SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Thursday evening, the Ecuadorian craftsman Ricardo Villaba was honoured with the Prize of the Museum of Ibero-American Crafts during the festivities of the Tricontinental Fair, which is taking place at the Tenerife Fairgrounds.
Meanwhile, artisans Rodrígo Lizama from Chile and Jesús Hernández Torres from Mexico were awarded second and third prizes, respectively, while the accolade for best decoration at the Tricontinental Fair was bestowed upon the stand ‘Traditional Textiles in Alpaca-Cuzco’.
The Minister of Employment and Education, Efraín Medina, expressed his delight with the high standard of the pieces showcased during the awards, which are now in their fifteenth edition, along with the various stands.
“The purpose of the award is to encourage artisans’ creativity to elevate popular art and nurture new artistic generations, while also raising awareness in the artisan sector to foster the design and quality of their creations,” explained Medina.
This edition of the Tricontinental Fair featured 75 entries on display at a dedicated stand positioned at the entrance of the fair, as noted by the Cabildo.
Nearly all countries eager to present a unique piece for the event participated, including Argentina, Türkiye, Portugal, Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, and Peru.
These contributions represent a variety of crafts such as jewellery, textiles, rosettes, wood and stone carvings, embroidery, toys, and imagery.
The awards included a first prize of €1,000; a second prize of €600, and a third prize of €400.
The jury was comprised of experts and notable figures within the crafts sector.
Leading the jury was the Minister of Employment and Education, Efraín Medina; Juan de la Cruz Rodriguez, a textiles and traditional costume specialist; Ageda Hernández Tarajano from the Fund for Ethnography and the Development of Canarian Crafts; along with Elena Gutiérrez Lima; Krijer Lorenzo; Silvano Acosta; Ricardo Cologan, manager of the Insular Company of Crafts; and Milagros Amador, a technician of the Museum of Ibero-American Crafts of Tenerife.
The jury evaluated the originality and innovation of the competing pieces, alongside their aesthetic appeal, practical usefulness, quality, and design to reach their final decision.
Over the years, the Tricontinental Crafts Fair has become a cultural bridge linking the peoples of Latin America, Africa, and Southern Europe while serving as a platform for promoting and sharing craft events occurring on both sides of the Atlantic.
The remarkable turnout of artisans from diverse backgrounds, along with the extensive variety of products and techniques showcased, has established it as one of the most significant and beloved events within the regional fair calendar, marking the highest concentration for the marketing of international crafts compared to those celebrated in Spain.
ALMOST 250 ARTISANS
This year, the fair features an unprecedented number of artisans, nearly 250 from three continents.
The exhibitors at the Fair include prominent professionals and artists from regional, national, and international contexts.
The latter focus on textile designs originating from the Tzotzil community in Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas (Mexico); the crafting of carved Copal wood; altar piece creation; handmade and openwork jewellery, among numerous other trades.
As the main country, Portugal showcases a wide array of artisanal productions that attendees can experience at the Fair, with ceramics and tiles that embellish primary facades, alongside carpets, tapestries, leather goods, embroidery, wood carving, jewellery, scale work, and pottery.
Canarian crafts are prominently represented with artisans from all islands, especially from Tenerife, the event’s host.
Some of the crafts on display include Ceramics, Soap Making, Openwork, Pottery, Rosette, Ceremony, Doll Making, Jewellery, Basket Making, Cutlery, Enamel, Luthier, Wood Turning, Material Recycling, Weaving, and Paper and Cardboard, among others.
Additionally, the fair features institutional participation from the island councils, which showcase traditional crafts at risk of extinction in their stands, such as various basketry techniques and wool spinning.
In total, approximately 250 exhibitors will take part, including 72 artisans from the Canary Islands, and 150 travelling to Tenerife, among whom roughly 40 are from Portugal.
Santi Castro’s decoration recreates designs inspired by Portuguese mosaics through artisan fabric techniques on methacrylate that embellish the venue, while Daniel Pages captures the impressions of the guest stands.
