Feria Board Member: Rachel McMillen

Feria board member Rachel (R.J.) McMillen, was born in England, raised in Australia, and spent three years in Greece before moving to Canada in 1968. After her husband died in 2002, she decided to find a place where she could live happily year-round and not have to follow the sun. 

Rachel has a diverse background, stating, "I have always been a writer (freelance journalist, newspaper columnist, poet etc.), I also worked as a grade-school teacher, an ESL teacher, a cook on a mission boat, a computer programmer, a systems analyst, an accountant (sort-of), a store owner and manager and a business consultant. I’m still doing the writing, but I’ve retired from the rest!"

Rachel is the author of the popular “Dan Connor” mystery series published by Touchwood Editions, which includes Dark Moon Walking (2014), Black Tide Rising (2015), Green River Falling (2016) and Gray Sea Running which was released this past spring. Two of her books were nominated for the Arthur Ellis award.

Like many people, Rachel attended a Feria and then fell in love with the art and the artisans and volunteers. She stays involved with the Feria because of its focus on not only helping the artists but also the entire community.  One of her fondest memories was the time Juana Gomez, an artisan who makes large jaguar sculptures asked the Feria for assistance in order to rent a truck to bring her work to Chapala. After the Feria, where she sold everything she had brought, she came up to the administration table with her entire family and returned the money as a thank you. Rachel says, "We all wound up crying and I still cry when I think about it.”

Alebrije by Enrique Fabián Ortega

When asked what her favorite type of folk are is, Rachel hesitated and then said, “Alebrijes …  but then there’s Catrinas, and the Mata Ortiz pottery, and the pineapples, and the weaving, and the embroidery . . . .” 

All the heart that Rachel brings to her writing and to her love of Mexican folk art and its artisans makes her the perfect co-ordinator for volunteers and so many other aspects of the Feria.

 

Catrina by
Alvaro de la Cruz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more of Rachel's favorite, please click here for the list of artisans for 2018.

Feria Board Member: Steve Checkoway

by Martin Ibarra

Feria Board Member Steve Checkoway came to Mexico in 2002 to work in San Luis Potosi in the metalcasting industry.  After he retired, he and his wife Beverly moved to Ajijic in 2005.

Steve attended the Feria in 2005 and 2006, then became a “shlepper,” helping with set up and tear down in 2007. After what he calls making the unfortunate mistake of suggesting a better way to make the name tags, he was immediately appointed Name Tag Coordinator and then joined the Board in 2008, where he now has responsibility for Admissions, Raffle, and the Appreciation Luncheon as well as Name Tags.  

When asked why he stays involved, he laughs and says, “I stay involved because you'all on the board won't let me get away.  Seriously, I'm not as "into" the art as much as most of you are; I just enjoy contributing my organizational abilities as my contribution to the Mexican community, and I really enjoy seeing the "so happy" artisans as they are preparing to leave on Sunday.” Steve says he stays involved with the Feria, "Because it provides awareness to both the Mexican and ex-pat communities of the situation of so many of these artisans and the status of Mexican folk art in general.”

Asked for a memory about his time with the Feria, he recalls, “using flashlights to see (and sharing tequila to keep warm) with members of the hosting team, back when the old buses sometimes arrived 'rather late.’” 

by Ignacio Garcia

When asked about his favorite folk art, Steve says,"Several years ago my wife Beverly & I met Martín Ibarra* and Ignacio Garcia.  We now take visitors to their homes/"studios" several times a year, so I guess I'm partial to Martín's virgins and Nacho's molcajetes**.  We're also happy and proud that we got Nacho into his first Feria a few years ago and that he'll be at his third this year."

*Ibarra was recently called one of the three or four best artists of his genre in Mexico by Bernardo Colunga (brother of the sculptor Alejandro) and has had his name mentioned in the same breath as regional pottery legends Jorge Wilmot and Jose Bernabe. Martin is a true folk art artist who exemplifies the best in Mexican handicrafts.

**The tradition of carving basalt in Mexico is believed to have begun with the Olmec peoples of the Gulf Coast in the second millennium B.C., if not earlier. Many of the Aztec sculptures still exist despite massive destruction by the Spaniards, who considered them to be heathen idols.  

Behind the Scenes: Donna Williams, Feria Coordinator

Donna Williams

Creating the Feria is somewhat like building and stocking a Walmart on Thursday and taking it down again on Sunday afternoon. 

On Thursday, buses pull into the Chapala Yacht Club and hundreds of artisans each with dozens of boxes and bags of artwork have to be directed to the right tents, helped with any last minute issues, and reassured that everything is going to be okay. 

Thursday looks like an ant hill that’s been dumped onto a new piece of ground, but by Friday morning at 9:30, everything sparkles. Artisans are in their booths, art work attractively displayed, the coffee is hot at the food and beverage stations, colorful decorations adorn the booths, and signs identify the vendors, the art and where the bathrooms are.

The magician who makes all of this happen is Donna Williams, Feria Coordinator, with many dedicated volunteers helping, of course. Donna herself is tall, calm, elegant, looking as if she had done nothing more than wave a magic wand. She sparkles as much as the Feria grounds. 

How does she do it? “I spent 35 years as an ER nurse,” she says, as if that explains it all, and maybe it does.

One of the 85 booths being set up

Volunteers adding color to the Feria

Donna moved to the Lake Chapala area in 2002 from Sedona, Arizona, and went to the first Feria 17 years ago. By the time she went to the second, she had decided she wanted to be part of the event. It didn’t take long before she was not only part of it, she was the behind-the-scenes magician and on the Board of Directors. When asked what keeps her volunteering, she quickly talks about the joy of meeting and helping the artists. “The tears and hugging,” as she calls it. She visits many of the artists in their villages as she and her husband travel around Mexico.

You can almost always recognize long-time volunteers because they have the coolest outfits they’ve collected over the years. When you see Donna, say “hi.” She may not have time to stop and talk but she will beam a smile on you that will make you sparkle, too.

Feria Partners: Fundación con Causa Azul & Novica

The Feria’s mission to promote and preserve Mexican folk art is spreading slowly through other organizations as well. The Feria is now partnering with other organizations having similar missions. One such group is Fundación con Causa Azul.

The reality of artisans is complicated. According to Sedesol, in Mexico there are nearly 12 million artisans, of whom 55% live in poverty. In Jalisco, there are about 400 artisans that represent 13 fine craft techniques; some of them endangered. Clearly, this is not the best-case scenario for artisans, who, through the teachings of their parents and grandparents, have created unique and soulful pieces from generation to generation. These people, who put their talent and effort into the creation of wonderful pieces, deserve a better quality of life.

Fundación con Causa Azul believes it is necessary to emphasize the importance of artensania (handcrafts) and start to unleash a movement. Their Artisan’s Day campaign aims to generate positive information regarding artesania — the objective being to increase appreciation and expenditures in Jalisco.

Follow them on Facebook: @fundacionconcausaazul or contact Ana Ramírez ana.ramirez@claseazul.com.

Feria Maestros del Arte has also begun working with Novica, another organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the plight of endangered art, however, their cause covers the globe.

Novica offers artisans fair prices, no binding contracts, and the freedom to make a success of their  craft by building a sustainable business. They sell unique handmade products, and offer you, the customer, great value and the joy of helping to nurture and elevate the craft of global artisans.

The idea for NOVICA came to co-founder Roberto Milk in a flash of inspiration during a Portuguese language class at Stanford in 1995. Inspiration for Novica’s social mission comes from Roberto's missionary grandmother. Affirmation that the idea was a good one, came from Mina Olivera, Roberto's wife, and her mother, Armenia Nercessian who was then a Human Rights Officer with the United Nations. Confidence to push forward with Novica also came from a strong family heritage of championing social causes and artisanship, along with enthusiastic support from three of Roberto’s Friends.

With their team of dreamers assembled, their mission was now clear — they were going to reinvent the import/export process for artisans and find a better way to sell their products to the world. They incubated the idea for five years and launched Novica in 1999.

Scripps Ventures invested in Novica’s first major funding round, providing capital for a large ad campaign. Novica billboards soon appeared throughout New York City. This captures the attention of National Geographic, who think our ads look a little too much like their famous yellow border. They ask Novica to use other colors, however, soon after, National Geographic came on board as a major investor, giving Novica instant brand recognition, and allowing them to reach a wider audience of art and culture lovers. To date Novica has sent over $88.1M to artisans around the world.

The clear association between these two organizations and the Feria is not yet clearly defined, however, it is clear all three have similar missions and the stage has been set for the future.

Meeting the Artists: Inside the making of Mexican Folk Art

Back-strap loom showing the purpura purple

While many people love Mexican folk art, not as many understand how it is made and what makes a piece found in a local market place different from the work of the carefully chosen artisans who display their art at the Feria. Last year, to help people understand the processes and materials that are the foundation of Mexican Folk Art, the Feria initiated a series of educational presentations by some of the artisans. The series was such a hit that it will be continued this year.

A story that was heard frequently last year comes from the presentation by the group of weavers from Oaxaca know as Dreamweavers. Several people reported that they had admired one of the Dreamweaver huipiles or other pieces of work but didn’t truly understand its beauty and uniqueness until they attended their presentation. There they learned about the men who go into a hazardous sea to pry the purpura snail from the rocks and gently coax its “milk” onto the cotton yarn they carry. In the sunlight this milk turns a luxurious purple. The presentation included a video and a chance to hold one of the endangered purpura shells. 

Rug by Jacobo Mendoza

The Dreamweavers presentation last year helped lead to this year’s theme: The Colors of Nature and they will be back this year to share their amazing story and more about what they are doing to protect the endangered snail. 

Here are the presentations that are scheduled for this year:

Marta Turok: The challenges of sustainability and natural dyes and the future of two of the most iconic Mexican garments. Leading Mexican Folk Art expert Marta Turok will give us a behind the scenes look at what is being done to protect the future for the Mexican Folk Art world.

Mariano & Cilau Valadez: Overview of the deep spiritual beliefs expressed in colorful Huichol yarn art.

Guadalupe (Lupe) García Rios: The making of high-fired ceramics using ancient Purépecha symbols.

Dreamweavers: Ancient traditions: purple magic from an endangered snail.

Jacobo Mendoza: Beyond colors and shapes … Zapotec rug weaving, symbols and working with colors from nature.

More about the ancient traditions of the purple dye.

You, too, can host a Feria artist

Enjoy meeting artists in your home

When Carol Bowman talks about her experience hosting Feria artists, she says "these artists drifted in as strangers but left as family members.” She has hosted for three years now and is looking forward to meeting new artists this year.

In their note describing their wonderful experience hosting an artist family from a small town in Michoacán, Margaret and Bill told a story about serving them waffles. It was the artisans first waffles and they loved them so much that Margaret and Bill gifted them with the waffle iron when they left. You can only imagine how proud they were of that waffle iron when they returned home.

Hosting is a unique opportunity to meet the artists

These are only a few of the stories that happen every year as local people host artists from all over Mexico. The hosting process is part of the Feria’s commitment to helping the artisans take home every centavo they earn from the Feria. However, it is also one of the most amazing experiences as the hosts make lasting friends with the artisans and  each of them has a valuable cross-cultural experience.

If you live at Lake Chapala, and would like to open your home to host an artist for these three days of November 8, 9, 10, we would be so grateful to have you join our ranks. This cross-cultural experience can be life-changing for both hosts and artists. For more information, please contact Brenda Byron at  (376) 765-2408 or 331 534 6985 cellphone or email brenda-colin@hotmail.com.

Chess comes to Feria 2018 ... Why?

Feria board member Roberto Serrano with chess kids

When you come to the Feria in 2018, you’ll see tables of kids playing chess. A natural question would be: What does chess have to do with Mexican folk art? And, like most of the best things in life, the story takes some unravelling.

Playing chess in the Ajijic Plaza on Sundays at 1pm

It started three years ago when Roy Quiriconi, a chess enthusiast, met Roberto Serrano, a community activist, Feria Board member, and shoe merchant (Flexi Stores on the Ajijic plaza and in Chapala). Out of that meeting came the idea of teaching local children to play chess and Roberto came up with the name HuaraChess because it incorporates the idea of community, coming together, unity, and brotherhood with the ancient game of chess. Roy donated a several chess sets, the Lake Chapala Society donated space and some sets and the HuaraChess Club was launched.

Chess, a board strategy game, originated in India in the 7th century and the pieces took on their present shape and powers in Spain in the 15th century. However, it wasn’t until recently that chess was recognized as a significant way to develop intelligence and thinking skills. Recent studies have linked the playing of chess to better performance in schools and better problem solving skills. In spite of that, kids seem to like it.

They also play Saturday at noon at LCS

When the club first started on noon on Saturdays at LCS, it was mainly for children. However, it started to be very popular, so now you can find people of all ages, locals and immigrants, in the Ajijic plaza at 1 pm on Sundays, learning chess, playing chess, having fun together. When they started the club, Roberto didn’t know how to play, now he is an avid player and helped launch the first tournament where 120 people competed in age-related classes. The club plans to hold another tournament early next year.

Tournament Winner

Mentors and volunteers are always needed. And, you can like the club on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HuarachessAjijic/   If you would like to know more about the Chess club, please contact Roy Quiriconi at royquiriconi at gmail.com. 

So, why will the club be playing chess at the Feria? Because the Feria is about more than Mexican folk art. It’s about bringing people together, supporting folk artists around Mexico, supporting the local community, supporting kids. Some kids love art so the Feria helps support the LCS Children’s Art Program. However, some kids are not into art, so giving them a place to play and learn at the Feria seems like a great idea.

It's part of the Feria's mission to be "more than a feria."

Tournament organizers and volunteers