Layers of Meaning

Thanks for Retablos

I am finding myself wandering the edges of iconography again. This began with the kimono quilt and has been growing since then. Actually it probably began in my youth. I have two 19th century Mexican icons on my dining room walls that have been with me most of my life (they skipped my college years). I just stumbled onto a site on the web that talks about making contemporary icons or retablos. First, let me explain - what is a retablo:

Traditional retablos: "Mexican devotional paintings of saints on tin are commonly referred to as retablos, or retablos santos. The paintings were used in household altars in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The practice of maintaining an altar in the home, often with multiple images, became an important part of religious worship in the Americas. People would appeal to different saints for different purposes, and belief held that a saint should be seen to be venerated."

Cynthia Korzekwa has created a series of contemporary retablos, milagros and ex-votos. "Generally, retablos have an inscription stating the reason why it's being offered. From retablo themes, we learn what were the main preoccupations of those who had them painted (there were folk artists specialized in retablos). Themes such as health, social life, crime and emotional relationships. The word ex-voto is derived from the Latin 'the promise of,' or 'the miracle of .' It is the recognition of "grazie ricevute" (graces granted) and is offered as payment for a promise made. An ex-voto is an offering to those who have interceeded in our behalf."

Korzekwa's work is all about giving thanks on a daily basis for the simple joys. Don't miss her tryptichs either. These are tiny computer manipulated images taken from her sketchbooks. What gives all of these works a particular charm is the ease with which they are created and released. These are daily devotions; little homages; no big deal.