auction

media type="custom" key="3485346"The World's Slowest Auction
related: folkart flickr: [|Flor de Granada], [|Taller Internet] editing: [|Oaxaca]

Planeta.com hosted our first online auction of traditional folk art from [|Oaxaca, Mexico]. The first step was perhaps the world's slowest auction. Ron started the discussion with artesanos in 2006, bought the crafts in early 2007, conducted the auction in early 2009 with deliveries in August and September, 2009. That's three years!

If the purpose was soley to raise $, then this auction was a costly investment. Good thing that the auction served to improve to supercharge relations and create new allies. Each step was conducted at a deliberately slow pace. The focus on Ron's work is not to be a reseller of of folk art but rather a promoter of responsible tourism. The auction drew attention to Oaxaca's stunning folk art and to the weavers of Teotitlán del Valle.

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Background
Since not everyone can travel, we collaborated with the artisanos in this online auction.

The first wonderful piece is a design called the Granada Flower (Flor de Granada) made by Luis Lazo Mendoza from the village of Teotitlán del Valle. The weaving made with home-spun wool and natural dyes is 145x76 centimeters in size (57x30 inches). [|Flor de Granada #1] or [|#2]

"We are delighted to provide for auction a weaving prepared by one of the students who participated in the Oaxaca Amigos English Language Class last year," said Planeta.com founder Ron Mader. "Beyond this auction, we encourage everyone to visit the folkart workshops in person. This is a great example of slow travel and it is a great way to make lasting friendships with locals."

History
The first auction took place in March 2009. Auction winners are Beatrice Briggs and Serena Makofsky.

More about Luis and his family
http://www.luislazomendoza.com http://www.luislazomendoza.com/index_files/page0013.htm http://www.flickr.com/photos/familiamendoza

Auction Guidelines

 * HOW THIS WORKS** - Winning bids are tracked on this page on the Oaxaca Wikispace.

If you'd like to participate, submit your bid via [|email]. We post the high bid on this page and alert participants via email if and when their bid is exceeded.


 * REMINDER** - Just as travelers expect operators to act with integrity, we ask the same of bidders. If you are the winning bidder, you enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the operator. Please [|contact us] to resolve any questions before bidding.
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 * [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/2293159525_d30d9f7c28_m.jpg width="180" height="240" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2293159525/"]] || [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2293162469_1b7d260bb5_m.jpg width="180" height="240" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2293162469/"]] ||  ||  ||
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 *  Flor de Granada #2 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2293937216_cca3ba2825_m.jpg width="180" height="240" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2293937216/"]] || [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/2293154029_b53d999992_m.jpg width="180" height="240" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2293154029/"]] ||  ||  ||
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