Latin American jade carvers take centre stage!

Carvers from across Central America will be competing for medals in the second Congress of Latin American Jade Artists later this month. The aim of the event is to promote Guatemalan jade and encourage the revival of the ancient art of jade carving which once thrived among the Olmec, Mayan and Aztec peoples. The congress is the creation of Mary Lou Ridinger who helped rediscover the source of jade which was lost in the mists of time when the Spanish conquistadores destroyed the Aztec empire. Mary Lou has already done more than anyone to help kickstart a jade carving industry in Guatemala and this event aims to remind people that it is not only China and New Zealand where artists craft things of beauty from jade. More details to follow.