One of the many wonderful things my hometown, San Antonio, has to offer is that of a multi-cultural atmosphere. Mexico, above all,  has certainly influenced San Antonio gifting its citizens with the aesthetics of color, animated music and spicy food.

Mexican Folk Art has always been a special love. So I asked my friend and folk artist, Pat Jimenez, to tell me a bit more about her work:

Pat Jimenez at San Antonio’s Starving Artist Show 2012

My name is Pat Jimenez, and I am a Mexican folk artist living in San Antonio, Texas. My passion for art began at the age of 13. My mother was from Coahuila, Mexico so I was raised in a culture where religious icons, traditional customs, and the use of bold colors all became an important source of inspiration for me.

I love painting in acrylic. But my first love is shrines. Each design is different and the figures I make are made with clay. My Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is created in celebration of life rather than death. Others I create are using recycled and found objects.

If you would like to see more of my artwork, please visit me at Mi Corazon Artwerx or see my Facebook Page.

Thank you.

Fotos of some of Pat’s artwork:

St. Frances, Virgin Mary & Cathrine the Great

Virgin

La Boda nicho

Lady of Guadalupe nicho

MORE MEXICAN FOLK ART:

NICHOS: a nicho is a decorative box usually set upon tables  to display religious icons +  Painted Nicho – St Antonio de Padua Southern Mexico + Cielito lindo nichos + Nichos at dosmujeres + Dream-Box “The Magic Hand” small.

What is a NICHO (Shrine)? When the Conquistadors came to the Americas, they brought with them many of the traditions of Spain, specially those having to do with religion. It was customary in Colonial homes to have a niche in the wall, or a “nicho” featuring the image of a saint, which would bless the house. These could be carved into a wall, or could be made of tin and hung on a wall. So, a nicho is essentially a recessed frame which holds either a figure or an image of a particular saint.

RETABLO: A retablo or lamina is a Latin American devotional painting, especially a small popular or folk art one using iconography derived from traditional Catholic church art.

Many many years ago I made some CARDBOARD RETABLOS bout The Aesthetics of Appreciaton: If you’re lucky and don’t know it, it’s like not being lucky at all. So to keep your luck alive, recognize it. Retablos are a means of offering thanks for this luck.

Lorenzo Family Retablos

Ex-voto Retablo – Octopus Attack + “Retablos: 10 Deleted Tongues” By Paul Martinez Pompa + Reproduction Religious Artifacts from Mexico + Scroll down to see Retablo de Frida (it depics the accident that she had as a young girl).

Retablos: Asking Favors + Powerful Retablo on the impact of immigration on people–compliments of Jay J. Johnson + A broad movement to save Malta and Gozo from drowning in a sea of speculation.

MILAGROs:

Milagros, also known as an ex-voto or dijes, are religious folk charms that are mostly made in Mexico but are also produced in some other countries of Central and South America. Milagros are an old tradition, used for healing purposes and as votive offerings in Mexico and areas of United States. In Spanish, the word “milagro” means “miracle”.

Milagros and my grandmother + Vintage Mexican Milagros on La Mariposa Gallery.

Jeri Moe at San Angel Folk Art + Metal Folk Art by Jeri Moe.

TAMATA/ταμάτα: The Greeks have votives very similar to Mexican milagros.  They’re called Tamata. Tamata + Tama.

Emotive votives + Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa EX-VOTIVES.