Tree of Life
July, 1993
43" x 22" x 13"
Devotional Objects, Wood, watercolor, natural pigment and stamped tin work
Region: Santa Fe, New Mexico
43" x 22" x 13"
Devotional Objects, Wood, watercolor, natural pigment and stamped tin work
Region: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Signed on bottom
Notes on the imagery on the piece: Snake at bottom (Garden of Eden), Nativity, Crucifixcion, St. Michael Archangel, Mary on Right, Bishop on left (the one Don Juan presented the Guadalupe robe to), Lady of Guadalupe, Santiago and Holy Spirit on top. Eight attendent angels surround the piece. Tin work done by Bobby Romero.
History:
The tree of life is an iconic representation of Mexican art and heritage. Its roots can be traced back to pre-Hispanic times when indigenous groups used clay to make ceramics for daily use and religious ceremonies. During the colonial period, the tree of life replaced the clay deities as an instrument of evangelization, and over time, it evolved into a folkloric representation that reflected the worldview of each artisan.
History:
The tree of life is an iconic representation of Mexican art and heritage. Its roots can be traced back to pre-Hispanic times when indigenous groups used clay to make ceramics for daily use and religious ceremonies. During the colonial period, the tree of life replaced the clay deities as an instrument of evangelization, and over time, it evolved into a folkloric representation that reflected the worldview of each artisan.
About the Artist
As a writer, her early works focused on research-based books about the culture and churches of Northern New Mexico, along with a memoir about growing up in Santa Fe in the 1950s. A number of years ago she began to write a mysteries series based around Santa Fe featuring Jemimah Hodge, a forensic psychologist. She is currently working on the fifth of the series. The romantic novel about the Pueblo Revolt began as a screenplay over ten years ago when she was a student at Lesley College in Boston. Since then she has developed it into a novel.
Her works of art are in the following collections: Museum of International Folk Art; The Albuquerque Museum; Museum of Spanish Colonial Art; the Smithsonian Institute; The Vatican; The Archdiocese of Santa Fe; The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and many private collections.
