Manos de Mexicanos To Celebrate The Grand Opening Of Its Showroom In Red Hook, Showcasing Traditional Mexican Art From Local Artisans Located Throughout Mexico

MANOS DE MEXICANOS TO CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF ITS SHOWROOM IN RED HOOK, SHOWCASING TRADITIONAL MEXICAN ART FROM LOCAL ARTISANS LOCATED THROUGHOUT MEXICO

Manos de Mexicanos, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of traditional Mexican crafts through the promotion, exhibition and sale of Mexican art in the U.S., is pleased to announce the official grand opening of its gallery and showroom on December 3 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at 204 Van Dyke Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Artwork from select Mexican artists will be on display and for sale at the opening, such as Zapotec textile weavings from the well-known artist Fidel and Maria Luisa Cruz of Teotitlán de Valle, as well as myriad ceramic works from the celebrated Aguilar Sisters from Ocotlán de Morelos, Oaxaca, whose ceramic sculptures have been on exhibit worldwide for decades, and original pieces of the barro bruñido trade (or burnished clay pottery) from artist Elsa Balderas of Metzontla los Reyes, Puebla. Additional pieces available include Alebrijes (highly decorative wood carvings) from the workshop of Ivan Fuentes in San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca, a collection of hand-painted talavera from the workshop of Diseños Alonso Luis in Puebla City, Puebla, traditional policromado (multi-colored decorative clay figurine pieces) from Artesanias de Barro Policromado Familia Balbuena Alonso in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, traditional Huichol yarn paintings and beaded works, as well as paper machié, woven baskets and pottery from Zacatecas (artists unknown).

Also at the event will be authentic Mexican drink and cuisine, like tamales, Mezcal and chapolines, which will be prepared by guest chef Ms. Flora Pineda, as well as live music performed by Radio Jarocho, a New York City-based group devoted to the son jarocho and fandango traditions from southern Veracruz, Mexico, with a special guest appearance from Patricio Hidalgo, one of Mexico’s most celebrated son jarocho musicians of all time.

Founded in 2011 by Victoria and Steve Tarpin, owner of the renowned Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies, Manos de Mexicanos (By Mexican Hands) is a labor of love that aims to generate awareness and resources to artisans of Mexico, who are striving to carry on ancient artisan traditions established generations ago despite struggling local economies.

“We want to bring the works of Mexican artisanos to a greater market in order to help these humble people who are driven to create their works in spite of current economic pressures, predatory online marketing techniques, and an unfavorable tourist market that believes it has the right, the obligation to talk them down in price,” said Mr. Tarpin. “We’re a living museum for living artists, with a simple goal of preserving the true spirit of the artisans’ tradition and the uninhibited expression of their craft, with no regard to economic, financial or sociologic pressures.”

All artwork on display at the grand opening is available for sale, with 100 percent of the proceeds and donations from the event going directly to the purchase of new artwork from existing and additional Mexican artists in the continued support of traditional Mexican crafts. For more information about the opening, the artists or the organization, please email Steve Tarpin directly at steve@manosdemexicanos.com or visit the organization’s website at http://manosdemexicanos.com

About Manos de Mexicanos

Manos de Mexicanos (By Mexican Hands) is a new gallery and Mexican crafts store located on the Brooklyn Red Hook waterfront. Founded in 2011 by Steve Tarpin of "Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pie" and his wife Victoria, the mission of the new endeavor is to build a link between the people of New York and artisans of Mexico, who are striving to carry on ancient artisan traditions established generations ago in order to incur additional resources to artisan communities that are currently being threatened by struggling local economies.

For more information about the artists and the organization or to get involved in this important cause, please contact Steve Tarpin at steve@manosdemexicanos.com or visit the website at http://manosdemexicanos.com, like us on Facebook at Facebook/Manos de Mexicanos or follow us on Twitter at Twitter/ManoMexicano.

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