Artist Media Series
Living Artists
Historic
Arthur Lopez – “The World’s Smallest Man: St. John the Dwarf'”, Wood Santos
12”w x 24”h x 5” deep
$ 7,200.00
Arthur Lopez is one of the leading Santos carvers in New Mexico. This piece is entitled “The World’s Smallest Man: St. John the Dwarf”.
John the Dwarf is best known for his obedience. The most famous story associated with St. John the Dwarf tells of his elder, Saint Abba Pambo, instructed him to plant a dry piece of wood and water it twice daily until it bore fruit. The water source was about 12 miles away, making this a seemingly pointless and arduous task. John obeyed without question for three years. Eventually, the dry wood sprouted, grew leaves, and produced fruit. Saint Abba Pambo then took the fruit to the other monks, saying, “Take, eat from the fruit of obedience.” This story became a powerful illustration of the virtue of obedience.
“Yet, this remarkable act of obedience was just one facet of the wisdom held within his small frame.” This vertically challenged wonder, this paradox of small stature and immense spirit, often shared profound insights that belied this small wonder. He urged all to look beyond the flaws of others, a lesson perhaps learned from a lifetime of being scrutinized himself. He cautioned against the folly of comparison, a wisdom surely gleaned from navigating a world built for those of greater height.
Though short in stature his faith was larger than life. He stressed the need to pay no attention to the faults of others and to avoid comparing oneself to others.
Behold, then, Saint John the Dwarf! A reminder that true measure lies not in inches, but in the boundless capacity of the human heart, a truth perhaps most powerfully illustrated in the life of one so remarkably small. Make no mistake, within this pocket sized being beat a heart of unwavering devotion!
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 “The World’s Smallest Man: St. John the Dwarf”.
John the Dwarf is best known for his obedience. The most famous story associated with St. John the Dwarf tells of his elder, Saint Abba Pambo, instructed him to plant a dry piece of wood and water it twice daily until it bore fruit. The water source was about 12 miles away, making this a seemingly pointless and arduous task. John obeyed without question for three years. Eventually, the dry wood sprouted, grew leaves, and produced fruit. Saint Abba Pambo then took the fruit to the other monks, saying, “Take, eat from the fruit of obedience.” This story became a powerful illustration of the virtue of obedience.
“Yet, this remarkable act of obedience was just one facet of the wisdom held within his small frame.” This vertically challenged wonder, this paradox of small stature and immense spirit, often shared profound insights that belied this small wonder. He urged all to look beyond the flaws of others, a lesson perhaps learned from a lifetime of being scrutinized himself. He cautioned against the folly of comparison, a wisdom surely gleaned from navigating a world built for those of greater height.
Though short in stature his faith was larger than life. He stressed the need to pay no attention to the faults of others and to avoid comparing oneself to others.
Behold, then, Saint John the Dwarf! A reminder that true measure lies not in inches, but in the boundless capacity of the human heart, a truth perhaps most powerfully illustrated in the life of one so remarkably small. Make no mistake, within this pocket sized being beat a heart of unwavering devotion!
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."