Download - La Fiesta De Colores 2012
PUBLISHED BY THE CIBOLA BEACON • MAY 11, 2012
La Fiesta de ColoresLa Fiesta de Colores
HispanicArtShow
2 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
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GRANTS - Artists from Grants, Espanola, Santa
Fe, Medanales and across the region displayed their
creations at Fiesta de Colores this past weekend.
The three-day fiesta opened with an art show on Fri-
day afternoon at the St. Teresa Community Center on
High Street. The Cibola Arts Council hosted an after-
hours reception that evening, which was an opportu-
nity for community members and the more than 40
artists to socialize.
Many of the artisans return every year for this show,
which is by “invitation only,” explained Jerry Mon-
toya who coordinates the event with Paul Milan.
“Any time we come to Grants, it’s nice,” said Debbie
Carrillo, who has created micaceous traditional cook-
ware since 1991. “This fiesta is the beginning of the
art show season.”
Charles, her husband, agreed. He has been creating
traditional New Mexican santos for decades. “The
santos were made to tell stories,” according to the Car-
rillos.
By Rosanne BoyettBeacon Staff Writer
BEACON / CHAVEZ
Aztlan dancers lead the way of the the La Fiesta de Colores pro-cession on High Street in Grants on Saturday, May 5.
Cont’d on PAGE 5
4 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
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1500 N. 3RD STREET • GRANTS NM • 287-7891www.grants.nmsu.edu
LA FIESTA DE COLORES 5
Charles won the Bishop’s Award.
“We were asked to depict the
blessed image of Kateri Tekak-
witha, an Algonquin woman who
will be canonized by the Catholic
Church in October,” he explained.
Arturo Montaño, from a small
village near Abiquiu, won Best of
Show with his depiction of the
Lady of Guadalupe that he carved
from moose and deer antlers. This
was the artist’s first time at the
Grants’ event.
Arlene Cisneros Seña, a tradi-
tional artist from Santa Fe, won
fourth place with her three altar
panels, which will be installed in
the Bishop of Gallup’s private
chapel. The completed work in-
cludes seven panels by Cisneros
Seña along with two pieces by a
stained glass artist.
The community center was filled
with booths selling everything from
hand-woven tapestries to Central
American textiles, silver jewelry,
retablos, bultos and santos, plus a
variety of wooden creations.
But there was much more to the
celebration besides artwork.
The annual celebration of His-
panic culture included recognition
of the state’s centennial. Saturday’s
processional, from Riverside Park
to St. Teresa’s Guadalupe Park,
featured Aztlan dancers and prizes
for Best Centennial costumes.
The Ballet Folkloric del Valle,
strolling musicians, Aztlan
Dancers, Alma Flamenca, along
with the NMSU-Grants Salsa
Dancers performed.
Roberto Mondragon, an accom-
plished New Mexico storyteller,
fascinated community members
with his lively tales.
Youngsters had opportunities to
“strut their stuff ” with the Zumba
Dancers, and many also partici-
pated in the student talent show.
There were numerous chances to
win prizes, in addition to those
awarded to the artists. The top
three state centennial costumes and
student talent show winners re-
ceived cash prizes.
“There were numerous entries
representing the state centennial in
the procession,” recalled Milan fol-
lowing the event. “A group from
San Mateo, a Grant’s prayer group
and the Knights of Columbus
claimed the prizes. It was the best
procession in the six years we’ve
had one.”
On-going crowds of “motor
heads” strolled through the car
show across the street. Several food
and beverage vendors supplied a
variety of menu choices.
Sunday featured a silent auction,
which was followed by a Mariachi
Mass that included “Marichi
Raices de America.”
“Often people don’t realize how
closely this area’s culture is tied to
Spain and Mexico,” noted event
coordinator Paul Milan. “This is a
chance to learn more about His-
panic traditions, renew friendships
and meet people who share the
same interests.”
He acknowledged the Catholic
Church’s role in New Spain, the
Spanish crown’s name for this re-
gion and Mexico in the sixteenth
century. The first Europeans, in
what is now northern New Mex-
ico, were Spaniards sent north
from Mexico City to explore the
land. Catholic priests were part of
on-going expeditions, which con-
tinued for several centuries.
The “conquest” included open-
ing trade routes, introducing Chris-
tianity to Native American tribes,
and the search for gold and other
forms of tangible wealth.
The Spanish explorers’ religious
beliefs formed the foundations for
future generations’ lifestyles. Now,
centuries later, these traditions are
the focus of numerous fiestas.
“We’re all family,” said Felipe
Rivera, whose santo won third
place. He has participated each
year since 2007. “The fiesta just
keeps getting better each year.”
Coordinator Montoya agreed and
said on Monday morning, “It (the
three-day show) went very well. I
feel really lucky that all these friends
come to Grants every year to help
us celebrate our Hispanic culture.
Most of these are award-winning
artists, many of whom have their
work displayed at museums and at
the Vatican in Rome, Italy.”
BEACON / CHAVEZ
A unique piece of Hispanic
art offered at the 18th annual
La Fiesta de Colores.
6 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
GRANTS- When Arturo Mon-
taño heard the news that he had
just won “The Best of Show” at the
La Fiesta De Colores Spanish
Colonial Art Show, he looked at
his fellow artists and thought,
“These people are just spreading
the love.”
Montaño won the top honor for
a beautiful and intricately carved
piece named, “Our Lady of
Guadalupe.” The statuette, fluidly
dressed in draped clothing, was
carved from moose antler with sun-
rays made from the tips of deer
antlers, but the figure looks like it
was made from ivory.
Montaño has been carving bone
since 2001, and proudly noted that
his first art show was at the La Fi-
esta De Colores.
Twenty-nine years ago, Montaño
said he was in a bad car accident
and survived. When he got out of
the hospital, he realized he got a
second chance.
“I had this weird feeling that I
was going to be carving these fig-
urines,” he said, looking at his fin-
ished artwork.
He remembered hiking in the
mountains and finding a deer
antler. “I flipped it over and saw a
natural ‘crown of thorns’.” Look-
ing at the antler, he wondered if he
could carve a face into it. “It
looked kind of cool,” said Mon-
taño. The idea prompted him to
start carving antler crosses.
He recalled one artist approach-
Bone Carver wins ‘Best of Show’
BEACON / CHAVEZ
Arturo Montaño, is standing next to his artwork that won Best of Show. His “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” a
beautiful and intricately carved piece, earned top honors at La Fiesta de Colores in Grants last weekend.
By Bob TenequerBeacon Staff Writer
LA FIESTA DE COLORES 7
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ing him who said, “You are a one-
trick pony, and this is the extent of
what you can do?”
“The artist challenged me, and
I like challenges, so I tried carv-
ing the whole figure,” explained
Montaño.
Montaño said that he lives in a
little community about six miles
south of Abiquiu.
The carver said his inspiration
comes from his daughter,
Gabrielle, who is 22-years-old, and
has cerebral palsy and is confined
to a wheel chair.
“When my daughter was born,
the doctor wanted us to take her off
of life support,” recalled Montaño.
“We asked ‘why’?”
The doctor said, “Because your
child will be severely handicapped
or mentally retarded.” My wife and
I said, “So what, she is still our
daughter.”
“Sometimes, people tell us they
feel sorry for our daughter’s disabil-
ity,” commented the artist. “I say
‘no, no, no!’ We have been given
the opportunity to keep one of
God’s angels.”
The couple named their daughter
Gabrielle. In Hebrew, this trans-
lates, “God is my strength.”
Montaño said proudly, he brands
his daughter’s name on his pieces.
The artist said he brands her name
on the pieces to have people re-
member children with special
needs. “When they see the brand,
‘Made by Gabrielle’s dad’, they
will ask, who is Gabrielle’s dad,
and then they will learn her story.”
In explaining his approach to his
art, Montaño said, “I just create
the pieces as I go. I have an idea…
and just take off.”
“Coming to art shows and see-
ing someone doing quality work in-
spires me and makes me want to go
home and try harder,” expressed
the artist.
Montaño said, historically,
when the Spaniards came to this
country, the sheepherders would
carve utensils like spoons for eat-
ing and little trinkets to pass the
time. “This is a real old art form,”
said the bone carver. Montaño
said that he is among three bone
carvers that participate in Spanish
Market in Santa Fe.
“This is all I do for a living. It’s a
good thing that my wife has a day
job,” said Montaño. Before devot-
ing his talent to carving Montaño
worked as a contractor for 22 years.
Back 2001, the artist recalled, “I
told my wife that I was going to re-
tire – I think this is what I am sup-
posed to be doing. My wife’s
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response was, ‘How will we pay the
bills?’ I told her, I am not a lazy guy, but
I have faith in God, and if it didn’t work
out, I would go back to work,” Mon-
taño remembered. “I had total faith that
God was going to take care of us.”
Montaño remembered one of the
biggest compliments he received was
when a Native American came up to
him and said, “In my tribe, we don’t be-
lieve in cutting antlers because they still
have life. But I think they (the tribe)
would have agreed with what you have
done by continuing the life of the ani-
mal.”
“When people call me an artist,” he
said, pointing up to the sky, “He is the
artist, and I am just His instrument.”
The bone carver said he would con-
tinue to carve as long as he could. “I just
love the way a polished antler looks.”
Montaño said thoughtfully, “I think
my biggest legacy is going to be that I
honored Christ and my religion.”
BEACON / CHAVEZ
Vicente Telles, 2nd Place
10 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
GRANTS - Many of the artisans return every
year for this show, which is by “invitation only,”
explained Jerry Montoya.
He and Paul Milan coordinate the annual Fiesta
de Colores, that is celebrated on the first weekend
in May each year.
“Any time we come to Grants, it’s nice,” said
Debbie Carrillo, who has created micaceous tra-
ditional cookware since 1991. “This fiesta is the
beginning of the art show season.”
Her husband, Charles, agreed. He has been cre-
ating traditional New Mexican santos for decades.
Santo, the Spanish word for "saint,” is a tradi-
tional New Mexican genre of religious sculpture.
Santos are carvings, either in wood or ivory, that
depict saints, angels, or other religious figures, ac-
cording to online sources.
“The santos were made to tell stories,” accord-
ing to the Carrillos, both longtime Santa Fe resi-
dents who have participated in the Spanish
Market for more than two decades.
Charles won the Bishop’s Award. This special
category was made at the request of Bishop
James Wall, Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup,
according to event organizers.
“We were asked to depict the blessed image of
Kateri Tekakwitha, Kaia'tanó:ron, an Algonquin
woman who will be canonized by the Catholic
BEACON / CHAVEZ
Charles Carrillo, a Santa Fe traditional New Mexican artist, is standing on the left of his santo, Saint Kateri
Tekakwitha, that won the Bishop!s Award at the Fiesta de Colores in Grants last weekend.
Bishop Award: Charles CarrilloBy Rosanne BoyettBeacon Staff Writer
LA FIESTA DE COLORES 11
Church in October,” Charles
explained. See Page 12.
Carrillo described his santo,
“The piece took a lifetime of
experience and about 30 hours
of hard work.”
The artist’s used alder wood
and made his own gesso, a
vegetable-based sealant. He
also made his own pigments
from vegetable dyes, clay, and
minerals.
“I grow my own marigolds
and gather chamiso (also
known as saltbush) blossoms to make the yellow
colors,” explained Carrillo. “The red coloring in
this piece is made from clay that is gathered near
Abiquiu.”
The winning artwork was designed to be placed
in niche at the Gallup church. The artist said he
did not know if there would be an installation cer-
emony.
A number of the artists at last weekend’s event
referred to Carrillo as a mentor. The Santa Fe
artist modestly responded, “I don’t claim to be a
mentor. I have shared the traditional arts with
many people during my life.”
He referred to other traditional New Mexican
artists and added, “I call them ‘fellow artisans’
that I share with. If we don’t share the traditions,
they die.”
“We’re all family,” said Felipe Rivera, whose
santo won third place. He has taken part each
year the Grants’ show since 2007. “The fiesta just
keeps getting better each
year.”
Coordinator Montoya
agreed and said, “I feel really
lucky that all these friends
come to Grants every year to
help us celebrate our Hispanic
culture. Most of these are
award-winning artists, many
of whom have their work dis-
played at museums and at the
Vatican in Rome, Italy.”
The three-day fiesta opened
with an art show on May 4 at
the St. Teresa Community Center. An after-hours
artist reception, hosted by the Cibola Arts Coun-
cil, allowed community members to visit with
more than 40 artists who had their pieces dis-
played in individual booths.
Everything from hand-woven tapestries to Cen-
tral American textiles, silver jewelry, retablos, bul-
tos and santos, plus a variety of wooden creations
were showcased last weekend.
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“Most of these are
award-winning artists,
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— Jerry Montoya
12 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
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About Saint Kateri Tekakwitha,Saint Kateri Tekakwitha,Kaia'tanó:ron, has
been called Flower of the Algonguins and
Lily of the Mohawks.
Feast Day
July 14 in the United States
April 17 in Canada
She was born in 1656 in Ossernenon, NY, and
was baptized on April 18, 1676, at Saint Peter's
Mission in Caughnawaga, NY.
She received her First Communion on Christ-
mas Day, 1677, at Saint Francis Mission in La
Prairie, Canada.
She died Wednesday of Holy Week, April 17,
1680, in Kahnawaké, Canada, and was declared
Venerable by Pope Pius XII January 3, 1943.
She was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II
June 22, 1980.
Her parents were a Catholic Algonquin mother
and a Mohawk father.
The young woman was influenced by the fer-
vent Christianity of her mother and by the Black
Robes to live a life of remarkable virtue, at heart
not only a Christian - "a praying Indian" - but a
Christian virgin.
Her extraordinary sanctity impressed not only
her own people, but the French and the Jesuit mis-
sionaries, according to online sources.
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an Hispanic cultureCibola County
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LA FIESTA DE COLORES 13
GRANTS – Last weekend’s
La Fiesta de Colores was a suc-
cess, according to participants
and organizers.
More than 40 artists displayed
their pieces in individual booths,
which featured hand-woven tap-
estries, artwork carved from
antlers, Central American tex-
tiles, silver jewelry, a variety of
wooden creations and other art
forms including retablos, bultos
and santos
Many of the artisans return
every year for this show, which
is by “invitation only,” ex-
plained Jerry Montoya who co-
ordinates the event with Paul
Milan.
One of those invited was Juan
Lopez, whose silver filigree
statue received the 2012
Guadalupe Award.
The prize for the best repre-
sentation of the Lady of
Guadalupe has been presented
by Guadalupe Vineyards, in San
Fidel, for the past seven years.
Lopez has attended the La Fi-
esta since 2000, when it had
been held in what is now the Ci-
bola County complex in down-
town Grants.
This was the first time his
BEACON / CHAVEZ
Juan Lopez, whose silver filigree statue received the 2012 Guadalupe Award,
is very proud to stand beside his winning artwork. The silversmith was one of more than 40 artists that
took part in La Fiesta de Colores last weekend in Grants.
Guadalupe Award: Juan LopezART FORM IS
4,000 YEARS OLD
By Rosanne BoyettBeacon Staff Writer
Cont’d on NEXT PAGE
14 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
work had received this particu-
lar award.
“I’ve done concho belts and
other pieces, but nothing as in-
tricate as this,” said the silver-
smith. “I started with the center
point at the back of the figure.”
He spent uncounted hours
creating the 11-inch tall silver fil-
igree figure, which includes an
angel at its base.
The artwork was his first at-
tempt at carving. He used
moose antler for the Lady’s face
and hands, and deer antler for
the angel.
“My first try at the face was
pretty bad,” laughed the artist.
“I made another one, and then
wondered what to use for the
hair. I tried my own hair but it
was too thin. Then I asked my
five-year-old niece if I could
snip a little piece of her hair. She
said, ‘Uncle Johnnie, you’re not
cutting my hair!’ So, I ended up
getting some from a salon.”
The artist generally has several
different pieces in progress at
one time. Lopez worked at a
steady pace to be certain that his
entry was ready for the Grants’
event, which is the first art show
of the season.
“I have no idea how much fil-
igree I used,” recalled Lopez,
“but it seemed like at least 500
miles by the time I was done. It
seemed like every time I turned
around I needed to buy more
(silver) wire.”
His statue includes semi-pre-
cious stones that represent the
stars on the Lady of
Guadalupe’s robe. Lopez re-
called that after he finished the
piece, he realized that the fili-
gree needed a background.
The silversmith solved that
problem by making a black
wooden display “stand”. “It
needed the background contrast
so the filigree details would
show up,” he said.
A self-taught artist, he ex-
plained that much of his knowl-
edge is based on museum visits.
After each trip he would go
home and try to duplicate what
he had seen. “I melted a lot of
silver before I finally figured out
how to do filigree,” said a laugh-
ing Lopez.
“This is an ancient art form,”
noted the artisan. “The Phoeni-
cians were making silver filigree
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LA FIESTA DE COLORES 15
4,000 years ago. I can’t imagine
how they did it. I mean, they
couldn’t run out and buy more
wire or go and pick up a set of
tweezers whenever they need
another pair.”
“Most art is not new - we just
put our own twist on something
that’s centuries old,” Lopez
said. “I think this statue belongs
in a church or a museum.”
About Our Lady
of GuadalupePatron of the Americas
Feast day: December 12
Missionaries who first came
to Mexico with the Spanish
conquistadors had little success
in the begin-
ning. Christi-
anity was not
p o p u l a r
among the
Native peo-
ple.
Then in
1531 certain unexplained events
began to happen.
The first was Jesus' own
mother, Mary, who appeared to
Juan Diego, a humble peasant.
The signs that were called
“miraculous” --- such as the sud-
den appearance of roses grow-
ing on barren ground, a man
who was inexplicably cured of a
deadly illness and especially the
image of Mary on Juan's mantle
--- convinced many people that
there was something to be con-
sidered in Christianity.
Within a short time, six mil-
lion Native Mexicans had them-
selves baptized as Christians,
according to online sources.
16 LA FIESTA DE COLORES
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Celebrating the Hispanic CultureLa Fiesta de Colores