Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Santero show encompasses traditional and contemporary techniques, subjects

Jane Moorman News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jmoorman@news-bulletin.com

Tomé The Santeros del Rio Abajo art show at the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, once again celebrates the outstanding santeros who reside in Valencia County. It runs through Friday, March 17.

The show displays a wide variety of media used in the traditional folk art unique to the Rio Grande region.

The work of Alcario Otero, Charlie Sanchez, Vanessa Sanchez, Marisol Zia-Sanchez, Ramon Sanchez, Ellen Santistevan, Mark Santistevan, Ray Trujillo, Kathleen Lerner, Marie Atoinette Luna, David McCoy, Ray Baca, Richard S. Martinez, Virginia Casados Clark, Bernardine Baca-Spiers, and Michael Logan demonstrate why many of them are award winners and participants at the Santa Fe Spanish Market.

Santeros are artists who create images of saints, or santos in Spanish. The Spanish settlers developed the art form when they were unable to bring religious statues and artwork from Spain but wanted such items in their new churches and homes.

Like those who came before them, modern-day santeros are usually self-taught or have learned from another santero. They work with natural elements of the region to create their pieces in the form of statues and paintings honoring Jesus, Mary, the Holy Family and a host of saints.

Some santeros use the traditional art form to express modern-day issues or use contemporary figures to express traditional themes.

As one strolls through the UNM-VC Fine Art Gallery, one of the first things the art patron will realize is the level of talent on display.

The Santo Niño de Atocha by Alcario Otero, a santero's santero and the teacher of most of the santeros in the area, comes alive as the two-dimensional carved piece makes the saint come out of the work and look right at the viewer.

The jesso relief is enhanced by a carved wooden frame by Fredio Pudencio.

Otero's work is collected throughout the nation. This piece demonstrates why having one of Otero's pieces is so special.

The next generation of santeros has added its own unique approach to the work — Baca-Spiers in her varnish technique and Ellen Santistevan in expressing contemporary issues in the traditional work.

San Andres and San Vicente by Baca-Spiers display a technique that she has developed to produce a crackle surface that creates an antique effect which makes it hard to tell if the pieces are new or old.

Madonna and Saint Augustine by Richard S. Martinez combines beautiful wood-carved sculpture and cabinets. The detail of his work creates a three-dimensional altar.

Santistevan is by far the most contemporary in her subject matter. She has received acclaim for her work, which addresses current social and political issues in retablo form.

Santistevan's husband, Mark Santistevan, continues expanding his carving from crosses to figures. His contribution of a wood-carved, elongated figure demonstrates his ability to stylize, focusing attention on the detail of his work.

For a change of pace, McCoy has contributed two muerto pieces to the show. The pieces display his comical approach to the Day of the Dead, which makes the work very popular.

Charlie Sanchez, his daughter, Vanessa, who is becoming well known for her work, and his niece, Marisol Zia-Sanchez, have hung straw appliqué crosses that demonstrate their wide palette of vivid colors. Charlie is proud of his ability to create brilliant colors to highlight the intricate straw patterns. Their work also is a tribute to the generational sharing of folk art skills within a family.

Ray Baca's work maintains the traditional style of black crosses with straw appliqué. He is known for his creation of the natural pine-pitch varnish which brings a lacquer appearance to his work.

Another straw appliqué artist, Clark takes the medium in a different direction with her Madonna and Child piece. This is the most elaborate use of straw to create the folds in the fabric. The work also has good use of positive and negative space.

Luna's Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe is a mixed medium of tinwork with retablo. In the piece, Luna combines traditional techniques with a more modern expression.

Trujillo has contributed two pieces of his Bonita Series tinwork to the show. Espejo de Hojalata combines tin, stained glass and mirrors to develop a modernistic style. The architectural lines of the pieces make his work unique.

San Isidro and San Antonio by Lerner express the santo theme in hand-spun churro wool and natural dyes as she uses colcha embroidery in another traditional art form. She has an amazing palette of vibrant colors, which she uses with confidence.

Two other artists' works carry the theme of the Lenten season.

Ramon Sanchez, under the artist name of Maximon Clavos, depicts Tomé Hill in an abstract entitled Los Penitentes de Tomé.

Logan's Crucifijo combines a rusted wire figure of Jesus on a cross created from weathered cactus branches to produce a rustic quality.

All and all, the show is well worth the trip to the UNM-VC Fine Art Gallery. Photos of the artwork on display may also be seen on the school's Web site, www.unm.edu/vcart.

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