Cultural Red SAQANM exhibit opening

You are invited! Friday, April 17, 2015 to the Santa Fe Capitol Rotunda Gallery. The Studio Art Quilts Association of New Mexico SAQANM artists' opening reception is free and open to the public from 4 to 6 pm. Over 60 amazing works by NM folks. My three works below are in this show. Please stop by and say hi and join our celebration!

Quest For Red © Sabrina Zarco

Calling the Four Directions © Sabrina Zarco

Spirit of El Corazon © Sabrina Zarco

These works are currently hanging in the Santa Fe Capitol Rotunda Gallery as part of the Cultural Red Exhibit by Studio Art Quilts New Mexico SAQANM from April to August 2015. And in 2016 in Ruidoso Downs NM at the Hubbard Museum of the American West. For more on this work visit SabrinaZarco.com

The Spirit of El Corazon

El Corazon in Mexican Spanish has a totally different meaning than heart in the English language where it is often separated from knowledge and often reduced to sentimentality. El corazon is a physical organ with a magical quality. The heart integrates and informs all aspects of a person, mind, will, emotions. El corazon is the core or center of a person and the source of ultimate understanding. To understand the dynamics of Mexican spirituality is to understand el corazon. Spiritual transformation emerges from el corazon. In this work are symbols in fabric and found/repurposed objects that represent the various aspects of el corazon.

This work is currently hanging in the Santa Fe Capitol Rotunda Gallery as part of the Cultural Red Exhibit from April to August 2015. And in 2016 in Ruidoso Downs NM at the Hubbard Museum of the American West. For more on this work visit SabrinaZarco.com

Cultural Red Exhibit Santa Fe

Quest For Red © Sabrina Zarco

Cochineal dye was used by the Aztec and Maya peoples of Central and North America for everything from coloring clothing, healing ailments, and for personal adornment. The cochineal is found on the nopal or prickly pear cactus pads inside match head-sized white fuzz balls. By the 14th century, the Incas and Aztecs both had whole agricultural systems based on cochineal and apparently valued the dye as much as gold. The insects were harvested and traded. The insects were collected, dried and crushed releasing the intense red color dye.

This is one of three works of mine that have been accepted into the exhibit at the Santa fe Capitol Rotunda Gallery. The gallery opening for those in New Mexico or visiting will be on Friday, April 17, 2015 from 5-7pm. The exhibit will be up from April to August 2015.

I created a large Cochineal bug and added the white fuzz balls with paint and beads on the nopal pads. String needles on the pads hurt less when handling the work. As always it wouldn't be my work without buttons hand painted and lots of hand stitches. I will share the other two works and their stories later. 

Detail Quest For Red.