[Gocamino] ] 120 000 pilgrims per day - 20million pa!!

[Richard Ferguson]

Sometimes these little works of art are called 
"Exvotos", sometimes retablos.  I always explain 
to people that they are part folk art, and part 
personal thank you notes to God or one of the 
saints.  In many cases, the story told is very 
detailed, with names and dates, and exactly what 
happened.  I remember one very simple one that 
simply thanked God for getting them across the 
border without difficulties.   Another gave 
thanks for the return of their young son, who had 
wandered off, and someone found him and brought 
him back on horseback.  Yet another for getting 
out of jail.  I think that I have even seen one 
that gave thanks that their pond had not dried 
up.   Some of the modern exvotos are literally 
photocopies, sometimes of diplomas.  But it is 
still very clear who is giving thanks, and for 
what.  I have seen exvotos in Quebec that say 
something like "Thanks for favor granted" and 
signed with just initials, I was kind of 
disappointed.

I left an exvoto myself,  in Cata, Gto., a few 
years ago.  Mine was not really a work of art. 
"Gracias a nuestro Señor por darme la inesperada 
oportunidad de jubilarme anticipadamente cuando 
yo más lo necesitaba ."  I should probably make 
another one, this time of metal.

I have a couple of books by "Artes de Mexico" on Exvotos.

I could expand on this if someone would like, but 
I suppose it is somewhat off topic.

On another Mexico pilgrimage, someone is trying 
to develop a walking route between monasteries in 
Mexico.  It looked very interesting, but I have 
not been able to get in contact with the person 
doing the work.

Richard


>
>The first church built for the Virgin almost 450 
>years ago is atop the Tepeyac hill (one has to 
>climb up to it) and is small. Over the centuries 
>several large churches have been built at the 
>foot of the hill and they are museums today, 
>quite notable for the many works of art they 
>contain and the "retablos" in them. A retablo is 
>a small pictorial retelling, mostly on a tin 
>surface, of a special grace granted by the 
>Virgin and taken to the Virgin by the person 
>favored as recognition and gratitude. They are, 
>in my view, priceless pieces of living 
>historical popular art.
><snip>
>Meanwhile, happy Virgin of Guadalupe feast day.
>Rosina
>
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http://www.fergusonsculpture.com
Sculptures in copper and other metals