Thanks for your interest in Manos de Mexico. Manos de Mexico means Mexican hands and everything in our store comes from artists that make their living working with their hands. Our mission is to provide the best authentic folk art from award-winning artisans in Mexico. Many of these folk artists come from craft families that have been producing traditional crafts for generations. Each item is one of a kind so there may be variations between similar products. Everything is imported from Mexico directly from the artists. For this reason we are able to keep our costs down and pass the savings on to our customers and let the artists keep the money they worked so hard to earn. We will be adding extra features over the next few months, so come back regularly.

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In the 1980's I traveled to Mexico with the expectation of meeting a traditional maskmaker that I could study with. I selected the mountainous state of Michoacán in central Mexico, home to the Tarascan (Purepecha) Indians. A small village on the shore of Lake Patzcuaro intrigued me and became my base as I traveled to various craft villages that surrounded this beautiful high mountain lake; the region was known for it's folk art. I met and studied with Juan Horta a maskmaker, who lived in Tócuaro, a woodworker's village. During the three years that I stayed in Mexico, I visited with many talented artisans and listened to a myriad of stories that mixed both personal experience and mythic belief, which characterizes and permeates Mexico's rich folk culture.

The items and programs offered reflect my interest in combining information with imagination. It is my sincerest hope that the skills and knowledge that I have attained through my own curiosity and perseverance may spark others to likewise inquire and create. Since 1988 I have toured throughout the United States, conducted workshops and sponsored visiting artists from Mexico. Over the years I have visited and worked side by side with many of the artists whose work you see featured on this web site. We decided to work together and use this site to help educate students, teachers and anyone else with an interest about Mexico and Mexican folk art; and allow people to purchase items from the artists.

John Patrick Picciano

Pat Picciano and Juan Horta in Tócuaro, Michoacán 1989

 

 

You can contact us at:

Manos de Mexico
P.O. Box 341
Manchester, NH 03105-0341

or by phone at 603-666-6483

info@manosdemexico.com