Alma Benita ~4

So we have talked about the progression of design of Santos from the primitive style to more elaborate costumed pieces.

For this posting, I would like to share with you how my inherent interest of the Santos have been a part of me...in my blood...in my heart...

I was raised Lutheran-not Catholic, but have always found the Madonna to speak to me- for some reason...

Many years ago, Mark and I were headed back from Santa Fe and we stopped at a roadside Mexican restaurant for lunch. We were seated and across the room I spotted a painting. As I was eating lunch I kept looking at the painting...finally I said to Mark I just can't seem to take my eyes off that painting. My sweet husband told me to go over and check out how much it was, my reply was even if it was $500, I still really wanted it.

I got up and walked over to look at the little tag next to it...I came back smiling and told Mark that we needed to add another "0" to that! We got up and left.

SOoo, for the next year, I thought about that painting, endlessly. And we did some research on the artist Miguel Martinez and found that we (I) still really loved that painting a year later.

We found ourselves back in Santa Fe and stopped by the Taos gallery to purchase the painting (giclee). I was thrilled and today, some 15+ years later, I still love this painting. Why it spoke to me has become even clearer in these past two years.

Below is a painting from a Russian painter. I love the gold circle and the print on it behind her...

This is a traditional painting of Mary, I love the tenderness of it...still the gold halo.

And how could I have not put this one in this collection? The Asian Madonna!

Below is another traditional painting. I so love the long fingers and toes that to me, add such a gracefulness to her.

 

The shape of the face, long nose, soft eyes...very lovely.

 

And now we move to the how this all ties together!

When I was growing up, I did not have Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, or cousins. I so wanted to have family like all my friends. Maybe that is why I became so entranced with my art to create an extended family by sharing my gifts.

I did know that my Dad was first born Danish and never really knew where my Mom came from. I have discovered that is her story to tell or not. So I was left on my own to discover my family roots.

In the last few years, we did need to find some documentation for my Mom, which entailed hiring a lawyer to track down any family...

They did find a cousin from my Mom's half sister! Mary. (are you getting the connection with Mary from the Madonna??) We now have been cousins for 2 years and I am so thrilled- it is my only relative outside my immediate family and it is the first time in my life that I have been able to call someone Cousin!

My sister Robin, My Mom, me, Cousin Mary

As Mark and I drive back and forth to Santa Fe, we head straight south/north. One year, coming back we jogged over from the highway and took a side road. 

At twilight, we came around a bin in the Sangre De Cristo  mountain range and I looked over to the east a saw a glow from a small town, I asked Mark what that town was...La Veta. I told him that there was something about it, some draw for me. This whole section of southern Colorado is home to me.

Now we jump forward again 10+ years to finding cousin Mary. I found out that my Mom's side of the family comes from that part of the Colorado.

Mary was a gold mine, she was able to fill in so many of the blanks. I thought I would never know who my Grandmother was or any other family! 

This is a great photo from the 1930's of my Grandmother, Ignasita on the far right and her Mother in the center

My family roots hale from Walsenburg, La Veta and Trinadad.

Cousin Mary and me!

Last summer, Mark and I met Cousin Mary and her husband, Ricky, in La Veta and we traveled around to see the family (ok- the graves of the family) but I was still so happy to have landed...to have roots.

At Grandma Ignasita grave site.

From Cousin Mary, I have found out that the Medina and Vigil women loved fashion and loved to create things, many sewed! 

Now, this all brings together my longing to create a Madonna-type piece...my love of the Santos, the bond with southern Colorado, the love of sewing and working with your hands...and probably the most important- my love of sharing with you- my extended family...

Next week, the final posting of Alma Benita including Inspiration and Alma herself!

Alma Benita ~3

Continuing on with Alma's story and how she came to be...

From here I would like to cover the Cage skirted Santos and talk a bit about Clothing.

Originally, these "dolls" where once upon a time found in Portugal and Spain, Santos cage dolls were used in Catholic religious processions —frequently dressed in elaborate gowns and crowns. The cage body was traditionally used to display photographs and flowers to represent celebrations.

Most of the cage dolls were dressed and redressed for the occasion, that is why today you mostly may find an antique piece without clothing.

 

Cage skirted pieces are very popular in today's world. I am sure that if you shop for home decor, you have seen them.

Even as reproductions, some are quite lovely. 

Check out santoscagedoll.com

I loved them from the first time I saw them so many,many years ago. What I saw was a reproduction and it stood about 3 feet high. My class and I were walking back from lunch down in the neighborhood of my studio. As we walked we spotted that cage skirted figure in the window and immediately we all started to talk of a class to create on of these beauties!

SOoo, my Santos Maria was created!

read more here for the blog postings are how this piece was created!

My goal was to translate the wood to cloth. I wanted the jointing the be reproduced in some way. And I wanted her to be partially dressed but still be able to see her lovely cage!

 Cages for my classes hand-made by Gary Leitch

 

 I wanted that serene face and the painted hair and eyes!

 

These dolls were used in Catholic religious processions and were often elaborately dressed in beautiful gowns and topped with crowns.

These dolls would occupy a place of prominence in the home of a wealthy person or chapel.

I especially LOVE this one below...the colors the faces- mmmm!

  

Another with an interesting dress...

could this of been put on her are a later time?

 

While this one below is not the most beautiful, 

it is probably a male and probably symbolizes a saint!

I  do love the weathered color of this gown! Aged to perfection.

So far we have covered in design from very simple wood pieces to these elaborate clothing.

Next week, I will be discussing The Madonna and my personal Heritage and you will see how this   all  will start to tie together!

Alma Benita ~2

We continue on with the Journey of Alma Benita...

Last week we looked at Simply Carved Santos, now we they are expanded by adding color. Many of these still have the beloved primitive feel to them but have a bit more depth with the addition of the color...

Remember ,this Alma Benita series, is a progression in design for you to understand from a doll making view how each stage shows a betterment in technique.

The color in this below shows the primary colors of yellow, red, and blue (no green) nicely placed to give detail to the carving.

I love this one below with the crown because of the size, shape, and tilted placement, it adds a whimsy to the piece while still being soulful. The balance of color is wonderful from the cool blue to the just enough of soft red to keep your eye on the piece.

These below are from one artist, whose name is still not clear to me. But lovely in the shape and use of color used in pattern design.

These two are more contemporary and style that is most associated with today's Santos figures...

From adding color we take a look at jointing. These pieces are older but more complex with the addition of the joints...

This piece below is beautifully jointed, not showing any of the jointing itself.

Below is my very favorite. Not sure if it is the wear of the clothing, the expression of the face, or maybe the very stitches that holds her together...

This one is an excellent piece with larger hands, I love exaggerated features on my dolls and so that is probably why I am drawn to this piece.

Journey of Alma Benita ~1

These next series of postings are on how I developed a series of dolls from the Wooden Mexican Santos (Saints) figures... 

 Objects tell us about ourselves. As we look at their style and symbolism, we can tell a great deal about the artists who made them and about the societies in which artists lived and worked. When we extend our observations by means of techniques that "see" more than the naked eye, we also expand what we can learn. 

...and from these wooden figures, I will tell my story...my journey...of how my series of Alma Benita ~ Blessed Soul came to life!

 

My hope is to share with you how my experiences in my life gave birth to an art form. I believe that if I give examples of my journey, you too, will be able to look at your life experiences and create a piece to share your story- your journey.

Isn't that what art is?  Creating an experience to share?

My journey started over 15 years ago, in Santa Fe, NM at the Museum of International Folk Art. Mark and I had attended a doll show there for many, many years and visiting the museum was one of the highlights of our trip. If you like folk art, this is probably the best collection in the world I have ever seen.

 

At the time we were there, the museum had a wing of hand carved antique Santos. I was mesmerized with the simplicity of each piece that held so much soul I could almost not move away from each one. I would stand in front of the glass and just take in their beauty and peacefulness.

I would like to take you on this journey by revealing to you a progression in design. From simply carved, to beautifully painted images of the Madonna, to my personal heritage, and finally my interpretation on how all this touched me and prompted me to create my Alma Benita...

 

These below figures are not from the musem, but can give you an idea of what a early Santos looked like.

The Santos dolls take their name from the Spanish word for Saint. The Santos that started the genre of dolls primarily Spanish Colonial and Western European style, were originally started as copies of 17th century carvings by priests. Originally, Santos were created for use as in-home altars. They were needed in small villages that did not have a priest.

St Francis

I especially, love this one below, the general shape of the skirt, the white washed-coloring, the expressiveness of her face.

This below is still simple in shape but you start to see some carving to expand on the basic design.

 

Santos have been made for centuries, since the early Spanish Colonial era. In the Americas, three main traditions of artisanship - Flemish, Italian, and Spanish - contributed to a distinctly New World style, which blended local expressions and native materials with older imported styles. Today, dedicated artists in Hispanic-American communities are still creating santos, working within an evolving tradition steeped in a rich history but adapting to modern society. 

Creative processes: the materials and techniques that artists chose, cultural and traditional influences - become apparent, along with physical evidence of an object's particular history... perhaps your history?

until next week....