Hispano Folkways

Hispano Folkways. . , In May 1991 Rev. Pat Valdez of the Sangre de Cristo Church journeyed to Rome with twenty-nine parishioners for an audience with Pope John Paul II. They were accompanied by sculptor Huberto Maestas, a San Luis native and creator of the town's Stations of the Cross Shrine. Dedicated in 1990, the shrine symbolizes the central role of religion in southern Colorado's Hispano communities. Local residents come here throughout the year for prayer, reflection, and celebration. The shrine also makes an important contribution to the San Luis economy, drawing thousands of visitors annually. Perhaps most important, it has rekindled a sense of unity and pride in this, Colorado's first significant settlement. , When looking at the sculptures, you not only see creations of art; as a whole, you see the spirit of San Luis and all its people. , , Huberto Maestas, Stations of the Cross Shrine sculptor , Juán Ramón Velázquez, an itinerant santero (maker of sacred images), left his distinctive mark in San Luis. Because religious artifacts were in short supply on this isolated frontier, local craftspeople met the demand. Drawing upon the rich cultural heritage of Spain and colonial Mexico, these artisans excelled in weaving, carving, and embroidery. The items they produced were not intended as mere decoration; they were used in agricultural festivals, birth and death ceremonies, marriage rites, and the daily religious worship that lay at the heart of Hispano life. Traditional crafts have survived in San Luis, and since the 1970s they have undergone a renaissance. , [photo captions] , • Rio Grande weaving , • San Luis residents in Los Pastores, a religious passion play, July 1951