Las Artistas Art & Fine Craft Show is Bringing the Best of the Best to EPIC RAILYARD
Photographs provided by LAS ARTISTAS
Downtown El Paso is expected to be the mecca of all art shows this weekend. EPIC Railyard will be bustling with more than 80 Artisans from throughout the U.S. and El Paso at the 46th annual Las Artistas Art & Fine Crafts show.
Las Artistas is an organization committed to bringing “the best of the best” in paintings, prints, ceramics, fiber, jewelry, metal, wood, wearable art and more. Event planners say there is a wide variety of prices to appeal to all visitors. The organization prides itself on the quality of the work that is exhibited noting that the participating artists and craftspeople have to met strict standards for originality, creative vision, technique and craftsmanship. “The stringent jurying standards guarantee that the art on display is high quality and relevant. This encourages artists, both returning and new applicants to push themselves to create higher quality work,” said Las Artistas President Jorge Calleja.
Many of the region’s notable artists will be participating in the event this year including painters Aleksander Titovets, Amado Pena Jr., Candy Mayer and Krystyna Robbins alongside jewelry-maker Helen Ellison-Dorion and several new talented entrants. A section of the show will feature seven emerging artists that have been juried for their skill, adding to the show’s diverse range of media and perspective.
Visitors can shop at 66 booths inside the spacious EPIC Railyard Event Center– a space that has an industrial feel with an edgy attitude, and is now known as the EPIC Railyard Design District. “We share a common goal with Las Artistas—to bring the arts to downtown El Paso,” says Irma Estrada, events manager. “The south side of El Paso is quickly becoming an arts community as many artists and creative professionals are moving in and redeveloping some of the old buildings in this area.” EPIC Railyard Design District is also home to Laura Carrillo Designs and Dulce Alexandra, a creative businesses that focus on events, home décor and fashion.
New “Meet the Maker” series at the show
Event goers will have an opportunity to learn about the creative process through an interactive program called Meet the Maker. Each day there will be a series of one-hour sessions with participating artists talking about their work, giving demonstrations, sharing their stories and answering questions. “We wanted to give visitors an opportunity to get an inside perspective on what goes into making fine art and craft,” said Calleja. “The stories of these artists are truly inspirational. Claudia Ley, an emerging artist and third generation Chinese-Mexican-American jeweler of El Paso will talk about her background and how she became the first female to follow in her family’s trade.” Calleja went on to say that Wendy Wilkerson will demonstrate her gouache technique and photographer and emerging artist Amy Schultz will show visitors how to compose a photograph.
Las Artistas’ commitment to promote arts education in the Borderplex continues with a Children’s Art Exhibition called “My El Paso”—an exhibit of two-dimensional work by elementary, middle and high school students from the El Paso area. The students were asked to interpret their view of their city through art. The exhibition will be juried by Las Artistas members and prizes will be awarded. “Families enjoy seeing the children’s art exhibition, and in a larger sense, the exhibition is helping us cultivate a generation of new artists,” said Calleja.
Las Artistas has provided students from UTEP’s Metals program with a unique opportunity to show and sell their work for the last 20 years. This booth is popular with event attendees where twenty students participate in this “learning classroom” where they interact with customers, receive feedback about their work and gain marketing experience. They are also able to meet and network with the other established artists and craftspeople in the show.
The Las Artistas Art & Fine Craft Show has been going strong for 46 years. The first show was held in 1970 in the back yard of an artist’s home in El Paso, and was organized by a handful of women artists (thus the name, Las Artistas). Over the years, the show grew in popularity, moved to various locations in El Paso and is now a two-day juried event.
The Las Artistas Art & Fine Crafts Show is sponsored by United Bank of El Paso Del Norte, Redfin, Ruhmann Law Firm, and with support of Museums and Cultural Affairs Department and the Texas Commission of the Arts. Media sponsors are, El Paso Times, El Paso Scene and The Art Avenue.
Event organizers say along with creative holiday gifts, the opportunity to meet local artists, experience the fascinating world of fine art and crafts there will be gourmet street-food provided by Food Truck Circus and a cash wine bar provided by Wine Attitude. For more information, visit www.lasartistas.org
BOX
Saturday, November 19, 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, November 20, 10 am – 4 pm
EPIC Railyard Event Center, 2201 E Mills Avenue
El Paso, TX (located off I-10)
$6 for adults
Children under 18 are free
FREE Valet Parking
NEW Meet the Maker Series
Children’s Art Exhibition
Creative Cuisine by Food Truck Circus