Feria Maestros del Arte will present a unique fashion show as a pre-Feria fundraiser on Wednesday, October 22.
Models will showcase the stunning silver jewelry collection of Gabriela Sánchez Arias, as well as Lupita Zepeda’s rebozos (typical shawls of Mexico).
Sánchez Arias is a third-generation silver artist. She studied design in Taxco, Guerrero, Guadalajara and Madrid, Spain. She was invited to display her jewelry in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, where she developed a collection inspired by the building’s fabled architecture. At the opening ceremonies of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, all of Mexico’s female athletes wore a pair of her agave earrings.
Sánchez Arias’ jewelry has been seen on runway models in Peru and at Fashion Week in Shanghai. She was the featured artist at Tequila’s Mundo Cuervo in 2013, where she presented her Silver Agave Collection in a glamorous runway show.
Zepeda is a traditional Mexican woman: she always carries a rebozo for comfort and as a fashion accent to her wardrobe. She is a tenacious researcher and promoter of the rebozo and works tirelessly so that this ancient woven shawl does not pass into oblivion. During the 2014 pre-Feria show, Zepeda will again demonstrate the many ways in which this most celebrated of Mexican garments can be worn.
She has produced a video of 80 ways to incorporate the rebozo into every style of outfit. The video will be sold at the fashion show.
The two artisans will each narrate her own portion of the show with Diana Ayala translating. Both also have donated special raffle pieces. Jewelry and rebozos will also be for sale at the show.
Feria volunteers Linda Hendy and Cathy Roberts are producing the show, which will be held at Casa del Sol Inn, Javier Mina 7 in Ajijic. The 200-peso tickets are available now at Diane Pearl Colecciones at the intersection of Colón and Ocampo, at Ninette’s Restaurant in Casa del Sol Inn, and at Century 21 (across the street from Sunrise Restaurant in lower Chula Vista). Ticket holders will receive appetizers. Wine and other beverages will be available for sale. Seating at the show will be limited; those wishing to attend are urged to purchase tickets early.
Feria Maestros del Arte is a non-profit organization in both Mexico and the United States. The group’s mission is to give Mexican folk and indigenous artists a venue to sell their hand-crafted creations that is disappearing due to the ever-changing world marketplace.
Mexican artists invited to attend the annual November show pay no booth fee or percentage of their sales to the organization. Volunteers spend countless hours working with sponsors and government organizations trying to provide paid transportation to the show for the artisans. Feria admission fees, sponsors, or fundraising efforts such as the fashion show provide the funds needed to produce and advertise the event.