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Saturday, March 06, 2010
Exhibit Explores Secret History of Penitentes in N.M.
By Aurelio Sanchez
Journal Staff Writer
When Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy tried to suppress the Penitente Brotherhood as part of the "Americanization" of New Mexico, he created a secret society that still holds fascination today for many New Mexicans.
After being driven underground for many years, the Penitentes were formally recognized by the Catholic Church in 1947. The brotherhood today is experiencing an upsurge in New Mexico as young and middle-aged Hispanos are joining in numbers not seen since the early 20th century, according to Carlos Vasquez, co-curator of an exhibit at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
The center, through its History and Literary Arts Center, is hosting a three-month exhibit on the Penitente history of New Mexico and southern Colorado.
The exhibit is intended to shed some light on this devoted, often misunderstood, lay confraternity of Roman Catholic men. Its members provided spiritual services in many secluded communities after Franciscan and other missionaries were withdrawn after Mexican independence in 1821 from Spain.
The free exhibit will be drawn largely from the historic collection of author Ray John de Aragon, author and folk artist, and his wife, Rosa Maria Calles, a recognized playwright and visual artist. De Aragon wrote the book, "The Penitentes of New Mexico," published by Sunstone Press.
Complementing the show will be the oil and acrylic paintings, santos, and retablos of Calles and de Aragon, as well as a set of 18 black-and-white large format photographs by Craig Varjabedian of moradas, houses used as gathering places.
De Aragon and Calles will speak as part of La Resolana lecture series at the center at 10 a.m. Saturday. Calles will speak on the women's role and involvement in Penitente history. Rosalia de Aragon, a noted stage and film actor, and popular New Mexico singer, will sing alabados, traditional hymns sung in Spanish by northern New Mexicans since the 17th century.
If you go
WHAT: "My Penitente Land: Los Hermanos de la Luz" lecture and exhibit
WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday
WHERE: Salon Ortega at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth SW
HOW MUCH: Free
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