Jason Garcia and Vicente Telles

Vicente Telles

The creation of each piece begins with the collecting of pigment; deposits of yellow ochre in the mountains and caves of central New Mexico and micaceous clay pits found in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Preparing and getting the clays and ochres into final application consistency occurs only after the proper separation of non-pigmented soils, rocks, sand, twigs then, mulling occurs. Visual and written history has given me the necessary understanding to tell my own story of the traditional New Mexican retablo with color, materials and techniques. Both those developed in 18thcentury New Mexico and modern. I create work to solidify my relationship with culture, heritage and identity. I continuously educate myself in order to contribute to the constantly developing traditions. A strong base in the traditional methods of retablo making has allowed me to move my work forward, using contemporary and traditional materials and iconographic experiences. In my current body of work, I combine the traditional techniques of using mineral pigments/watercolors with high quality hand pulled paper, and fabrics to make a piece that speaks both to the tradition and to the contemporary. I study and interpret the use of designs from other disciplines i.e. tin work, furniture making and incorporate them into the creation of my work. I make use of and turn the “cut-out” and paper/fabric accent designs used in New Mexican tin work. The use of scallops ,step designs, altar construction are characteristics interpreted and adapted from tradition of furniture making. Every aspect of my work is consistent with my culture, both in its infancy and as it exist today.