Works by Vidri Arte are special because the artisans of the north of the country are often overlooked. Located in Torreon, 752 miles from the US border in Coahuila, this company takes stained glass in the direction of trencadís, the creation of decorative forms using broken tile. Broken bits of glass are arranged in this floral form and adhered to a base of galvanized iron.

Product Features: 

• Dimension: 15" H x 15" W x 0.8" D
• Weight: 6.86
• Color: Multi
• Material: Glass, galvanized iron
• Made in Mexico

Story Behind the art:
(Update, 2008, from Vidri Arte's Fernando Montano)

Getting to know you and becoming part of your beautiful mission has been a great experience for us. You make us feel we're not alone and encourage us to do what we love. This is reflected in our sales, which are now constant, allowing us to work year-round. We have been receiving so many orders that we've been able to employ assistant artisans, and we have chosen to employ artisans with physical disabilities, so they may have an opportunity to contribute to their family's income, and become financially independent.

Aside from the economic aspects, you have enabled us to promote our little-known process of glasswork. You offer us a place from which we can reach people who are searching for something authentic, something that is deeply ingrained in our Mexican heritage.

Original Artisan Story

With our work, we want to make this project self-supporting. 'Don't give a man a fish, but teach him to fish' is our guiding philosophy. Work is essential in a person's formation, and this is why we've begun a workshop to produce handicrafts in glass as the first stage of a project that will lead us to attain our complete ideal. In this stage, we have hired deaf people, taught them a trade and we pay them a salary. They receive all the perquisites required by law, they participate in the system of socialized medicine for working people (IMSS) and they can earn weekly bonuses and prizes. We assist them with their audiometric exams and help them acquire hearing aids.

We also give jobs to pregnant women from the 'Vida y Familia A.C.' shelter. These are people who for a number of reasons - rape, abandonment, family violence, etc. - are living at the shelter, and it is impossible for them to find a job to save money for when the baby is born. We are also working hand in hand with the state's Family Development Agency (DIF), that aids people with different kinds of handicaps.

The final objective is a simple one - to be happy. For our employees, our goal is to offer them an education and help them develop as people of integrity with positive attitudes, aptitudes and values. We want them to be able to contribute to the development of others, of their community, city and country.

Vidri Arte came about as a reaction to the reality in which we live as we seek coherence and congruence in our own lives. Since we were children we've learned certain beliefs and a scale of values. We've also had experiences that showed us the extreme reality some people face.

The handmade touch of artisan skill creates variations in color, size and design. If buying two of the same item, slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen.

Imported