigenous groups-- the Purepecha being the largest of those, and the culture that is responsible for most of the exquisite crafts and folk art from the region. The Purepecha, sometimes spelled Purhépecha, and also called Tarascan (but that's a long story) developed the most advanced pre-Columbian society in western Mexico. They resisted Aztec domination for decades, only to be brutally defeated by the Spanish in the early 16th century. Today the Purepecha number a little over 120,000.

The Purhépecha language has been called a hybrid Mesoamerican language. Some researchers have suggested that it is distantly related to Quechua, one of the man languages in the Andean zone of South America. For this reason, it has been suggested that the Purhépecha may have arrived in Mexico from Peru and may be distantly related to the Incas. The language also has some similarities to that spoken by the Zuni Indians of New Mexico. 

The ancient Purepecha inhabitants were farmers and fishermen, but later became skilled weavers and became known for their feathered mosaics made from hummingbird plumage. With time, these gifted people also became skilled craftsmen in metalworking, pottery, and wood and stone carving. Below are a just a few of the pottery styles created by traditional Purepecha communities:

Burnished pots from Huancito

Marta Espicio of Huancito

Zenaida Rafael Julian, award-winning artist of Ocumicho

Glazed candelabras by Herlinda Morales of Santa Fe de la Laguna

Maque, a lacquerware made only in Michoacán, is a Pre-Columbian technique using pigments made from plants and insects.

Martina Navarro, master maque artisan

Hammered copper art has been made in the village of Santa Clara del Cobre going back about 500 years in small workshops like the one below.

Workshop of Roberto Castro Hernandez

Purepecha women in dozens of villages around the state make beautiful rebozos and embroidered blouses like those pictured here.

Cecilia Bautista, master weaver of Ahuiran

To see more art by extraordinary Purepecha artisans, please go to www.mexicobyhand.com where many items are available for purchase. Our mission is to promote the work of talented artisans of Michoacán. By bringing their beautiful handmade goods to a wider market, artists are able to support their families and communities and ensure that their traditions survive.

For more information about Michoacán history and the Purepecha people I recommend the following website by historian,  John Schmal: http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/michoacan.html

Art That Sustains Communities and Mother Earth

Question: What do you give the person who has everything?
Answer: Something beautiful made by someone who has next to nothing.
When that something will help sustain a family, a culture, and the Earth, then we can all smile.
I'm talking about sustainable crafts made by indigenous Mexican artisans:
Handmade traditional pottery that is created from local clay deposits, decorated without lead or other chemicals that are harmful to the artisans, their families, and consumers. Use these bowls, plates, or pots to serve healthy, natural food and it will all look and taste better.




















Use this lead-free clay cookware to cook your beans on the stove and then serve on your table. The beans will have more flavor and your guests will sing your praises. For more info. on CocinaSana, our clay cookware, go to www.cocinasanamexico.blogspot.com





Gorgeous hammered copper vases like these are made in Santa Clara del Cobre from 100% recycled copper...old telephone wire, pipe, and motor parts. Add one of these stunning pieces to your table, fill it with flowers and your life will be better...I promise. Give one to a friend or lover, and you will be spreading happiness.
Baskets made with pine needles from Mexico's forests, and tule reeds from Lake Patzcuaro-- all sustainable products that come from the Earth and can be used to beautifully serve your bread and tortillas. Say no to plastic, and yes to natural products that enhance our lives.

Support artisans who are trying to maintain their culture, their families and their communities by buying traditional, sustainable crafts. For more info. or to purchase, please go to: www.mexicobyhand.com