Mex-ECO Tours is now offering you the opportunity to view and purchase some of Mexico's most traditional arts and crafts, from pottery and fine woodwork to textiles and jewelry.

 “La Feria Maestros del Arte” is a legal Mexican and US non-profit organization that hosts a yearly Mexican indigenous and folk art show in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico.

The indigenous folk art of Mexico is in danger of disappearing if artists cannot find outlets to sell their work. The show offers them a venue at no charge; for many, the sales they make at the show are the largest portion of their yearly income.
Organized by an army of volunteers, artists do not pay any fees or percentage of sales. They are hosted by local families, fed and assisted with their transportation costs.

What can you expect in 2011’s exhibition?
The artists and crafts persons that exhibit their work at this event are invited based upon the quality of their work, the use of a design or style that has been passed from generation to generation, or undiscovered artists thought to be worthy of recognition for their work; all work is handmade, using only natural materials. Some of the many artists featuring in this year’s exhibition include:

Nicolas Fabian & Maria del Rosario Lucas Bautista: Ceramics
This husband and wife team have not only made a name for themselves as artists, they have also chosen to give back to the community in which they live, Santa Fe de la Laguna, Michoacán.

Inspired by designs from nature, Nicolas began embedding the designs into the clay, rather than applying the design to the surface of the piece.

Sna Jolobil Cooperativa: Mayan weaving
There are few places left in the world where the clothes people wear are the clothes they weave. The Mayan highlands of Chiapas, Mexico are one of these rare places. Their weaving is gorgeous, without question some of the most exquisite traditional weaving in the world. These Mayan weavers are the descendants of the great Mayan civilizations that ruled the Chiapan highlands and southern jungles 1,500 years ago.

The main motifs of San Andrés, especially the grand design and the toad, are reminiscent of the patterns used by the Ancient Maya of 300-900 A.D. in lowland Chiapas. As members of the Chiapas weaver's cooperative, Sna Jolobil, the women of San Andrés collect and study old textiles and give classes in the ancient art of natural dyes.

Aracelia Barbero: Hand painted, wood framed mirrors
Aracelia offers a great array of shapes, sizes, colours, and designs that generate thousands of possible combinations for all tastes - from classic to modern. Arcelia Barbero’s mirrors are original above all, because they are so different. Among Mexican handcrafters, very few stand apart and refuse to embrace commercial reproduction of the same items that then lose their "soul.".

Obviously, Arcelia Barbero is a creator of a genuine Mexican art form. The originality of her work stands apart from others and her own technique of painting and constant search for new designs keeps that originality alive. All her work is signed.

For a complete list of the artists participating in this year's fair click here