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

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hi Richard,

I'd love to have the ISBN numbers of the books on Mexican retablos that you have. I never tire of feeling life jump right out of them. Both Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo were avid church-goers to study whatever retablos they could find, and their teacher, inspirator and mentor, Guadalupe Posada, based his entire life work on the retablos he found in the churches all over Mexico.
Hugs!
Rosina


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Ferguson <richard at fergusonsculpture.com>
To: blaroli at aol.com
Cc: gocamino at oakapple.net
Sent: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:31 pm
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] ] 120 000 pilgrims per day - 20million pa!!



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 
> 
- 
-- http://www.fergusonsculpture.com 
Sculptures in copper and other metals 


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