Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Belen 2012
Handbuilt clay nativity figures from Mexico.
Mexican "nacimiento" tableaux are composed of multitudes of characters. Aside from the the usual suspects such as the Three Kings and shepherds, "nacimientos" often include figures performing daily tasks and routines. Figurines of fishermen, vendors, laundresses, cooks, butchers, bakers and even hermits are usually included and depicted.
The inclusion of "average joes" in the nativity illustrates that amidst the hubbub of daily life, miracles still happen; hope and salvation can still be found amongst the commonplace.
Mexican "nacimiento" tableaux are composed of multitudes of characters. Aside from the the usual suspects such as the Three Kings and shepherds, "nacimientos" often include figures performing daily tasks and routines. Figurines of fishermen, vendors, laundresses, cooks, butchers, bakers and even hermits are usually included and depicted.
The inclusion of "average joes" in the nativity illustrates that amidst the hubbub of daily life, miracles still happen; hope and salvation can still be found amongst the commonplace.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Devil in the Nativity
It is customary in Mexico to include the figurine of the devil in the nativity scene to illustrate that evil is everywhere. Figures of demons bearing emblems of the seven deadly sin are usually shown tempting the shepherds, the Three Kings and the townspeople.
Though evil is indeed all around us, its inclusion in the creche also remind us all that good will eventually triumph.
Though evil is indeed all around us, its inclusion in the creche also remind us all that good will eventually triumph.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
The Miracle
The Miracle
You lingered only for an earthly while
And left the rest of us
To wonder what in your ethereal style
Was most miraculous.
For you have vanished through your body's door
And stolen past your ghost,
Yet strange that we who found you not before
Now find you who are lost.
1 November 1936
-Angela Manalang Gloria
Sunday, November 18, 2012
N.S. de los Remedios
The charming statue of Virgen de los Remedios of Malate, Manila as it appears in a turn-of-the-century photo.
Enshrined at the Church of Malate in Manila in 1624, the statue is said to have been brought from Andalucia, Spain by Fr. Juan de Guevara.
It measures half a "vara", or about 17 inches high, and old accounts describe it as a "brown Virgin."
The statue must have been altered sometime in the mid 1600s or early 1700s as its face and hands were suddenly described as "white ivory" in later accounts.
Its facial features bear Filipino aesthetics; heavy lidded eyes, full cheeks and a straight pointed nose are all traits and hallmarks of colonial Philippine ivory sculptures. The use of ivory too, is indicative of local origins.
The diminutive statue of the Virgin, together with her shrine, were unfortunately destroyed in WWII.
Today, her temple has been reconstructed and her statue replaced with a larger wooden copy by the famed Manila santero, Maximo Vicente.
Source:
Angels in Stone
Galende, 1987
Enshrined at the Church of Malate in Manila in 1624, the statue is said to have been brought from Andalucia, Spain by Fr. Juan de Guevara.
It measures half a "vara", or about 17 inches high, and old accounts describe it as a "brown Virgin."
The statue must have been altered sometime in the mid 1600s or early 1700s as its face and hands were suddenly described as "white ivory" in later accounts.
Its facial features bear Filipino aesthetics; heavy lidded eyes, full cheeks and a straight pointed nose are all traits and hallmarks of colonial Philippine ivory sculptures. The use of ivory too, is indicative of local origins.
The diminutive statue of the Virgin, together with her shrine, were unfortunately destroyed in WWII.
Today, her temple has been reconstructed and her statue replaced with a larger wooden copy by the famed Manila santero, Maximo Vicente.
Source:
Angels in Stone
Galende, 1987
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Old Gumaca Church Interior
Old Gumaca Church Interior.
Church of San Diego de Alcala
Gumaca, Quezon.
The church interior is done in Neo-Gothic style as can be discerned from its Gothic arches that support a large, central domed ceiling.
The style continues on to the retablos with their spires, pointed arches and geometric decorations.
The retablo mayor is placed behind a Gothic arch that is painted with crenelations. The retablo mayor sits under a small dome that is accentuated with trompe-loeil panels.
The retablo mayor is composed of three niches: the central niche bears a monumental sculpture of San Diego de Alcala hugging a cross--the church's patron saint--while the the other two niches are occupied by presumably, the apostles St. Peter and Paul.
The retablos menores too, follow the design of the main retablo albeit in smaller scales. Each niche bears a Franciscan saint, most identifiable of which is that of San Antonio de Padua with the Christ Child whose statue can be seen on the far left side of the picture.
A common sight in churches back then are the rows of benches placed before the main altar. Often simple in construction and almost always crudely decorated, these benches are reserved for the elite and important figures of the town. The rest of the congregation stand or kneel around the benches during a service.
What can also be seen in the photo are the Semana Santa statues of the Cristo Resucitado and Virgen Alegria, each borne atop their own decorated andas,--a palanquin.
Today, the church has been heavily altered. Gone are the plastered walls with their painted surfaces and Gothic arches; the pulpit and retablos too, have been removed and replaced with superfluous baroque reredos.
Church of San Diego de Alcala
Gumaca, Quezon.
The church interior is done in Neo-Gothic style as can be discerned from its Gothic arches that support a large, central domed ceiling.
The style continues on to the retablos with their spires, pointed arches and geometric decorations.
The retablo mayor is placed behind a Gothic arch that is painted with crenelations. The retablo mayor sits under a small dome that is accentuated with trompe-loeil panels.
The retablo mayor is composed of three niches: the central niche bears a monumental sculpture of San Diego de Alcala hugging a cross--the church's patron saint--while the the other two niches are occupied by presumably, the apostles St. Peter and Paul.
The retablos menores too, follow the design of the main retablo albeit in smaller scales. Each niche bears a Franciscan saint, most identifiable of which is that of San Antonio de Padua with the Christ Child whose statue can be seen on the far left side of the picture.
A common sight in churches back then are the rows of benches placed before the main altar. Often simple in construction and almost always crudely decorated, these benches are reserved for the elite and important figures of the town. The rest of the congregation stand or kneel around the benches during a service.
What can also be seen in the photo are the Semana Santa statues of the Cristo Resucitado and Virgen Alegria, each borne atop their own decorated andas,--a palanquin.
Today, the church has been heavily altered. Gone are the plastered walls with their painted surfaces and Gothic arches; the pulpit and retablos too, have been removed and replaced with superfluous baroque reredos.
Animal Purgatory
Poor things.
There is no self-respecting town/city in Texas without a store that sells taxidermied animals and trophy heads.
There is no self-respecting town/city in Texas without a store that sells taxidermied animals and trophy heads.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
"On All Saints' Day"
"On All Saints Day"
Emilio Mar. Antonio
Published in Parnasong Tagalog, an anthology of Philippine poems, 1949.
Translated by Victor Ancheta, 2012.
The jealous sparkle of the star
appea
Emilio Mar. Antonio
Published in Parnasong Tagalog, an anthology of Philippine poems, 1949.
Translated by Victor Ancheta, 2012.
The jealous sparkle of the star
appea
rs-and-hides in the heaping darkness;
timidly looking at the garish grave
that brightly glitters!
(Oh, proud light, guard of darkness,
should you make sorrow beautiful? )
The lonely grave, ornamented,
who hangs a crown of flowers on the cross?
Cross that warns of sadness,
to whom do flowers give delight?
Would a rotten life
be awakened by whimpers?
The few candles on the grave of oppression,
their rays pale by midnight;
with flickering lights abreast,
the lighted flames glint.
A crestfallen heart, in pain accustomed,
is burdened by the carried phantom of grief!
Oh, Grave heaped with sighs,
of holy language and of soul...
is it saintly to refuse
the offered crown in death?
(Oh, I take it to heart to see on others
a burial so abject as of my beloved father!)
But oh father, on All Saints' Day,
there is an Almighty that sifts and weighs;
the arrogant gold placed on the cadaver,
too heavy to lift up to the skies...
While the wilted flower of grief,
if brought to heaven is weightless!
It is not in an elegant and bedecked grave,
that salvation is attained;
fortunate is the mocked and maltreated earth,
for the glory is up above;
the rays of the star that shimmers,
bring the purest glimmer!
Let others pretend
that their lights are the luster of gold;
(Truly on earth
is pride always cherished, even in grief!
Your guarded candle, bowed and timid,
is a low, resentful light!
timidly looking at the garish grave
that brightly glitters!
(Oh, proud light, guard of darkness,
should you make sorrow beautiful? )
The lonely grave, ornamented,
who hangs a crown of flowers on the cross?
Cross that warns of sadness,
to whom do flowers give delight?
Would a rotten life
be awakened by whimpers?
The few candles on the grave of oppression,
their rays pale by midnight;
with flickering lights abreast,
the lighted flames glint.
A crestfallen heart, in pain accustomed,
is burdened by the carried phantom of grief!
Oh, Grave heaped with sighs,
of holy language and of soul...
is it saintly to refuse
the offered crown in death?
(Oh, I take it to heart to see on others
a burial so abject as of my beloved father!)
But oh father, on All Saints' Day,
there is an Almighty that sifts and weighs;
the arrogant gold placed on the cadaver,
too heavy to lift up to the skies...
While the wilted flower of grief,
if brought to heaven is weightless!
It is not in an elegant and bedecked grave,
that salvation is attained;
fortunate is the mocked and maltreated earth,
for the glory is up above;
the rays of the star that shimmers,
bring the purest glimmer!
Let others pretend
that their lights are the luster of gold;
(Truly on earth
is pride always cherished, even in grief!
Your guarded candle, bowed and timid,
is a low, resentful light!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Virgen del Santo Rosario
The Virgin of Rosario and the martyrs of Japan. An 1868 engraving by Ysidro Paulino, a Filipino printmaker active in the 19th century.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
3
3
When the pigeon walked toward me,
Suddenly his breast burst open:
God was there in the wound
Walking to me!
Nearer he came and nearer,
Pigeon and God together;
At the base of my mortal body
Looking up at me!
Gesturing to me without motion,
Talking to me without words:
“Open. Open. Let me ascend.
Open. Open!”
Then did I will my body to break,
To break, to break, for Door!
And God leapt in and rose
Fire in my realms of bone.
-Jose Garcia Villa
Now on Etsy: Krampus Postcards
Need to gift someone who's been rather naughty this year?
Well, here's your terrifying but lovable, Krampus!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Paco Mortuary Chapel
Paco Chapel's old reredo.
The Calvary figures are now in San Agustin Museum in Intramuros, Manila.
The Calvary figures are now in San Agustin Museum in Intramuros, Manila.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
S. Anna
A continental collage depicting St. Anne and the Child Mary in its original glass and ebonized wooden frame. Probably mid-to- late 1800's.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Art Theft: N.S. de la Asuncion of Maragondon, Cavite
Stolen in the 80's, the ivory head and hands of Our Lady of Assumption of Maragondon church in Cavite are still missing.
Monday, September 17, 2012
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