|
Finarte Antiques Fair
Attracts New Dealers
by
Little did we know that the dusty road to Monterrey would be littered with
obstacles. The four of us squeezed into the dilapidated and already over-packed 1978 Chevy Impala to attend the city's annual February antiques fair, FINARTE 2000. We left with spirits high and plenty of time to reach our destination, or so we had thought...
We fixed the first flat tire about a hundred miles into our journey and continued down the road. Not thirty miles later however, the same tire went flat again. To make a long story short, let's simply say that it was not the last time we had a blowout on the same tire. Finally, after numerous stops, repairs and federal checkpoints we arrived at our destination thirteen hours later. But the difficult trip proved to be worthwhile.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon's third annual international arts and antiques show, FINARTE 2000, ratified collectors' ambitions to continue cultivating such national events. Though this year's turnout was slightly smaller than prior shows, FINARTE 2000 organizers succeeded in attracting several first-time exhibitors with stellar selections of colonial art and artifacts, making the event another success story in the growing list of Mexican antiques muestras.
Held in the Cineteca building in the city's Parque Industrial February 23 to 28, the five-day show featured newcomers fram Mexico City, Tlaxcala, Jalisco and Nuevo Leon, and numeraus veteran dealers from the United States and Mexico. Unlike preceding years, items displayed by exhibitors were overwhelmingly LatinAmerican. Santos, retablos, sterling, contemporary art, pottery, textiles and quality primitives outnumbered the European porcelains and cut crystal of prior shows.
Nuevo Leon Governor Fernando Canales Clarión inaugurated the show Wednesday evening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony before shopping the thirty-nine booths for treasures to take back to the state government buildings. His wife delighted over a two-foot-tall burnished clay sculpture of Nuestra Señora del Candelaria created by artist Martin Ibarra fram the village of San Juan de Evangelista, Jalisco. The piece was purchased for approximately $450 dollars by event organizers as a gift for the state's First Lady.
Show dates and location for FINARTE 2001 had not been set as of press time, but there are rumors that the Noyola family, who opened the first Monterrey muestra in 1997, may be expanding their circle of antiques fairs to include other northern Mexican cities. For more information contact Carlos or Leticia Noyola at tel: 52 (8) 349-1566 or send an e-mail tomonterrey@buhardilla.com
If you're an aficionado of Mexican arts and antiques don't miss next year's event, we know you'll find some great pieces. Just one tip- make sure you have a good set of tires before making the drive.
|
BACK 
TOP