For many Latin American cultures, art serves as a medium to recount the history of its peoples and preserve their rich traditions. To honor and give recognition to the extraordinary craftsmanship of talented artists from across Latin America, Old Town’s Bazaar del Mundo Shops will provide a venue to share their culture’s stories as told through their creations at its annual Latin American Festival, August 2-4.  

Transformed into a bustling marketplace, the Bazaar del Mundo Shops will display a treasure trove of genuine folk art, handwoven textiles, embroidered clothing, stunning jewelry and meticulously crafted ceramic and clay pottery made by talented artists from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador and other Latin American countries. The festival will also exhibit San Diego’s largest collection of authentic Mata Ortiz pottery, a centuries-old art form renowned for its intricate process and delicately, hand-painted geometric and ancestral symbols as will be showcased by master potter Jorge Quintana.

Guests will also enjoy watching live demonstrations by artists skilled in traditional crafts such as woodcarving, painting and weaving with some including:  

• Jacobo and María Ángeles’ hand-carved wooden figures represent mythical animal spirit guides known as alebrijes, popularized by the much-celebrated animated film, “Coco,” for which Jacobo served as a consultant. Sometimes taking months to complete, this labor intensive and meticulous art form is perfected by these two artisans whose work has spanned more than 30 years.
• Pedro and Diego Montaño keep their Zapotecan culture alive through the art of weaving, a skill passed down from generation to generation. The father and son duo continue their family’s tradition with their pedal loomed Oaxacan wool rugs colored with all-natural dyes elaborated into detailed designs.
• Geraldo Ortega has been creating whimsical clay figurines for over 20 years. Following in the footsteps of his grandmother’s traditional Barro Betus technique, his artwork is known for its intricacy and vibrancy that cannot be replicated.

Other work will include a collection of folk art and paintings showcased by Silvia Berrios, Oaxacan embroidered clothing designed by Olayda Perez Ruiz and Esther Jimenez, and stunning jewelry pieces crafted by Peruvian designer Esteban Yanez. To add to the lively spirit of the celebration, food and drinks from neighboring Casa Guadalajara’s award-winning Mexican cuisine will be available to order and Latin American folk band Tinku will perform.

This free event will take place from August 2-4, with opening hours of 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Free parking is available at the Caltrans parking lot located across the street after 5 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Inside the Bazaar del Mundo Shops, located at 4133 Taylor Street in Old Town, shelves will be brimming with an enticing selection of imported gifts and goods from Mexico and Latin America, along with a wide variety of books covering travel, culture, architecture, arts, crafts and food.

For more information, visit bazaardelmundo.com.

About Bazaar del Mundo

Opened in 1971, Bazaar del Mundo has long been hailed as one of the best shopping environments in San Diego, overflowing with hand-selected and handcrafted gifts and treasures that are unique in all the world. Carefully curated by owner-operator Diane Powers and her long-time staff, the Bazaar del Mundo Shops pay homage to the globe’s most distinctive cultures with bold and ever-colorful merchandise. For more information, visit www.bazaardelmundo.com.