la fiesta de colores 2013

PUBLISHED BY THECIBOLA BEACON • MAY2013

La Fiesta de ColoresA CELEBRATION OF OUR HISPANIC CULTURE

2 LA FIESTA DE COLORES

LA FIESTA DE COLORES 3

LLAA FFIESTAIESTA DEDE CCOLORESOLORESGRANTS - Santos, Retablos, Bul-

tos – what are these?These, in part, are what were on

display last weekend at the annualLa Fiesta de Colores. The Fiesta is acelebration of Hispanic culture inmany forms, or colors. The eventfeatures art, dance, cars, books,food and more.

The best way I could define a“santo” is a spiritual statue – itcould range from a spiritual figureon tin to a wooden carved whitedove on a stand. Nonetheless,there is an intense spiritual mean-

ing behind each one of them.“Retablos,” also known as “lámi-

nas” in Mexico, are small oilpaintings on tin, wood and some-times copper, which were used inhome altars to venerate the almostinfinite number of Catholic saints.This genre of folk art, deeplyrooted in Spanish history, repre-sented the heart and soul of tradi-tional religious beliefs in 17th,18th and 19th century Mexicanculture.

The retablo was an art form thatflourished in post-conquest Mex-

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Mariachis and the !Taste of Cibola" buffet hosted by the Cibola Arts Council on opening night of the2013 La Fiesta de Colores. The buffet featured food items from many of Cibola County"s restaurants.

By Donald JaramilloBeacon Managing Editor

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Author Carla Aragón at St. TeresaCommunity center. NEXT PAGE


ico and then ultimately,

with the introduction of

inexpensive mediums

such as tin, reached its

pinnacle of popularity in

the last quarter of the

19th century. These oil

paintings were sold to

devout believers who dis-

played them in home al-

tars to honor their

patron saints.

“Bultos” are statues of

Christ, a saint or the

Virgin Mary carved

from a cottonwood

root, covered with

gesso, a white paint

mixture consisting of a

binder mixed with

chalk, gypsum, pig-

ment, or any combina-

tion of these, and

painted. Sometimes the

statue is clothed some-

times not. Bultos often

are interchanged in the

Catholic churches at

different times of the

year or for special needs

of the parishioners.

The art items at Fiesta

event are very unique.

The show draws some

of the best Hispanic

artists around, including

several who attend the

big Santa Fe Spanish

Market held in July

every year.

Each of the artists at

the show has a story be-

hind their talent – many

of them do it because

the skill was passed on

from one family member

to another.

Jerry Montoya, a long-

time resident of Grants

and co-organizer of the

fiesta, is a Spanish Mar-

ket artist. He specializes

in Spanish Colonial san-

tos on tin.

For many years,

Montoya and Paul

Milan have organized

the annual Hispanic

cultural event.

The event was opened

with a ‘Taste of Cibola’

buffet reception hosted

by the Cibola Arts

Council. The buffet fea-

tured items from restau-

rants in the area.

A special item added

this year was multiple

New Mexico authors

featured at the event in-

cluding former television

news anchor Carla

Aragón and longtime

newspaper columnist

Slim Randles.

Aragón will be signed

her book “Dance of the

Eggshells.”

She gave “cascarones,”

traditional confetti-filled

painted eggs, to children

at the Fiesta.

Visit lafiestade-colores.com for more infor-mation.

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Colorful !Azteca Dancers" at Riverwalk Park in downtown Grants.


GRANTS – Another Fiesta deColores has come and gone.

This year’s attractions included

booths that were dedicated to the

written word: nine New Mexico

authors and one of the state’s

largest independent publishers

graced the St. Teresa Community

Center this past weekend.

Nine authors penned greetings

for numerous people on May 4.

Many of the featured books were

published in both English and

Spanish.

Area residents recognized the

familiar faces of Robert Galle-

gos, Abe and Violet Peña, and

Cheryl and Jerry Montoya. They

all took part in Saturday’s book-

signing activities.

Other authors traveled to

Grants just for this event.

“I was only going to write one

romance novel,” laughed Sabra

Brown Steinsiek who has now

penned four of the “Taylor Mor-

gan Trilogy Plus One” series.

“But life happens, and now I’ve

written my first children’s story.”

The author’s lifelong friend,

Noel Dora Chilton, created the

colorful illustrations.

“I’ve known Noel since she

was a child. She has always been

an artist,” explained the author.

“Noel used family photographs

of my father when he was a baby,

a boy, and later as a man as her

inspiration.”

“The Tale of the Pronghorned

Cantaloupe” is her first foray into

children’s literature and the book

won a 2010 New Mexico Book

Award.

Steinsiek lives in Albuquerque

and is the author of seven books;

the first was published in 2000.

Carla Aragón was another fa-

miliar face. The retired KOB TV4

COMMUNITY CELEBRATES HERITAGEBy Rosanne BoyettBeacon Staff Writer

Books

y Libros y másBooks

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news anchor spent more than 35

years in broadcast journalism.

She served as state Speaker of

the House Ken Martinez’ media

representative when the legisla-

ture was in session earlier this

year.

“This is my first book,” noted

Aragon. “I wrote it because I

think it’s important to preserve

family traditions.”

She has shared reading the

“Dance of the Eggshells” with

students in all of the Albu-

querque elementary schools and

her visits included teaching

youngsters how to make their

own cascarones, which are col-

ored egg shells filled with con-

fetti.

“When I was growing up we al-

ways attended community cele-

brations where people broke

cascarones over their dancing

partner’s head,” Aragón recalled.

“It’s a part of our Hispanic her-

itage and the dances were held

the week after Easter. Another

part of the evening always in-

cluded the Broom Dance, which

is similar to the game musical

chairs. The idea was to grab a

partner before the music ended or

else you had to ‘dance’ with a

kitchen broom.”

Future book ideas include the

story of placing the new bride in

a wheelbarrow that is then

pushed by the groom. “The

‘wheelbarrow bride’ is a way for

the groom to announce that he is

ready for the responsibilities of

marriage,” explained Aragón.

Another idea is to write about lasposadas, an annual re-enactment

of the Christmas story that is

held in Spanish-speaking cul-

tures.

She added, “I want my books

to remind people of the beauty of

our traditions; these are the

things that bind us together. We

need to preserve what we have.”

In the adjoining booth the LPD

Press owners, Barbe Awalt and

Paul Rhetts, had very few oppor-

tunities to make use of their two

chairs.

Both were busy answering

questions, selling books, and de-

scribing the awards that their au-

thors have won. Seven of their

prize-winning authors were high-

lighted during Saturday’s Fiesta.

“We’ve been coming to Grants

for more than 15 years,” recalled

Awalt. “We always have a good

time at the Fiesta.”

“I love books – the feel, the an-

ticipation of reading, the desire

to read a good book again and

again,” one area resident told

Aragón. “I don’t really care for

the Kindle and Nook devices. It’s

just not the same reading experi-

ence.”

Two other people standing

nearby voiced their agreement.

But Awalt predicted that elec-

tronic book formats would likely

continue to increase in popular-

ity.

“We recognize that the conven-

ience is one of the main attrac-

tions for readers of all ages,” she

said.

The 19th annual celebration

once again emphasized this re-

gion’s multi-cultural heritage, ac-

knowledged Fiesta co-founder

Paul Milan.

This year’s memories promise

to linger for a long time, accord-

ing to many community mem-

bers. As the saying goes, “A good

time was had by all.”


BEACON / CHAVEZ

Travelin' Jack at the La Fiesta de Colores. He and his companion Jill Lane had their children!s books, “Oso Bear!s Spanish-English Primer” and “Travelin! Jack!s Story,” available for interested readers.

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Carla Aragón, right, and Cibola County author Robert Gallegos. Gallegos is busy signing a book while Aragón is hand-ing out one of her “cascarones,” a traditional confetti-filled painted egg, to a child at the Fiesta.


‘B‘BESTEST OFOF SSHOWHOW’’

Art is Spiritual, Spiritual is Art.“I begin every piece with medi-

tation and prayer,” says MarthaVaroz Ewing, this year's top win-ner at the Fiesta de Colores. “Iask for guidance. I want my art toreach and touch someone. Whenit does, it is complete and I feelthat my prayers have been an-swered.”

Varoz Ewing's piece, Espejo deFlores y Esperanza (Mirror of Flow-ers and Hope), on the right above,was awarded the ‘Best of Show’ atlast weekend's Fiesta at St. TeresaCommunity Center in Grants.Varoz Ewing also won the "Bestof Show" in 2005. The winningpiece in 2004 was a large oval reli-

cario (reliquary) depicting smallstraw saints images placed atevery hour as if on the face of aclock. This symbolized to her thatthe saints are with us every hour

of the day.Every piece of Varoz Ewing has

spiritual meaning to it. She sayseach piece is one of a kind.

Varoz Ewing is a native ofSanta Fe and is a traditional tin-smith and straw appliqué artist.

Ewing first participated in theGrants Fiesta de Colores in 2004.She was not able to attend lastyear due to the death of hermother. However, Varoz Ewingmade up for it this year as the topprizewinner. The winning pieceshe created after her mother'sdeath had been followed by apiece depicting the Stations of theCross. “We all have crosses tobear, mine specifically was when Ilost my mother,” she said. Theartist stated we must count our

By Donald JaramilloBeacon Managing Editor

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Martha Varoz Ewing

— HISPANIC ART SHOW —

Espejo de Flores y Esperanza


blessings and mentioned she and

her husband were blessed with the

birth of a grandchild.

The Beginnings“I've always been in-

terested in traditional art

forms,” Varoz Ewing

said, “I really became se-

rious after my retirement

in 1997. She took tradi-

tional tinsmithing

classes at the Santa Fe

Community College and

once her mentor in straw

applique, Paula Ro-

driguez, learned of her

tinsmithing, Paula com-

missioned Martha to

embellish some of her

works with tin. Paula in

turn introduced Varoz

Ewing to straw applique.

Current thought holds

that the art of straw ap-

plique died out in New

Mexico in the late nine-

teenth century and was

revived in the early

twentieth century by

master artist Eliseo Rodriguez

and his wife Paula. Straw ap-

plique is the art of applying small

intricate pieces of straw to a piece

of wood with wood glue. The

process is so detailed, Varoz

Ewing explained, to understand

and appreciate it you must see it

done from beginning to end in

person. She has also created some

of her pieces in another technique

of encrusted straw, which she

learned from Jimmy Trujillo.

Ewing's Signature Art FormVaroz Ewing's art is unique

today in that she combines her tin

and straw as her signature. Straw

is known as Poor Man's Gold and

tin is known as Poor Man's Silver.

She combines the two as she feels

they compliment one another. She

gathers her wheat from her

brother's wheat fields in Southern

Colorado. She states it is sym-

bolic of her ancestors who were

farmers and said that the wheat

symbolizes ‘Our

Bread of Life,’ an-

other spiritual tie to

her art.

Art and Faith“My art form has

brought me to a

peaceful and loving

place in my life. I

have found a new

passion in life,” she

explained. “I am

learning to stop and

pay closer attention

to life's priorities.

“Life anymore is

so hurried... we just

don't take time to

listen,” she added.

“My art removes

me from a chaotic

world and puts me

in the quiet.”

Varoz Ewing

states that her art

and her Catholic faith run paral-

lel. Most recently she experi-

enced meeting a woman at last

week's Fiesta as she was inquir-

ing about her work. After ex-

plaining her process to this

BEACON / CHAVEZ

La Fiesta de Colores !Best of Show"

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woman on the creationof her art she laterfound that the womanwas a minister, VarozEwing gifted the crossto this minister andnoted, “I frequentlycross paths with specialpeople.”

She also wanted tocommend both PaulMilan and Jerry Mon-toya of Cibola Countyand the organizers ofthe Grants Fiesta.

Keeping it Alive“I'm always astonished

at the beautiful people Imeet through my art,”Varoz Ewing said. “Pauland Jerry give so muchof themselves and arevery passionate aboutCulture as well as His-panic Art and keeping italive.”

Today, Varoz Ewing ismentoring others in herart form in an effort todo her part in keepingthe tradition alive. It isour obligation to sharewith others in order tomaintain its continuitygeneration after genera-tion.

More AboutVaroz EwingVaroz Ewing displays

most of her art in herhome studio in Santa Fe,which she and her hus-band built together. Herhusband, Mark, is mostsupportive of her workand has been instrumen-tal in guiding her in theproper use of all the

tools she uses. Varoz Ewing partici-

pates in the annual tra-ditional Santa FeSpanish Markets aswell as other marketsheld in Santa Fe, Albu-querque, Phoenix, Den-ver and ColoradoSprings.

Her art is in the per-manent collections ofthe Museum of Spanish

Colonial Arts, DenverArt Museum, Expo NMState Fair CommissionCollection, ColoradoFine Arts, Taylor Mu-seum, Hungary Art Mu-seum and a piece at theVatican in Rome.

She was honored toprovide one of hercrosses to be presentedto His Royal HighnessFelipe de Borbón y Gres-

cia and Her Royal High-ness Letizia Ortiz Rasca-solano during the SantaFe's 400th Anniversarycelebration.

In closing, Ewing said,“Each and every one ofmy pieces is one-of-a-kind. I have no website,this is not a business – itis my art. I don’t look atit as art; I refer to themas my prayers.”

BEACON / CHAVEZ

A display of Varoz Ewing!s crosses at the La Fiesta de Colores.


Barbe Awalt AlbuquerquePaul Rhetts AlbuquerqueKevin Burgess AlbuquerqueDrew Coduti AlbuquerqueAdan Carriaga AlbuquerqueAdrian Montoya AlbuquerqueArturo Juan Montano Santa FeAva Peets GrantsBobby Little Bear MilanBernadette Caraveo AlbuquerqueCarlos Marez GrantsCarlos Otero Albuquerque Natalia Carrejo QuemadoCharlie Carrillo Santa FeTina Clawson RamahCristina Hernandez Feldewert Santa FeDavid McCoy Los LunasDwight Kastendieck GrantsBernadette Kastendieck GrantsMartha Veroz Ewing Santa FeFelipe Rivera AlbuquerqueGloria Lopez CordovaDrew Gonzales Santa FeHoracio Cordova AlamagordoJerry Montoya Grants

Jessie Jaramillo GrantsJimmy Trujillo AlbuquerqueDebbie Trujillo AlbuquerqueVictoria Jones Santa FeJose Armijo Santa CruzJuanito Jiminez Santa FeKaren Sorenson GrantsLee Valdez EspañolaLinda Valencia Martinez AlbuquerqueJuan Lopez CorralesMariquita Martinez Santa FeNicolas Otero Los LunasNorma Medina MendanalesNathalie Nunez Santa FeRamona Vigil Eastwood AlbuquerqueRay Baca AlbuquerqueRebecca Ulibarri AlbuquerqueRoberto Perea AlbuquerqueJacob Salazar AlbuquerqueJason Salazar AlbuquerqueRicardo Salazar El PradoBecky Seligman Santa FeArlene Cisneros Sena Santa FeVicente Telles AlbuquerqueBrian Antonio Grants

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Bishop James Wall is surrounded by cultural art during morning mass on Sunday at the St. Teresa Communtiy Center.

Artists Featured


GRANTS - Several artists wererecognized with ribbons and cashrewards at this past weekend’s LaFiesta de Colores art show – acelebration of the Hispanic cul-ture - held Friday through Sun-day at the St. Teresa CommunityCenter in Grants.

The first place Best to Showhonors went to Martha VarozEwing (see related story). Secondplace recognition went to JerryMontoya, co-organizer of the an-nual event. Montoya’s painting ofSan Juan Nepomuceno (1345-1393 A.D.), a national saint ofthe Czech Republic and consid-ered the first martyr of the Sealof the Confessional, is a mediumhomemade gesso, with naturalpigments with pinon sap varnishon vine. The work is a strikingclose-up of the devout saint.

San Juan Nepomuceno is saidto have heard the Queen of Bo-hemia’s confessions. When KingWenceslaus, her husband, askedthe saint to divulge to him thequeen’s confession, he refusedand was drowned in the VltavaRiver.

He is considered the Patron ofSilence and Secrecy for his dis-cretion in keeping the queen’sconfessional, and also considereda protector against gossip.

Montoya, who started and fin-ished the painting of the Patronof Silence this year, is fascinatedby the saint’s stand in protectingthe queen’s confession.

“To me, it’s just (a wonderfulexample) of a sanctity of confes-sion, the sanctity of the churchbetween you and your God,” ex-plained Montoya, of his enthusi-asm for San Juan Nepomuceno.

Three other artists earned topfive ribbons, which were dis-played, along with their awardwinning pieces, at their respectiveexhibit booths at St. Teresa’s.Those individuals were CarlosOtero (third place), Charlie Car-rillo (fourth place), and CarlosMarez (fifth place).

Otero’s third place piece is of apaschal priest known as the Pa-tron of the Kitchen. The monk,in Otero’s piece, is shown praying

the rosary while sweeping hiskitchen. Also in the setting are abag of beans, frijoles, and a bag ofchile set next to a serene, lit fire-place.

“He is depicted working in thekitchen and shown with a fryingpan as the core item in thekitchen,” said Otero.

Otero’s vision of the Patron ofthe Kitchen is of a cute, honor-able monk busily fulfilling hiskitchen duties. It is a lighter workthat can easily draw a smile froman observer.

Otero, of Albuquerque, usedeasy to carve cottonwood fromthe Rio Grande for his third-place traditional piece. He cannot

By Rich SandersBeacon Correspondent

— HISPANIC ART SHOW —

Fiesta Honors Ribbon Winners

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Second Place, Jerry Montoya


remember how long heworked on his Patron ofthe Kitchen, but fin-ished in November. Hehas numerous works,which take up his time,and often goes from oneproject to another.

“I have several worksbecause my mind is toomuch on the move, soit’s best for me to haveseveral pieces at thesame time,” said Otero,with a smile.

A genealogist bytrade, Otero has partici-pated in the La Fiestade Colores show 15years.

“There is not a showin New Mexico thatprovides as well for anartist,” he said.

Fourth place went toCharlie Carrillo. Origi-nally, Carrillo thoughthe had garnered the rib-bon as a result of hisshowpiece rendition ofOur Lady Guadalupe, apiece which trulytouches the heart. Thetraditional New Mexi-can 14-inch by 32-inchretablo work waspainted on a pane panelwith homemade gesso

and pigments. Carrillo does not re-

call precisely how longhe worked on his rendi-tion of Mary.

“It took days – orweeks,” he said, with achuckle. “I finished lastweek. The inspiration isfrom the 17th centuryhistorical New Mexico.Basically it’s a copy of ahistorical piece.”

Our Lady Guadalupe

depicts Mary’s appari-tion in San Juan Diegoin Mexico City.

And while the piece isglorious, it was not hisprizewinner. The ribbonwinner was his ThreeHoly Angels – Michael,Gabriel, and Rafael.

“It is of no particularscene,” said Carrillo.“They are floating onthe clouds.”

Michael is shown with

a sphere, Rafael with afish trout, and Gabrielwith a lily.

The reproduction soldon Friday night but Car-rillo had a smaller printon display at his booth.He says all his workshold meaning to him.

“All the pieces are spe-cial because they’re de-votional,” said Carrillo.“I try to put the sameemphasis on a winningpiece as one that won’twin a reward.”

Carrillo, a Santa Feresident, has twice takenfirst-prize ribbons at theGrants’ show. He is justas thrilled to earn fourththis year. He and hiswife Debbie travel thecountry for variousshows and love theGrants’ event.

“This is the beginningof the art season and itreally kicks up in NewMexico,” he said. “Thisis one show (in Grants)that does a lot morethan a lot of metropoli-tan city shows. There ismore music, entertain-ment and fun at thisshow than some of themajor shows. I’ve loved

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Third Place, Carlos Otero


art since I was littlethanks to my grand-mother, Edna Torres.”

Carlos Marez, withhis woodturningSpaulding/warmingmaple plate piece,earned a fifth- place rib-bon.

“I like making plates,”said Marez, a lifelongGrants resident. “What-ever comes out comesout.

“I had another plate Ihad (recently) made be-fore but it was for abirthday present,” saidMarez, smiling. “I wasreally happy and sur-prised, though, of this(fifth place) plate. Inever thought I wouldtake a ribbon for this. Ilike the warming mapleand the design that goesinto it.”

Marez, a U.S. Armyveteran, has competedin numerous military artshows, earning threefirst-places and two sec-ond-place awards.

This past weekend heanticipated any awardwinning success possi-bly coming from his 18-inch by 24-inch Hail

Mary Full of GraceCatholic Prayer oakframe, birch ply-wood work.

“I thought it mightplace, but it didn’t,”he said.

But his gorgeousplate work did thejob.

“I’m satisfied withthat,” he said.

Other awards wentto Arlene CisnerosSena, Bishop’sAward, and FelipeRivera, GuadalupeVineyards.

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Fourth Place, Charlie CarilloBEACON / CHAVEZ

Fifth Place, Carlos Marez

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Guadalupe and Bishop Awards


GRANTS - The car showheld last Saturday, May 4, inconjunction with the Fiestade Colores had a diverse dis-play of art on every kind ofvehicle.

A passion for vehiclessurely begins in childhoodwith owning miniature cars,trucks, and bicycles. A carshow provided an opportu-nity to show off vehicles andshare a special camaraderie.

The event in Grants is al-ways popular for area car,bike and truck aficionados.

They paint, shine and detailtheir vehicles weeks before aspart of their preparations for theannual event. This is an art in it-self with chrome, paint and

graphics dressing up their cars,trucks, motorcycles or bicycles.

There are those that are a work-in-progress, which shows the de-signs that are leading up to the

finished vehicle. While thereare those who just boughttheir dream car and want toshare it with others.

The preparation for a carshow takes a lot of work.Those behind the scenes areto be commended. At the Fi-esta car show, José Garcia isthe driving force withJohnny Montoya helpinghim.

Garcia and his family arepros when it comes to organ-izing an event such as this.Seeking sponsors in the com-munity takes a lot of legworkand communication. The

event organizers emphasized thatthey are grateful to all those busi-nesses and individuals who weregenerous with their contributions.

Wheels as ArtworkBy Mary Ann MontoyaBeacon Correspondent

BEACON / CHAVEZ

Oscar Cisneros Jr. with his Mustang at Fiesta deColores Car Show.

BEACON / MONTOYA

La Fiesta de Colores Car Show at Autozone

la fiesta de colores 2013

Documents

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annualla fiesta

page4 la fiesta

hispanic culture2 la

art items

taste of cibola buffet

spiritual figureon tin

cibola artscouncil