Art-Fair doubleheader under way in Escazú through Sunday

Art lovers and Christmas shoppers will have the chance to go fair-hopping this weekend at two separate art fairs in the western San José suburb of Escazú.

Embrujarte, the art fair held twice a year on the soccer field in San Rafael de Escazú, was set to kick off Thursday and will feature about 120 artists, including the noted Edgar Zúñiga, Adrián Gómez, Leda Astorga, Ana Wien, Rodolfo Stanley and Vilma Calvo, exhibiting and selling some 2,500 works of art. Additionally, 40 of the participating artists will compete in the fair’s first Open-Air Painting Contest. The works produced for the competition will be donated to Unidos por la Niñez, an association that helps at-risk street kids.

Over at Avenida Escazú shopping mall on the highway to Santa Ana, the first Arte Hoy International Art Fair was set to begin Wednesday with an expected 150 participating artists, including names like Angel Lara, Fabio Herrera, Iris Odio and Mario Maffioli, offering up some 3,000 works. This event will include an art auction today at 7:30 p.m. to benefit the Costa Rican Red Cross and the La Asunción de María children’s soup kitchen in the southern suburb of Desamparados.

Both fairs will be open through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.