Saturday, October 4, 2008

Santeros, religious artists show traditional artwork Saints and Sacred Places

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

Los Lunas While most people aren't thinking about the upcoming holiday season, the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Art is already getting into the swing of things.

Now, before you have visions of post-modern Santa Clauses and neon reindeer, know that the newest exhibit at the fledgling display space is entitled "Saints and Sacred Places."

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Featuring the magnificent artwork of santeros and santeras from across the state, it will open at the museum from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, with an hors d' oeuvres and wine reception. The display, which features both written and visual sacred art of the Rio Abajo, will run until Dec. 31.

Museum coordinator James Fernandez said that, as the holidays crept closer, the museum staff began thinking of ways to celebrate the season.

"Our local churches are preparing for Advent and Christmas celebrations, so we thought this would be an ideal way to begin the season," Fernandez said.

One local artist who will be featuring work in the exhibit is santera Marie Luna. "I am just so happy to be a part of this," she said. "The museum has done a really amazing job in Los Lunas displaying local heritage and artists."

For the show, Luna submitted a retablo of St. Celia and one from her private collection featuring the crucifixion of Jesus. "I am very proud and happy to loan that piece," she said. "I carried it in the procession at Spanish Market, and it was blessed by the archbishop."

The Sanchezes, Charlie, Irene and daughter Vanessa, will all be displaying works in the exhibit. Irene, who is a writer and author, collaborated with husband Charlie on their "Reflections of the Rio Abajo" photo display.

"Charlie has been taking both color and black-and-white photographs of these sacred monuments and places throughout the Rio Abajo for about 10 years," Irene said. "We picked which pictures we wanted to use, and then I sat at the computer and wrote poems and some historic information to go with them. Sometimes, I even did it without writer's block."

The display traveled up to the Los Lunas museum from the Camino Real Cultural Center near Socorro, Irene said.

"I traveled to some of the places that Charlie took pictures of," she said. "You get such a wonderful feeling of peace when you are at these special places."

In addition to his santero artwork and straw appliqué, Irene said, a DVD slideshow set to music of Charlie's efforts to record the descansos and roadside memorials of the Rio Abajo will also be featured during the exhibit.

"It is so beautiful - the pictures and the music - it just gives you chills," she said.

Vanessa, a santera and straw appliqué artists of the highest skill and reputation, will be displaying a large, straw piece portraying the traditional saints beloved in New Mexico, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and San Ignacio.

"I completed it in 2005; it's about three feet across. It is all a straw form, so it has a three-dimensional quality to it," she said. "It took me a full year to complete, and it now hangs at my parents' house in their chapel."

Vanessa said she wanted to thank everyone at the museum and in the community for organizing a show that featured local Rio Abajo artists.

"It's great to see the support of the local community and to have these traditional Rio Abajo artists in a show in the Rio Abajo," she said. "It is a blessing to be able to represent Rio Abajo santeros and santeras in this show."

The artists and authors participating in this offering are Ray John de Aragon and his wife, Rosa Calles, Patty Gallegos, Kathleen Sais-Lerner, Marie Luna, Richard Martinez, Alcario Otero, Carlos Otero, Emilio Otero, Nicolas Otero, Charlie Sanchez, Irene Sanchez and Vanessa Sanchez.

In addition, the museum will be displaying ancient works of Antonio Silva on loan from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and a 19th century Infant of Prague in a gilded nicho on loan from Dody Hoffman. Also on loan to the museum are Native American pottery, kachinas and an heirloom santo in a hand-carved nicho from Diane Martinez-Coplan.

In addition to the formal opening on Saturday, a Tour of Mission Churches is planned for some time in November.

There will also be a series of receptions and book signings at the museum, starting with John Taylor, author of "Built by Faith-Upheld by Hope-Guided by Love-The Heritage of Catholicism in the Rio Abajo" on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m.

In December, Annie Lux, author of "Historic New Mexico Churches," will be at the museum from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.

A cooking demonstration of traditional New Mexico holiday foods will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Village officials, museum and library staff, along with many of the artists and authors will be on hand to welcome visitors to the reception and exhibit this Saturday.

For additional information, contact The Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Art at 352-7720, the Los Lunas Public Library at 839-3850 or heritage@loslunasnm.gov.

The museum is located at 251 Main St. S.E. in Los Lunas (under the water tower) at the corner of Main Street and Luna Avenue. This is the third exhibit the museum has staged since its opening in March 2008.

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