La Mano Mágica has stood in downtown Oaxaca since 1987 as a gathering place for the region's traditional, popular, and contemporary art. In this event, its director, Gabriel Gerard Mendoza Gagnier, shares the story of the gallery's founders and history, offers a walking talk through Mexican folk art, and speaks about the natural dyes and enduring legacy of his father, master weaver Arnulfo Mendoza. Gabriel closes with a hands-on demonstration of Zapotec weaving, giving attendees a firsthand look at the techniques carried forward in his family's workshop.

Gabriel Gerard Mendoza Gagnier is a Mexican artist, weaver, and cultural promoter from Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca. He grew up surrounded by artists, artisans, and collectors at La Mano Mágica, the gallery founded in 1987 by his parents, artist and master weaver Arnulfo Mendoza and Mary Jane Gagnier. From a young age, he learned traditional Zapotec weaving and developed a deep understanding of Oaxaca's artistic traditions.

Today, Gabriel is the director of La Mano Mágica, continuing its mission of bringing together traditional Oaxacan art, popular art, and contemporary art. He also continues the textile tradition of his family through the Taller Arnulfo Mendoza, working with pedal looms, silk, wool, and natural dyes. His textile work has received national recognition, including a first-place award at the XI Concurso Nacional de Textiles y Rebozo in 2023. For Gabriel, La Mano Mágica is more than a gallery — it is a living continuation of his family's history and a meeting place between generations of artists, artisans, collectors, and people interested in Oaxaca's cultural heritage. His work today is dedicated to preserving that legacy while allowing traditional techniques to evolve and speak to new audiences.