As a part of the 9th annual Celebrate Mexico Now Festival, presented by National Museum of the American Indian in New York, with the support of Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (FOFA) and the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, Mexican scholar Marta Turok asks how indigenous Oaxacan artists navigate both “folk” and “high” art markets in today’s artistic climate. In this lecture-demonstration, Turok will present award-winning Oaxacan ceramic artist Carlomagno Pedro Martínez. They may grow up in artisan families, be self-taught artists, or graduate from art school, but whatever path they choose, today’s indigenous Mexican artists must contend with changing tastes. As Marta Turok documents, interest in folk art is waning as interest in conceptual art grows among cultural institutions and power brokers. The organization Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (FOFA) awards folk artists scholarships to a fine arts school where they can blend their local traditions with contemporary perspectives. For Celebrate Mexico Now, Marta Turok will share her findings and present visiting folk artist, Director of the Oaxaca State Museum of Popular Art and acclaimed ceramist Carlomagno Pedro Martínez.

As both supporters of FOFA and collectors and vendors of Don Carlomagnos’ work, we urge all New Yorkers not to miss this great opportunity!