Friends of Mexican Art’s annual Hacienda Tour and Mercado is our organization’s most important fund-raiser of the year. Ticket holders for this special event will be treated to an intimate look at exceptional homes and the important collections their owners have amassed from a variety of countries around the world.

At the Mercado, local dealers in Mexican and Latin American art have items for sale. A portion of the proceeds of the Mercado benefits Friends of Mexican Art and its goals. FOMA members and the general public are given the opportunity to learn and appreciate Mexican (and other) art more fully through the tour. The Mercado affords everyone the chance to begin or add to a collection of Mexican and/or Latin American art. The event allows the public to become more aware of FOMA and its mission, encourages new membership, and promotes friendship and goodwill toward our organization. Make the Hacienda Tour and Mercado part of your annual calendar!

The doors to four Phoenix homes will be opened to the public as part of the Friends of Mexican Art’s HOME TOUR and MEXICAN MERCADO scheduled for Sunday, February 26, 2012, from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets for this event can be purchased after January 30 for $35. Ticket holders for this special fund-raising event will be invited to experience homes that contain fascinating, even spectacular collections. Art - especially Mexican art - dominates, adorning all surfaces in these homes. What pulls these collections together is the homeowners’ love of the art works and their inventiveness in displaying it. Come and surround yourself with creativity and discover the fun of collecting.

At the mercado, which will be held at one of the homes, dealers in Mexican art will have items for sale. A portion of the proceeds of the Mercado will also benefit Friends of Mexican Art and its goals. For almost 45 years, Phoenix-based Friends of Mexican Art has dedicated itself to raising funds for the purpose of purchasing Mexican art for Arizona museums, underwriting Mexican art exhibitions in the state, publishing exhibition catalogues and assisting in the restoration of important Mexican cultural landmarks in danger of deterioration or destruction.

Scheduled for the FOMA home tour are:

•The collection in this home, primarily Latin and Asian figurative art, is the result of the owner’s travels around the world.  The contemporary southwest ranch home built in 1963 has undergone numerous remodels, but its statement is made by the unusual and eclectic elements within.  The homeowner has collected for as long as he can remember, but seriously for the past 20 years with help from  local galleries and those in Mexico.  Every piece of artwork has a special meaning and story behind it, and he feels that there is always room for other works that move him!

•Constructed in 1957, this lovely Ranch home has had extensive remodeling done over the years.  The home is warm and inviting with the majority of furnishings hand picked and crafted by the fine artisans of Tonala, Mexico.  The art throughout the home is from various parts of Mexico and from local artists, including Paul Kuo and Hugo Rangel (the homeowner’s father and long-time FOMA member).

•This mid-century ranch home has been the Singer residence since it was built in 1962. They have filled the home with important artworks from all over the world, reflecting their travels and their love of fine art. The emphasis is on Mexican art, with works by Siqueiros, Tamayo, Zuniga, Carlos Merida, Toledo and Jose Luis Cuevas, to name but a few. There is also a bedroom of Spanish Colonial artworks. For a touch of whimsy, there are furniture pieces and accessories from MacKenzie-Childs in almost every room. There is truly something for everyone in the period home.

• Designed and built by the homeowner and Nancy Kitchell, with interiors by Holler and Saunders and landscape design by Craig Pearson,  this soft contemporary look is timeless and elegant. The art collection includes works by Diego Rivera, Howard Cook, Edward Curtis, John Lightfoot, and Ed Mell to name but a few. There are items of Mexican art including an extensive collection of masks from Mexico City.  The grounds are a combination of lush green lawns and mature native plants.  You will feel miles away from the city when you enter through the gates of this very private estate.