the artisan

Andalusian crafts are an outstanding part of Andalusian heritage, which, due to its quality and variety, has transcended our borders and has become an emissary of the culture of our land.

Thanks to the effort and perseverance of many artisans, Andalusian artisan work is today a lively and dynamic activity that has evolved, while maintaining the most traditional forms and processes.

From September 24 to October 3 in Marbella Design Fair  Mindful Travel with Andalusian style, presents «The Artisan», the first portable and shared Atelier, where the most significant Master Craftsmen of Andalusia will meet.

The Artisan was born with the aim of showing the cultural essence of Andalusia, recovering artisan activities that have been for centuries the economic and social engine of the area, as well as promoting responsible and sustainable production and consumption, in respect of the environment and the people.

A unique experience that will show in an authentic and educational way, as well as elegant, ancient Andalusian trades in danger of extinction.

Each one of the Master Craftsmen, in different disciplines; luthiers, esparteros, potters, olive wood, leather or pleita workers, saddlers, shoemakers, leather goods, glassmakers, forge workers and blacksmiths, dressmakers, inlaid, etc. will move their Ateliers to The Artisan, to work live, opening the doors of his workshop to guests and clients, who, in addition to being able to discover the secrets in its preparation, will be able to learn about the materials used, and learn about the economic and social repercussions that their work entails for the local community. In addition to being able to buy the creative work, directly from each of the Master Craftsmen.

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Agenda and Master Craftsmen 

Master craftsmen for having had an influence on the empowerment of their trade, men and women of Andalusia who exercise a trade at risk of extinction or dedicated to the recovery of a disappeared artisan activity.

September 24

Margaret from Arcos Rus

Textile Crafts

Sevilla

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Margaret from Arcos Rus

She left her job as an executive in 1995, when she opened her first workshop, to delve into the refined craftsmanship of silk, beginning her specific training in textile crafts with numerous courses and developing her own research and early work in painting on silk. He held his first collective exhibition "Proposiciones" at the Cavecanem Gallery in Seville in 1996.

This Master Craftswoman in textile printing has had a notable influence on the empowerment of her craft, not only through the numerous exhibitions in which she has participated, where it is worth highlighting, among others, her work "The tree of life" in the exhibition " Unique Piece: from trade to art ”organized by FAS and ICASS in the Convent of San Clemente in Seville, as well as in the Andalusian Craft Market in Córdoba, but also through the dissemination of its products from the Silk Workshop in various Museums such as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the National Gallery in London or the Reunited Museums of France, in Paris. As well as through its participation in fairs and events such as the Showroom organized in Dusseldorf in 2007 to promote Andalusian fashion and textiles, or the Maison & Objet Musée de Paris in 2009, or the Art & Craft in Karlsruhe (Germany) in 2010, among others.

His silk reproductions have contributed to the conservation of the cultural heritage of Andalusia, focusing on works on museum works and on reproductions of the works of different artists such as those of Julio Romero de Torres for the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, or those of Velázquez for the Prado Museum, among others.

Likewise, he has always tried to transmit his artisan knowledge, participating in various conferences and courses as a speaker, such as, for example, the presentation "Women and Crafts" (2005), conferences "Crafts and Design: a challenge, an opportunity" (2007), by name a few. And in multiple and notable exhibitions, including as a curator, in some such as the Sala da Fonte-P. in Porto Alegre (Brazil).

On May 16, 2011 he was awarded the Letter of Master Craftsman by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía.

September 24

Francisco Gonzalez Romero

Sillero craftsman

Alhaurín el Grande-Malaga

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Francisco Gonzalez Romero

At 10 years of age, due to life circumstances, he had to take over the office of his father "sillero", 41 years later, he continues with his legacy.


You will be able to know first-hand, a trade such as that of a chair, the passion for a job well done and the charm of a trade in which everything is made by hand. 

Both the interlacing of the cattail, and the artisanal turning, are made by hand, just as my father taught me 41 years ago. Resulting in handcrafted chairs whose production process is unique in Andalusia.

September 25

Pilar Rodriguez Rivas

Paper making and artistic creation

Salteras - Seville

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Pilar Rodriguez Rivas

Pilar Rodríguez Rivas, was trained in Chemical Sciences, but once she finished her academic training, that is when, in a self-taught way, she began to train in the world of paper, dedicating herself from that moment to her passion.

In the year 2000, it constituted “Papers to feel”. In 2016 the Junta de Andalucía declared its workshop "Artisanal Point of Interest" and in 2018 it was appointed Master Craftswoman.

 

 “Papeles para Sentir” is made up of Pilar and Salvador, and its main activity is the production of paper.

Special papers made from virgin or recycled fibers, which they sell as such, in sheets, or used to finish other products they offer. The creation is very diverse, ranging from special decoration objects and gift stationery, loaded with emotion, to more artistic unique pieces.

 

"Unique pieces that arise from looking outside, towards the natural environment mainly and inwards, towards ourselves, to find that calm, serenity and silence that helps us to reconnect with our Being."

 

The admiration and respect they feel towards Nature mark their way of life, the philosophy of the workshop and their main source of inspiration.

In their day to day, work and personal life are closely linked in many aspects, from the physical space, where housing and studio-workshop share construction, to the issues that concern or occupy them.

 

"In the end, study and personal life are all one, the same philosophy, a way of life ..."

 

Personal experiences and interest and work in the field of personal growth is another issue that concerns them and another source of inspiration.

 

“We like to create emotional products, full of sensitivity and beauty. Products that communicate thoughts, ideas, concerns, concerns of our day to day. Products that speak of the desire to enjoy life, of those little things that surround us and that make us happy. Products that invite reflection ... "

 

Their love for such an ancient trade, which has meant so much for cultural transmission, but which is currently on the verge of disappearing, leads them to want to disseminate it through courses in their studio-workshop and in educational centers. Combining the knowledge of the trade with new artistic techniques, applied to the process, they have achieved an enhancement of the trade and with it a greater interest in it, in today's society.

September 26

Miguel Angel Torres Ferreras

Potter

La Rambla, Cordoba

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Miguel Angel Torres Ferreras

Andalusian Handicraft Award 2020, a great defender and disseminator of totally handmade pottery and ceramics, models his pieces, using the potter's wheel. In turn, actively betting on the improvement of traditional methods, combining them with innovative techniques, such as reducing the cooking time to obtain metallic reflections or including in its production the "stoneware" that makes its perfect use in ovens, dishwashers. and microwave. In turn, high temperature cooking removes all lead content, eliminating the danger of toxicity from your pieces.


From 1.988 to the present, he is an active member of the La Rambla Potters Association. He is currently Vice President of the Organizing Committee of the La Rambla Pottery and Ceramics Exhibition. He is also a founding member of the “Colectivo Cerámica de la Rambla” (CoCeR), organizer of special cooking courses, workshops and exhibitions in Rakú. He has also been a member of the Organizing Committee of the II National Congress of Spanish Ceramic Cities.

During the academic years from 2010 to 2013, he served as a labor tutor of the professional training module in work centers of the Training Cycle: "Artistic Ceramics", at the "Dionisio Ortiz Art School" of Córdoba, (collaboration agreement between said Center Educativo and the Association of Pottery Craftsmen of La Rambla. Including visits to show, in their own workshop, the different work processes to these students and giving talks to disseminate their craft in other educational centers Special mention, the realization in their workshop of courses organized by the Association of Pottery Craftsmen of the Rambla.

His participation in FITUR 2013 stands out, as a representative of La Rambla as a declared Area of ​​Artisanal Interest of Andalusia and his participation in the Working Group "Challenges of the Artisanal Sector: diagnosis and proposals", within the project "Study of the Current Situation of the Sector Artisan in Andalusia ”. It also participates in the program "Boosting competitiveness and innovation through the internationalization of companies in the province of Córdoba", organized by the Economic Development Consortium of the Diputación de Córdoba and with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). As well as his intervention in a round table on crafts at the Ars Olea Fair in Castro del Río and his participation in the “Ideas for the future” conference, organized by the newspaper El Día de Córdoba.

Finally, it should be noted that he has made the trophy piece for the Andalusia Award for Internal Trade to Municipalities 2.013 and a ceramic chalice that has been sent to His Holiness Pope Francis I.

For all these reasons, the Ministry of Tourism and Commerce granted him the Letter of Master Craftsman on June 12, 2014.  

September 27

Ana Ortiz

Ceramist

Marbella

 
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Ana Ortiz

CERAMIC WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN (from 6 years)
Opening hours: 
Morning: 12 / 13:30 hours
Afternoon: 17 / 18:30 hours
 
Only by reservation at hello@mindfultravel.es (maximum 5 children per workshop)
 
Ana Ortiz, Malaga (Graduated in Fine Arts in the specialty of Sculpture from the University of Granada in 2001). Malaga 1977.
 
At the end of the degree, he became interested in the world of Ceramics, creating his own studio where he began to work and train in this field.

Manuel Keller (Madrid), Hisae Yanase (Córdoba), Rafaela Pareja (Alicante), Seong Hee Chough (Korea) are potters with whom he has acquired knowledge in the courses taught.
These years of experience help him to create what today is his line of work, making all kinds of pieces, giving his own vision of traditional ceramics and also creating unique pieces and installations to decorate spaces, appreciating the infinite possibilities it contains. the mud.
Utilitarian art is what this potter from Malaga does with her hands and clay. His pieces are free and loose, his enamels are subtle washes, loose lines that connect with the oriental world, his colors are clear and luminous at this stage. 
We are talking about ceramics, but another line of work will be Scenography, creating environments for photography, very theatrical works in which she plays with textures, color, shapes and objects.
Although now it is time for ceramics and scenography, Ana Ortiz moves into other fields, she has taught engraving courses at the MGEC. Chalcographic Techniques; etching, aquatint, drypoint and soft varnish ...

Drawing is for her a fundamental basis in all her creations.
In all his works there is a clear approach to natural forms, his pieces have a life of their own.
 

September 28

Jose Manuel Rivas

Leather goods

Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga

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Jose Manuel Rivas

Andalusian Crafts Award 2.020, in the category of «singular work».
José Manuel Rivas has been passionate about art and leather since childhood, something had to do with his great-grandfather making custom shoes, it is what we can call genetic inheritance.

He was attracted by the potential of the skin for the elaboration of articles of all kinds and above all as an artistic support.

His beginnings were around 2005, where he met an artisan who opened the doors of his workshop and taught him some basic techniques for leather work.

In a self-taught way and attending all possible courses, he continued dedicating time to this material until he graduated as a plastic arts and design technician (artistic leather specialty), at the Córdoba art school.

His specialty is Cordobán and Guadamecí, embossed in leather and leather goods, although lately he has been working on contemporary projects, recycling leather and creating unique works.

September 29

Antonio Bueno

Luthier craftsman, flamenco drawers

Torrox, Malaga

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Antonio Bueno

17 hours
MASTER CLASS: How do you make a flamenco cajon?
18: 30 hours
PERCUSSION WORKSHOP: Do not touch.
 
 
 
Carpenter Cabinetmaker by profession and with more than 25 years of experience in the world of wood, he has managed to combine his trade with his hobby as a percussionist, which he has enjoyed since he was a child. The first cajon he made was precisely to be used in his music group and from there he has not stopped until today.  
 
Antonio Buenos «cajones flamencos» has become a reference brand for music amateurs and professionals all over the world. With that each cajon becomes an extension of the musician and that the rapport between instrument and person is as desired. 

A fundamental part in order to achieve these objectives is not to work in series, but to create the flamenco cajon, as if it were the last, giving everything from the first piece to the tuning of the cajon.

We work by hand, and as the word says, it is an Art, Healthy.