| | |  Vallarta Living | Art Talk | December 2009 
Nacho & Carmen Jacobo: Sharing a Passion for Mexican Art
 Roberta Rand - SF Productions
December 05, 2009
| | Indigena Gallery is located at Calle Juarez #628, just two blocks East of the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta. For more information, call (322) 222-3007. | |
When you step into the Indigena Gallery on Calle Juarez in the heart of Puerto Vallarta's bustling Old Town, the first thing you notice is the sheer volume of art and artists represented. The gallery features two floors and over 5,300 square feet of display space.
No knock-offs from China here. Only the real deal, with hundreds of examples of the best in Mexican folk art - from intricate beaded Huichol masks to signed Mata Ortiz pots by Leonel López and the master himself, Juan Quezada.
Ignacio "Nacho" Jacobo and wife Carmen handpick the store's inventory that includes a vast and varied selection of Talavera pottery, Taxco silver jewelry, religious wood carvings, colorful carved animals from Oaxaca, and a huge selection of Day-of-the-Dead dioramas, Katrina figures, and handpainted dishes and tiles. Whatever your passion in Mexican folk art, you will probably find it at Indigena; 54 tribes/regions are represented. "I tell people we're just like a museum," says Nacho, "except everything is for sale."
And it's unusually affordable. At Indigena, quality pieces can be purchased for as little $5 USD. A Mata Ortiz pot by Juan Quezada will fetch up to $6,000 - but fine examples by other up-and-coming artists can be had for between $1,000 and $2,000.
Origins of Indigena
The Jacobos come by their love of art naturally. The family has always bought and sold art, but Nacho and Carmen took it to the next level with their personal passion for masks, gourds, silver and Huichol bead art. The original store, "Nacho's," opened in a tiny space on Libertad in 1987. It moved again in 1990, and was officially christened "Indigena."
In 1992, the store moved to swankier, roomier digs at the old Hotel Central in Puerto Vallarta. Hotel Central was one of the oldest hotels in the city, and first "non-tourist" hotel in PV. The Jacobos put in gallery lighting and turned all the rooms into themed display areas. The lobby, kitchen, and hotel rooms became backdrops for quickly expanding collections, which also included artworks by international painters.
When the lease at Hotel Central was up in 2002, Nacho discovered and purchased a new and ideal location, Calle Juarez 628. With two sprawling floors of retail space, shoppers can easily spend hours in art collector's heaven, deciding between Oaxacan black clay pieces, handpainted colonial tiles, and exquisite, museum-quality lacquer gourd art - all at surprisingly affordable prices.
Specialties
The store has an extensive selection of etchings on handmade bark paper by Nicholas de Jesus, considered the Picasso of Mexico. For those with a taste for scantily-clad full-figured women, the paintings of Nahui offer a whimsical take on female pulchritude - all fantasy and feather boas in bright acrylics with three-dimensional faces.
For those with a love for pre-Columbian art, quality reproductions are available that are so good, they'll fool everyone but the experts on "Antiques Roadshow." On the other end of the spectrum, Indigena carries an array of contemporary fused glass pieces by Trez and etched glass by Juan Vargas.
Julio Arechiga is Indigena's resident art historian, who offers fascinating background information on the artists and their media. "Huichol art is actually the native craft of the state of Jalisco." Julio motions to the brightly colored, intricately detailed representations of Huichol visions. "In addition to the glass beads, the Huichols work in acrylic yarns which are pressed into bee's wax." The spectacular compositions feature deer, farm animals, coyotes, trees, plants, shamans and other pagan figures in fantastic compositions recalled after peyote rituals.
Indigena also has an impressive selection of ceremonial masks. "These masks are not carved for the tourist market," says Julio. "Many are from the Jacobos' personal collections and are between 50 and 100 years old. Most have been used in actual tribal ceremonies." The hand-carved and painted wooden masks, many embellished with animal hair, can be purchased for as little as $50 USD.
Endangered Artists
The level of detail in many of these pieces is astounding. Julio describes the work that goes into lacquer art from the state of Guerrero. "The pigments are created from pieces of insects and flowers that are crushed into a fine powder and applied to gourds in a lacquer base. There are two layers of lacquer. After each layer is applied, designs are applied with cat-hair brushes and turkey quills. The lacquer is carved away with a cactus needle."
Julio points out that the number of lacquer artists has dwindled to100 practicing artists. He picks up a small lacquer art box. "A box like this might take up to two weeks to complete, but it sells for only $20 or $30. It's a dying art form, because the younger artists simply can't survive financially on the little income the work brings."
Reasonable Prices, Fair Compensation for Artists
According to Fausto Jacobo, Indigena is committed to paying a fair price to the artisans they represent. "Part of preserving the art and craft of Mexico is paying artists a fair price for their work," he says. "By the same token, we set reasonable, no-haggle prices. When you compare the prices for Mexican folk with folk art of the US and other countries, the Mexican art is a true bargain."
Passing On their Passion
"Many people walk by pieces here and may not fully appreciate their beauty," says Nacho. "We try to educate people about the artisans and the culture and process behind these pieces. Many are very labor-intensive and can take weeks to complete. When people become educated about Mexican art, they begin to look at it with a deeper appreciation."
"When people buy Mexican art, it's the best kind of souvenir" says Fausto. "They are buying a beautiful object that can only be found here in Mexico. It is also a unique reminder of the wonderful time they've had in Puerto Vallarta."
Nacho, Carmen, Fausto and Julio invite you to drop by their gallery at 628 Calle Juarez. Browse in air-conditioned comfort, enjoy complimentary beer and soft drinks and peruse the aisles with no pressure to buy. HOURS: Mon-Sat, 10 am-9 pm. Tel. (322) 222-3007. Directions: From the Malecon, two blocks east of the Hard Rock Café.
 Roberta Rand is Public Relations Manager for SF Productions TV, a full service production and marketing company in Puerto Vallarta. Prior to relocating to Mexico from Colorado Springs with her dog, Bo, Roberta worked as a magazine editor, web editor and marketing copywriter. She is also an essayist and author, whose book "Playing the Tuba at Midnight" explored the quirks of living single.
To learn more about SF Productions, click HERE or visit SFProductionsTV.com. |
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