Saturday, December 8, 2007

White House honor

Santero-teacher Nicolas Otero creates ornament for executive mansion's tree

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas Los Lunas Santero Nicolas Otero got an opportunity of a lifetime. He was chosen to create a special, themed ornament for the White House Christmas tree.

Otero was approached about the project by Fort Union National Monument Site Supervisor Maria Fria. "Last year, I did a demonstration at the fort to help pull in visitors," Otero said. "She was asked by her higher-ups to recruit artists to do an ornament for the White House tree."

The theme this year was national monuments, so Fria approached Otero. "So I visited the monument again and took lots of my own pictures as well as looked at pictures taken by other visitors," he said. "I decided to paint the ruins of the courtyard."

Otero received a large, gold ball ornament and went to work. "I gessoed and painted the scene with acrylic," he said. Preliminary pictures of the work in progress were sent to the White House before the completed ornament was sent in October.

He and his wife, Anna, were invited to a two-hour reception at the White House last month for the 300-plus artists who created the ornaments and the artisans who decorated the White House.

The reception, hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, was quite a spread, Otero said. "They even had tamales," he laughed.

The First Lady spoke briefly about a piece of legislation President Bush is backing that will assist national parks. Otero reported that she said the legislation has wide bipartisan support.

The tree with Otero's ornament is in the Blue Room overlooking the south side of the mansion with a view of the Jefferson Memorial.

Decked out for the season, Otero said, the White House looked incredible. But always the artist, he also noticed the portraits hanging there. "They were incredible — Lincoln and previous First Ladies," he said.

Otero said it was his understanding that when the tree comes down, the ornament will be kept in the White House archives.

Not only was this a unique experience for Otero as an artist, but also for him as a teacher. The Los Lunas Middle School art teacher said it was very important for him to be able to share this experience with his students.

"They were able to see me paint this image, and it was great to be able to inspire and share with them the possibility of this experience," he said. "It was even more important that they understand that it is possible to become an artist and have opportunities to be able to show that talent."

Otero also said the staff at LLMS very supportive, as were his principal, Julie Smith, and District Superintendent Walter Gibson.

But the greatest part of it was making his parents, Steve and Jeanette Otero of Los Lunas, proud. "Kids always want to make their parents happy, and it was obvious that I made them and my family happy," Otero said. "It was an incredible feeling to have the support of my family."

Upon his return, Otero was willing and able to share the experience with his family and students. "Visiting the White House had been a desire of mine for a while," he said. "But after 9/11, it has been under tight security and visitors have been limited. This was my chance to visit and have that experience.

"It was an honor to be able to do this for the folks at Fort Union. It really is a great historical site that all should take time to go and visit."

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