LAURIE ZUCKERMAN: JESUS CHRIST STATUES FROM COLONIAL MEXICAN CHURCHES

Laurie Beth Zuckerman posts a new series of photographs of Jesus Christ from Colonial Mexico. These amazingly poignant statues grace the old churches in Colonial towns such as, Oaxaca, Mitla, Guanajuato, and San Miguel de Allende. I concentrate on photographing these images of Jesus every time I am lucky to visit Mexico. The highlight of my trips is my time alone in these quiet, cool Catholic Churches, away from the crowds and traffic noise. Stop back by later this week for more photos from this series of Jesus with the Crown of Thorns.

Once again, my Sunday posts are crosslinked with Rebecca Brooks' blog and her weekly posts entitled, Stumbling Toward Ecstasy:  http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/2011/02/stumbling-towards.html

HAPPY VALENTINE'S WISHES FROM LAURIE BETH ZUCKERMAN AT ICONARTE

Laurie Zuckerman's forget-me-not memory tin, "Be My Valentine"

Laurie Zuckerman's forget-me-not memory tin, "Be My Valentine"

Laurie Zuckerman wishes you a sweet and fulfilling Valentine's Day. Valentine's is a topic I had never used in my artwork, but two years ago, I constructed this tobacco tin with antique Valentine's postcards, porcelain doll, glass button, Sacred Heart scapulars, rabbits' feet charms, and plastic bird whistles. This work was part of a series of "Forget-me-not tins" I created for my solo exhibit at the Loveland Museum in Northern Colorado. They were designed to accompany my large installation altar entitled "Forget-me-not," dedicated to remembering my late mother, Blanche Kleid Zuckerman. Below are three detail shots from my Loveland installation in 2009.

Laurie Zuckerman's "Forget-me-not" altar installation 2009 detail

Laurie Zuckerman's "Forget-me-not" altar installation 2009 detail

Laurie Zuckerman's "Forget-me-not" altar installation 2009 detail

Here are three other examples from my sentimental series of miniature tin "Forget-me-not" altars.

Laurie Zuckerman's forget-me-not memory tin, "Sweethearts"

Laurie Zuckerman's forget-me-not memory tin, "Sweet Remembrances"

Laurie Zuckerman's forget-me-not memory tin, "Birds and the Bees,"

includes an antique valentine postcard

To view more of Laurie Zuckerman's Forget-me-not tin altars, click on this link to Laurie's Flickr photo portfolio:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iconarte/sets/72157625925432913/

LAURIE ZUCKERMAN: NICHO SHRINES FROM CEMETERIES IN NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO

Laurie Zuckerman is developing a book of her photography of cemetery nichos from the Southwest and Mexico. I am hoping to complete this extensive project this year. I am working through years of photograph journeys and have begun to layout the 160-page book. For a taste of what my collection will contain, here are three of my favorite photos of vandalized nichos with missing or disintegrated plaster saints. Vandalism and neglect in Hispanic Catholic graveyards in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas is sadly rampant. These two particular gravestones from Colorado date back to approximately the 1930s and 40s. It is impossible to know when they were damaged. The startling quality of these nichos is the lasting impression cast by the saint that once sat protected under the thick curved glass. If you are familiar with Jim Dine's drawings of men's robes, you might see the similarity that I see. Dine's robes float with no human head or body. Down in New Mexico I found this first nicho with the Infant of Prague's head fallen off and teetering.

Please visit Rebecca Brooks' blog for more links to images and thoughts in her weekly post, Stumbling Toward Ecstasy:  http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/2011/02/stumbling.html