Pinolere stands up to the craft crisis

The manager of the Pinolere Cultural Association, Jesus Garcia, knows the sector in depth and does not hide his concern for the future of handicrafts in the Canary Islands: «It must be recognized that the sector is going through a very bad time. The pandemic has played a trick on us and the current crisis is not helping the artisan sector either, which is also greatly affected by the general rise in prices. To this must be added that people are not buying crafts, since it is not considered a priority product. This implies that many artisans have had to close their workshops and dedicate themselves to something else. That is the reality and we must recognize it».

García also highlights that “the impact is greater in the more traditional trades, such as basketry, carpentry or pottery. It is difficult for people to give him the importance they have and there are other jobs that have had an easier time adapting to the new society and the new demands. They are involved trades, although we see that people still buy basketry, the reality is that they buy above all low-cost products from abroad». Increased consumption is key so that the situation begins to change from this weekend.

Pataphysical performed the song living treasures, created for this edition of the Pinolere Fair, previously the institutional tribute to artisans from the eight islands, and also to their students or apprentices. After delivery of the Cho Fairmen of Honor and the XIX Villa de La Orotava Craft and Heritage Award, the mayor of Villa, Francisco Linares (CC), put his finger on the sore spot and launched “an SOS” to all parties and all public administrations. “Artisans must be protected and supported” to prevent the disappearance of trades that make up the Canarian identity and that are part of history and common heritage. The island president Pedro Martin (PSOE), shared this concern for craftsmanship and its future, “a value that we all must protect”. And he recalled that the Cabildo has increased by 157% the items destined for the artisan sector in the year 2022.

For Peter Martin, the generational change is “the great problem of the future” and showed its commitment, from the insular administration, to do everything possible to help it occur. The regional councilor for Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Yaiza Castillaalso highlighted the involvement of the Canary Islands Government so that, with the collaboration of all administrations, “the sector feels supported and can move forward”. An objective for which new technologies will be a powerful ally, according to Castilla, who stressed that “in the hardest moments of the pandemic, the craft sector in the Canary Islands has already shown its resilience.”

Despite the reduction in the number of posts, the Pinolere Fair it has not lost its appeal or interest and, if the weather is good, it hopes to bring together thousands of people today and tomorrow at the fairgrounds in the middle of La Orotava. As in previous editions, the fair combines crafts with an important gastronomic offer and local products: Canarian cheeses, honeys, pastries, delicacies from La Palma and Los Realejosquesadillas from El Hierro, traditional nougat, candied almonds, craft beers and liqueurs, biscuits and sighs of Moya, mojitos, natural juices and innovative products such as ice cream with goat’s milk and strawberries or banana wines. There is also the traditional tavern where you can recharge your batteries with the usual dishes.

The offer of stalls for this edition includes numerous examples of new crafts adapted to current tastes and needs, with a significant presence from the textile, leather goods and jewelery sectors. You can find practically everything: cars and vehicles of cock and cans that the veteran makes Raphael Bello; belt bags, bags and suitcases of modern leather goods from Dimas Leon and his Art with Jeito; the jewels of Julia Ruiz; the fashion of Jonathan Barroso; traditional pottery imil; the musical instruments of Sunday Martin; the enamels of Emma Vilageliusor the Canarian knives of Felipe Ojeda and Daniel Castro the pete. An endless list that includes toys, decorated fabrics, ceramics, recycled materials, paper and cardboard pyrography, books turned into works of art, handmade binding, patchwork, dolls, miniatures, contemporary fretwork, traditional clothing, cosmetics and perfumes, soaps, leather , silver, musical instruments, macramé, basketry or wool.

Artisans and artisans return to Pinolere with the hope of making their production known and obtaining the necessary income to be able to continue. A task that is not always easy, as explained the potter Imil, from Arona. She put the focus on the bureaucratic difficulties that the sector also faces: «Pinolere does not put so many obstacles or requirements to be able to attend the fair, but in others the same does not happen and we find ourselves with difficulties. In my case, as a traditional potter, I keep the whole process, from the search for material to the wood oven, but the truth is that sometimes we have problems extracting the material, since it is considered an aggregate extraction that also implies more bureaucracy”. In her opinion, one of the ways to help the sector would be, precisely, simplify the tedious procedures that they often have to face.

The Pinolere Craft Fair It will be open this Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Entrance to the venue costs 2.5 euros (1.5 euros for minors). For yet another year, a free bus service has been made available to the public, with two buses leaving frequently for the fairgrounds from Sor Soledad Cobián avenue, in the town of La Orotava. Today’s session will be dedicated to the traditions of Los Realejos, its gastronomic stamp and the 400th anniversary of the first sowing of beautiful potatoes in Icod el Alto. In addition, you can see the exhibitions dedicated to Guanche musical instruments, and bottles, gallons, jugs and jugs.