All that glitters is New Mexican gold 

BY SOPHIA CARVLIN MILLER

Don’t be surprised if you find a little bit of glitter in your hair when you come home from the New Mex Now Mix exhibit at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. The inaugural show of the NHCC’s Community Gallery features four artists working with mixed media, including digital collage, salvaged materials, found objects and lots of glitter.

Drawing their inspiration from New Mexican Hispanic folk arts, artists Goldie Garcia, Kenny Chávez, Johnny Salas and Alex Chávez have transformed the traditional into something dazzling. Take, for example, Garcia’s mini-shrine “Guadalupe’s ‘Chooe’ (Shoe).”  The plastic-encased image of the Virgin is lovingly nestled in a sparkling ruby pump, surrounded by beads, glitter, sequins and pieces of tin. Then there’s Johnny Salas’ “Lucha Libre (Modern Day Gods of Mexico),” a tribute to the popular Mexican masked wrestlers. Like most works in the exhibit, these two pieces have a decadently reverent feel in their depiction of figures important in Hispanic culture.

When Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate brought lavender with him to San Juan Pueblo in 1598, he changed our New Mexican landscape and our healing customs forever. Now, the pale violet flowers of this herb are in full bloom and their rich, nervine fragrance marks the peak of summer. As they blossom, the flowers are harvested to make potent remedios, or remedies, according to New Mexico curandera traditions. Meanwhile, modern science is discovering exciting new uses for lavender, with implications for improving sexual health and fighting cancer.