• Spinning wheels looms, lathes and jewellery tools that blend traditional techniques with modern innovations surprise local visitors and tourists.

Gran Canaria, December 6, 2024. Maspalomas continues to be the epicentre of culture and tradition this weekend with the 40th Regional Craft Fair of the Canary Islands. Until Sunday, December 8, near the Maspalomas Lighthouse, the fair hosts 128 artisans from the archipelago’s eight islands, who take advantage of this setting to present the fruits of their laborious work. From ceramics to jewellery, through 55 different crafts, this fair is a unique opportunity to rediscover Canarian roots in a vibrant environment.

With free admission, this gathering is an opportunity to find unique pieces and experience crafting processes up close. Locals and tourists can be amazed by work on spinning wheels, looms, lathes, and jewellery tools that merge traditional techniques with modern innovations designed to connect with younger audiences.

Thus, the event, which celebrates four decades this year as a reference in visibility and support for artisanal work, combines the beauty of traditional crafts with more modern works and techniques.

Juan Manuel Martínez, for example, is a leather craftsman from Gran Canaria who has participated in the regional fair since obtaining his artisan certification. “I’ve been an artisan all my life, but I’ve had my certification since Fedac was created,” he explains. For him, these events “are our best selling venue” because they are exclusively dedicated to traditional crafts “and people identify you as an artisan.”

Alejandro Tornos, a jeweller from Gran Canaria who has been participating in the Regional Craft Fair for over 10 years, shares this view: “When we dedicate ourselves to crafts, we attend important fairs of this type because it’s how we harvest our work.” Many professionals don’t have shops or sales points, so they sell directly to the public at these events, “preferably organized by official bodies that ensure only crafts can be sold and protect Canarian artisanry.”

However, for these professionals, this exhibition means sales and visibility. This is the case for Manuel Rodríguez from La Palma, who specializes in bookbinding, paper, and cardboard through his brand El Batán Papeles Artesanos. His speciality is handmade paper, which he then uses to create hand-stitched notebooks and other products.

It’s his second time participating in the fair, and he values the institutional support for travel and participation every two years on a different island and the contact he can make with potential buyers and other professionals with whom he shares experiences. “At these large fairs, you learn a lot from other artisans about how they work, organize their stands, sell…” he added.

Indeed, while craft-making is traditionally based, it has also evolved over the years to adapt to new times and tastes without losing its Canarian identity and the essence of the products being crafted.

Carmen Díaz, for example, has come to the fair from Tenerife to show her interpretation of traditional lace-making, which she has been transforming into contemporary lace for ten years. “I’m trying, by all means, to prevent traditional lace-making from being lost,” states the artisan, while explaining that she has incorporated “a small innovation” in this craft: “I’ve taken flowers out of tablecloth contexts and scale them individually in different formats, such as silver to turn them into jewellery or photography to create pictures or bookmarks.” In this process, her signature style is innovative: she foregoes traditional white cotton thread and uses color and shine in her creations.

This time, as the fair moved to a more tourist-oriented environment, Carmen has also had to adapt to overcome the language barrier with foreigners visiting her stand. She’s done this with audiovisual material and her own work, which she does on-site at the stand, so that “people can see, appreciate, and understand what I make.”

Tatiana Hernández, representing the clothing brand Las Chuchis created by her mother María Jesús Páez, is participating for the first time in this regional fair and doesn’t hide her enthusiasm. Although they already have experience in insular fairs, “we were very excited to participate in this fair because it’s regional and allows us to expand our possibilities of reaching more people.” Las Chuchis creates their garments on demand from their workshop in their own home in La Graciosa, so they consider these types of events a unique opportunity for those who don’t have a physical store and want to make themselves known.

The 40th Regional Craft Fair, promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Ministry of Economy, Industry, Commerce, and Self-Employment and organized by Infecar, Gran Canaria Fair, will be open until Sunday, December 8, from 10:00 to 20:00, with free admission. Walking among the stands immerses oneself in a unique experience that combines tradition, creativity, and the talent of artisans from our islands who, once again, invite visitors to be conquered by the magic of handmade work.

In addition to discovering these Canarian products, attendees can enjoy a program of musical performances that complements the experience. Groups like Faycanes and artists such as Abraham Ramos, Juan Sebastián Ramírez, Yone Rodríguez, and Zaida Jiménez will fill the atmosphere with music and joy this weekend, visiting a perfect plan for families, friends, or simply for those seeking a moment of inspiration and enjoyment.