Artist Media Series
Living Artists
Historic
Arthur Lopez – “Our Lady of the Sideshow: The Virgin of Guadalupe”, Wood Santos
42"h
$ 24,000.00
Arthur Lopez is one of the leading Santos carvers in New Mexico. This piece is entitled “Our Lady of the Sideshow: The Virgin of Guadalupe”.
“The centerpiece of the show, ‘Our Lady of the Sideshow, ‘ offers a nuanced allegorical interpretation of the Virgin Mary. Her elaborate Marie Antoinette-inspired coiffure, a symbol of royal power as ‘Queen of Heaven,’ also serves as a theatrical stage, reflecting her elevated status. Atop this towering hair sits the Christ Child of Atocha, a Roman Catholic image of the Christ Child, venerated in Hispanic cultures, as the patron saint of travelers, a fitting figure for the traveling circus. Her elegant gown is in the rococo style that drapes open like curtains to frame the stage for the sideshow acts that will perform. On stage is “The Apparitionist”, a contemporary depiction of “San Juan Diego”, a Mexican indigenous man to whom the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared in 1531. The Virgin of Guadalupe subtly blends into the background, and instead of the traditional miraculous image on his cloak, a tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe is strikingly emblazoned on San Juan Diego’s chest, surrounded by roses, a permanent testament to the divine encounter. Another striking interpretation is St. Sebastian, who traditionally is portrayed during his martyrdom by being shot with arrows, but miraculously survived. I portray him as the human pin cushion. Then there’s Santa Librada, a saint whose story involves a princess who grew a beard to avoid an arranged marriage. She was promised to a king, but devoted her life to Christianity and prayed for a sign to reject the marriage. Her prayer was answered with the growth of a beard, and she was later crucified by her father. In my sideshow, she becomes the Bearded Lady. With a clever twist, Saint Catherine of Bologna she is considered the patron saint of artists (due to her own artistic talents in miniature painting and illuminated manuscripts, and her dedication to her faith, which she expressed through her art and writings), becomes the tattooed lady, a fitting patron saint for tattoo artists in my sideshow.”
Arthur wrote of his show Sideshow Saints:
Arthur Lopez’s new exhibition, ‘Sideshow Saints,’ boldly reimagines the sacred narratives of Christian saints within the captivating and often unsettling world of the circus sideshow.”
“Step right up!” and witness a spectacle unlike any other! Prepare to be amazed, to be stunned, to be thrilled! Don’t miss your chance to witness the incredible! A sight you won’t forget, a memory you’ll cherish forever!
“Sideshow Saints” showcases Lopez’s exceptional skill in painted wood sculpture, a medium through which he meticulously reimagines traditional Christian narratives. Each piece in the exhibition demonstrates a profound understanding of form and surface, as Lopez masterfully carves and paints the wood to bring these unique interpretations to life. The tactile quality of the wood, combined with the vibrant layers of paint, imbues the sculptures with a tangible presence, bridging the historical narratives with a contemporary artistic sensibility.”
Lopez pulls back the circus curtain by inviting viewers into the world circus sideshow or (Freak-show) as it is sometimes referred as. Circus sideshows are known for their bizarre and unusual acts that include people with unusual physical characteristics or conditions that were often considered “Freaks of Nature” or “Beyond Natural”. This concept sparked the theme for “Sideshow Saints”, Just as the sideshow spotlighted individuals with extraordinary characteristics, the lives of the saints are filled with equally extraordinary tales of martyrdom, miracles, and divine intervention. This parallel forms the foundation of the exhibition, where each figure is masterfully carved and painted with careful attention to their traditional attributes, reinterpreted within a sideshow setting.
The process for Arthur’s work is bound in tradition. After the piece is carved, it is covered in gesso (a glue made from rabbit hide), which is allowed to dry and then sanded. It is painted with both natural and watercolor pigments. Natural colored pigments, such as brown, are derived from black walnut hulls. These are the time involved and historic foundations for his work.
Click here to read more and see all the pieces in “Sideshow Saints.”
Arthur Lopez: Sideshow Saints
Out of stock
Brand:Lopez, Arthur (b. 1971)
Description
Arthur Lopez is one of the leading Santos carvers in New Mexico. This piece is entitled “Our Lady of the Sideshow: The Virgin of Guadalupe”.
“The centerpiece of the show, ‘Our Lady of the Sideshow, ‘ offers a nuanced allegorical interpretation of the Virgin Mary. Her elaborate Marie Antoinette-inspired coiffure, a symbol of royal power as ‘Queen of Heaven,’ also serves as a theatrical stage, reflecting her elevated status. Atop this towering hair sits the Christ Child of Atocha, a Roman Catholic image of the Christ Child, venerated in Hispanic cultures, as the patron saint of travelers, a fitting figure for the traveling circus. Her elegant gown is in the rococo style that drapes open like curtains to frame the stage for the sideshow acts that will perform. On stage is “The Apparitionist”, a contemporary depiction of “San Juan Diego”, a Mexican indigenous man to whom the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared in 1531. The Virgin of Guadalupe subtly blends into the background, and instead of the traditional miraculous image on his cloak, a tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe is strikingly emblazoned on San Juan Diego’s chest, surrounded by roses, a permanent testament to the divine encounter. Another striking interpretation is St. Sebastian, who traditionally is portrayed during his martyrdom by being shot with arrows, but miraculously survived. I portray him as the human pin cushion. Then there’s Santa Librada, a saint whose story involves a princess who grew a beard to avoid an arranged marriage. She was promised to a king, but devoted her life to Christianity and prayed for a sign to reject the marriage. Her prayer was answered with the growth of a beard, and she was later crucified by her father. In my sideshow, she becomes the Bearded Lady. With a clever twist, Saint Catherine of Bologna she is considered the patron saint of artists (due to her own artistic talents in miniature painting and illuminated manuscripts, and her dedication to her faith, which she expressed through her art and writings), becomes the tattooed lady, a fitting patron saint for tattoo artists in my sideshow.”
Arthur wrote of his show Sideshow Saints:
Arthur Lopez’s new exhibition, ‘Sideshow Saints,’ boldly reimagines the sacred narratives of Christian saints within the captivating and often unsettling world of the circus sideshow.”
“Step right up!” and witness a spectacle unlike any other! Prepare to be amazed, to be stunned, to be thrilled! Don’t miss your chance to witness the incredible! A sight you won’t forget, a memory you’ll cherish forever!
“Sideshow Saints” showcases Lopez’s exceptional skill in painted wood sculpture, a medium through which he meticulously reimagines traditional Christian narratives. Each piece in the exhibition demonstrates a profound understanding of form and surface, as Lopez masterfully carves and paints the wood to bring these unique interpretations to life. The tactile quality of the wood, combined with the vibrant layers of paint, imbues the sculptures with a tangible presence, bridging the historical narratives with a contemporary artistic sensibility.”
Lopez pulls back the circus curtain by inviting viewers into the world circus sideshow or (Freak-show) as it is sometimes referred as. Circus sideshows are known for their bizarre and unusual acts that include people with unusual physical characteristics or conditions that were often considered “Freaks of Nature” or “Beyond Natural”. This concept sparked the theme for “Sideshow Saints”, Just as the sideshow spotlighted individuals with extraordinary characteristics, the lives of the saints are filled with equally extraordinary tales of martyrdom, miracles, and divine intervention. This parallel forms the foundation of the exhibition, where each figure is masterfully carved and painted with careful attention to their traditional attributes, reinterpreted within a sideshow setting.
The process for Arthur’s work is bound in tradition. After the piece is carved, it is covered in gesso (a glue made from rabbit hide), which is allowed to dry and then sanded. It is painted with both natural and watercolor pigments. Natural colored pigments, such as brown, are derived from black walnut hulls. These are the time involved and historic foundations for his work.
Click here to read more and see all the pieces in “Sideshow Saints”
Learn More
Brand
Lopez, Arthur (b. 1971)
Arthur Lopez
Arthur Lopez (b.1971) said, "I firmly believe that you can still use traditional methods to create contemporary work."
Though most of Arthur's work represents Saints, you do not have to be of any particular religion to appreciate them as art. Equally crucial to López is his need to transcend the bounds of the traditional santero and use his art to express the full range of his culture and the world around him. López has exhibited in numerous shows throughout the Southwest and is in many prominent museum collections nationwide. His work has been exhibited internationally at the 2nd International Triennial of Kogei - "The Arts Grounded in Region," 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan; "Song of the West," Kohi Kulturaum, Karlsruhe, Germany and "The Saints From a Land So Remote" - LAProjects, Landshut, Germany. Arthur Lopez was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and he is proud to be working in the long tradition of New Mexico santero artists. His keen attention to detail has garnered him many awards, and he is highly esteemed as one of New Mexico's most popular santero wood sculptors. In 2015 Arthur Lopez was awarded the City of Santa Fe Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.
"My work comes out of my faith."