With Mexican Vintage and Antique Treasures
by Barb Stillman
Shown on our cover is the beautiful Mexican Vintage piece – two Barro Bruñido (burnished low fire clay) Virgens (Madonnas santos) from the late great master, Marin Ibarra Morrales of San Juan Evangelista, Jalisco. Arte de la Vida (Art of Life) in Tucson provided this art photography.
Arte de La Vida has the largest selection of Mexican and Latin American Vintage wares of all types in Arizona and perhaps the U.S. Their highly curated wares from the Mexico of Yesteryear are unmatched.
Like many vintage and antique owners, James Goodreau and Kevin Pawlak grew their business out of collecting. “We wouldn’t be in this business or in Tucson unless we absolutely love it!” Kevn told us. “As collectors we live what we do and what we sell.” In this case the “collecting” is Vintage, Antique Mexican Folk Art and Tourist Wares.
Prior to opening Arte de la Vida, James and Kevin spent about 15 years traveling thousands of miles across the Southwest hunting for the one-of-a-kind treasures to add to their collection. In 2012 they moved from Phoenix to settle in Tucson and open Arte de la Vida. The objective was to share their passion with others. The shop quickly garnered a loyal following with customers traveling across the U.S. and even other countries to see their shop and shop their great merchandise. After 12 years in business, they still love to travel throughout the Southwest, Mexico and even to Latin America looking for high quality and unique Mexican Vintage and Antique wares.
Kevin says, “We like to offer most everything one would see at a Border Town Folk or Curio Shop during its heyday – 1940’s thru 1970’s. I wanted to give a nod to the past, letting our customers reminisce about the old days while educating new collectors.” The shop focuses on Folk Art, Tourist Pottery, Masks, Religious Santos, Textiles, Tin and Mexican Glass.
James and Kevin’s admiration for Mexico and its colorful history can be found on the shelves and cases throughout Arte de la Vida’s rooms. There is a long history of Mexican-made wares being traded from Mexico and Southern Arizona. The trade routes went directly north and ended up in Tucson along with El Paso and San Diego. The wares then would be distributed to the rest of the U.S. Many of these objects stayed in homes along the border and it is these collections that they have built a tradition of collecting vintage Mexican folk arts and tourist wares.
“It’s definitely a regional thing, “Kevin explains. “Even with collectors throughout the 50 states and abroad, it is Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California where a high concentration of these wares have stayed.” With Arte de la Vida, James and Kevin are working hard to keep that tradition alive and well in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Their goal is to keep doing what they do best and keep traveling to find more treasures!
Arte de la Vida is in a historic 1958 strip mall designed by famous mid-century architect Nicholas Sakellar. Located at 37 North Tucson Boulevard just off Broadway and the Historic Sunshine Mile in the Sam Hughes neighborhood. For more information, including hours, call 520-398-6720, visit www.artedelavidatucson.com or check out their Facebook page.