Rosario's MicroFeria celebrates a decade of art with 'La 10' edition

Rosario's MicroFeria art fair is celebrating a decade of showcasing art with its "La 10" edition, a name that nods to a legendary soccer number and signifies a milestone. Organized by the city's Secretariat of Culture and Education, the fair brings together fifteen duos of galleries, selected through a call for submissions, representing 30 art spaces from various Argentine provinces. Even torrential rain has not dampened sales or visitor enthusiasm for the event held at the Contemporary Expressions Center (CEC) along the Paraná River.

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MicroFeria (and cultural institutions in Rosario in general) has been constituted in the consideration of the small, of the humble, without grandiosity or pomposity.

The fair's layout is designed for comfortable, free-flowing exploration, with airy panels and a straight-line path, avoiding mazes. This open design reflects the philosophy of its founder and director, Roberto Echen. He describes MicroFeria, and cultural institutions in Rosario generally, as embracing "the small, the humble, without grandiosity or pomposity." This year, the Luogo gallery from Rafaela has partnered with Muro from La Rioja, highlighting the collaborative spirit.

"La 10" edition boasts record numbers, having hosted over 100 galleries, 800 artists, and thousands of visitors throughout its ten-year run. The entire organization is managed by state employees using their regular office salaries, a testament to their dedication. Following this event, they will also organize Art Week starting October 24th. Echen emphasizes the "perseverance of work" evident in the quality of the proposals and the insistence on interesting, open curatorial themes that inspire participating spaces.

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It is the perseverance of work. It is seen in the quality of the fair's proposals. This also has to do with insistence. We insist on having curatorial axes that are interesting, open, that are triggers for the spaces that applied.

Clara López Verrilli, who joined the team this year, notes the characteristic joy of the encounter. "There is a joy in the meeting that is very characteristic of MicroFeria. We have all been embracing each other since the setup began, with very warm feedback from gallerists, artists, and visitors. There is a construction of affective bonds, which are what sustain the projects," she said. The fair also features mixed stands, pairing established galleries with alternative spaces, allowing emerging and recognized artists to mingle. Entry is free for both exhibitors and visitors, fostering an inclusive environment.

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There is a joy in the meeting that is very characteristic of MicroFeria. We have all been embracing each other since the setup began, with very warm feedback from gallerists, artists, and visitors. There is a construction of affective bonds, which are what sustain the projects.