SPANISH MARKET 2011--GRAND PRIZE WINNING HIDE PAINTING MENTIONED FURTHER DOWN IN THIS POST.......

SPANISH MARKET 2011--DAY ONE Another crisp late July morning at Cielo Azul.............

But today there is a little more excitement in the air...................

Because the spoiled Mr. Winston is going to be left at home............

And Mommie and Daddy are off to Spanish Market................

Of course, there is the Traditional Spanish Market--where age old crafts are created using only traditional materials and motifs--like this Grand Prize winning hide painting...............

(Picture placed atop this post)

Created by the very talented Mr.Jose Ramon Lopez........................

But this year, a few of the most respected traditional artisans were allowed to create one item that is totally non-traditional in some manner like this surfing San Cristobal...................

And there is also the Contemporary Spanish Market where just about anything goes like this "Low-Rider" art.....................

And this etched pottery based on the patterns of crop circles.................

I love this photo of a Matachine......................

And a "Day of the Dead" rendition of Henry VIII and his wives............................

So beautiful!--but not "traditional" coloring.............................
One of our favorites, impressionistic painter Judy Ortiz--her son Rob has a very busy booth next door where he displays his very contemporary sort of skateboarder art..............

And in the Youth Division, Judy's darling Granddaughter is the third generation painter--with her colorful retablos.....................

Some very sophisticated pottery........................

San Pascual and his flaming hot enchiladas.................

A very charming tortoise crafted out of a canister vacuum cleaner...................

A plethora of beautiful tin crosses....................

And some beautifully painted wooden ones....................

Some beautiful detailing on this cross........................

Our friend Martha Varoz-Ewing--the perennial winner in the straw applique division...............

And Mark--her movie star husband....................

Another blue ribbon for Martha..................

As a true Master, Martha was selected to make one totally unconventional item--her design, a straw applique cell phone......................

Here she explains to Waymon how it works. Honestly, it was the cutest thing you have ever heard!.............................

I am sorry that the glare ruined my photo of my favorite work by Martha. This tin piece depicts a beautiful rain cloud and one huge rain drop. Under mica on the raindrop is a straw applique image of San Isidro, Labrador on his knees praying for rain. So beautiful!--and so timely for our little drought plagued city.......................

Grand Prize winner in the Contemporary division--this mammoth papier mache..................

All the visions of the seventh ring of hell....................

A most CONTEMPORARY patron..............

One of my darling former students, Felicia with her family--there's a newborn son in the carriage..................

This is for Kiki--Miller's painting from the hilltop of Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn.....................

And this is for Sisi--a garden tower made out of railroad spikes to form acrobats holding up your tender vines. Something for her to consider once she retires and becomes Welder Woman...................

And for Kelly, who can make anything, what do you think about this beautiful quilt?.................

And from Dixon, Clarence Medina--painter most extraordinaire......................

This is one of my favorites........................

A gaggle of girls........................

Loved catching Dwight's face in the mirror of this exquisite furniture suite.....................

So much so, that we tried, yet again, to replicate the famous Aunt Belle hat/mirror shot.......................

While we were posing, the man to my right--who I believe is the furniture maker, said: "There will be an extra charge for posing for pictures!". He was kidding, of course. (I think.)

The othe Varoz sister--Judy--displays some of her gorgeous wares .............................

Arlene Sisneros has already left her mark on our city with her beautiful altar screen at the Cathedral and her soon to be installed retablos and tiles at Guadalupe Church..................

But I am sure that she will leave an even more import mark in her inspiration to her precious little grandaughter............................

A very contemporary retablo....................

Miss Josina is volunteering in the Spanish Market booth...............................

With her trusty and adorable grandson by her side. Guess who was doing most of the work?..............

This lady was most gracious and patient in explaining her colcha embroidery to us........................

Last year's Grand Prize winner--Julia Gomez--with HER colcha creations................

Including this prize winner.................

Also in the Youth division, our friend Rachel with her most charming daughter who paints these sweet-faced retablos.........................

Although Rachel is also a Loretto girl, she was too engaged in helping her daughter with her booth and could not join this group of Loretto Girls from the 1960s (and us) for lunch.......................

Lifelong friends.........................

One of them sporting a fabulous new ring...............................

Waymon and his harem.....................................

Well, we didn't return home empty handed. We purchased this lovely lighted etched item at the Contemporary Market. Solange seems to approve......................

So ends a very fun-filled day (one) at Spanish Market--AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!