
The General Director of Industry of the Government of the Canary Islands, Yolanda Luaces, presided this Friday over a tribute ceremony in recognition of the career of seven artisans from the Canary Islands who have contributed to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Archipelago and the maintenance of traditional Canarian trades, at risk of disappearing.
The event was held within the framework of the 35th edition of the Canary Islands Craft Fair, inaugurated last Wednesday at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fairgrounds by Councilor Yaiza Castilla and which will remain open to the public until Sunday the 8th.
Yolanda Luaces thanked the award winners for their dedication and effort to keep the craft of artisan alive and stressed that many of them carry out work that is at risk of disappearing, so, according to her, "it is vitally important to contribute to making the sector visible in order to preserve it and facilitate generational change".
The list of honorees is made up of professionals dedicated to wood carving and marquetry, basketry and tinplate. Specifically, Antonio Giménez (Tenerife), Víctor García (La Palma), Demetria García (La Gomera), Andrés Chaves (El Hierro) and Juan Manuel Díaz (Gran Canaria), Pedro Ravelo (Fuerteventura) and Manuel Perdomo (Lanzarote).
Honored artisans
Manuel Perdomo Cabrera - Lanzarote
Born in Haría, he has dedicated his entire life to working with wood, working in carpentry with a wide range of possibilities, creating all kinds of projects with noble woods. Honored with the Haría 2017 Awards for his work and contribution to traditional crafts. Nominated in three consecutive years, in 2019 he was awarded the recognition of Artisan of the Year at the 31st Craft Fair organized by the Island Council of Crafts of Lanzarote.
Antonio Giménez Martínez - Tenerife
Born in Granada, where he learned the trade from a very young age, he masters disciplines as diverse as wood and stone turning and carving, gilding, miniature, cutlery and marquetry. He is the author of numerous internationally recognized pieces, including a carving of San Juan that the Vatican Pharmacy treasures and our Virgen de La Macarena from the Church of La Concepción in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Víctor García González - La Palma
A native of La Palma, this artisan works with brass, tinplate, copper, galvanized and aluminum, among others. Many of his works are works of art. He still makes lanterns for brotherhoods and for the Corpus Christi festival in Villa de Mazo and has made different figures for the decoration of arches.
Demetria García Mesa - La Gomera
A craftswoman of rush and natural palm basketry from Alojera, she is the oldest on the island, with more than 50 years of experience in which she has participated in various craft fairs and meetings on the island, becoming a highly recognized master craftswoman and a reference for traditional Gomera crafts. She represents one of the traditional trades at risk of disappearing.
Andrés Chaves Cabrera - El Hierro
This El Hierro craftsman of wicker basketry has dedicated his entire life to this trade. At 84 years old, he continues to work and participate in the island's fairs and in the markets of his town with his crafts, as well as teaching the trade to anyone who is interested in learning it.
Juan Manuel Díaz - Gran Canaria
After more than 30 years of profession dedicated exclusively to artisan work, Juan Manuel Díaz has worked with woods of all kinds, such as wild olive, apple, walnut or eucalyptus. During his career, he has regularly participated in craft fairs and exhibitions at a local, island and regional level.
Pedro Ravelo González ? Fuerteventura
A native of Fuerteventura, he dedicated himself to subsistence agriculture, combining it with other activities such as crafts. He has taught training courses in palm and cane basketry in different municipalities of the island, contributing to the dissemination of this trade among the local population and foreign visitors. His career as an artisan has been recognized by the awarding of the 2009 Island Craft Award.