CONFERENCE 2007-ALBUQUERQUE

ARTISTS

from HaLapid Fall 2007

A grant from the Martin Sosin-Stratton-Petit Foundation , enables SCJS to offer more artists as speakers and exhibitors in future conferences. Each artist was invited to exhibit his or her work and offer items for sale, in addition to making a presentation.

SANTEROS

Charlie Carrillo

Mr. Carrillo described how, since colonial times, santeros have used themes from the Old Testament in addition to contemporary Catholic ones. The archangels Rafael (medicine of God), Michael and Gabriel are often depicted. The story of Adam and Eve is a popular one in New Mexican santero art. New Mexico starts its Christmas season with what is called the comedy of Adam and Eve.

The third most important depiction of Mary in the new world was that of the Virgin of Mt. Carmel who was prayed to by the dying. The prophet Elijah, another Old Testament person, lived on Mt. Carmel and at one point was hungry and thirsty. A new Mexican account says that a watermelon farmer at the base of the mountain refused to give him melon so all his melons turned to stone. On July 16 in Taos , NM , people celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel by breaking watermelons.

Carrillo showed a copy of a retablo painted in 1820 , of Mt. Carmel , Elijah and the archangel Michael. He also exhibited a centuries-old rawhide tobacco flask, decorated with the Star of David.

Carlos José Otero

Santero Carlos José Otero, native of Valencia county, NM, explained how he prepares the wood, applies gesso, obtains his paints, and finishes the retablos . He showed slides of his work, sometimes including stars of David.

He also read from his poem, “Raices de Herencia,” Roots of Heritage. The next to last verse reads, “Brothers don't forget or take for granted what has been left for you of a rich tradition & culture. Your heritage.” He described customs in his family that might be Sephardic. For example, when a woman gives birth in his family, she is isolated for 40 days. After that she is bathed and the baby is presented at the altar.

Archie Perea

Archie Perea, the third santero , related a story of his training a group of military recruits during the Vietnam war era. He was from New Mexico and they from Brooklyn , but, curiously, he resembled them. They were a group of New York Jews who took top honors at the end of their training. He went on to tell of his NM region and the Judaic customs, such as circumcision, which have survived.

Archie ,who has been carving most of his life ,showed slides of his work. He uses the star of David when carving a cross to honor the Jew who died on it. He related that during the colonial era, five members of Santo Domingo Pueblo were burned at the stake in Mexico City .

POETRY

Miriam Herrera

Poet M. Miriam Herrera interspersed recollections of growing up in a crypto-Judaic home with her poetry. When she was very young she was warned not to reveal her Judaic roots outside of the family. Her mother salted meat and poured boiling water over it. Her mother also revealed to her that it was their Grandmothers' tradition to occasionally fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Children kissed the hands of their grandparents and waited for a blessing. Miriam's mother taught her Spanish by reading the Old Testament.

In her late twenties, Miriam approached the rabbi of a conservative synagogue, where she then studied Judaism and converted. Three of her siblings also converted or reverted back to Judaism. Miriam talked about her time living in Israel and stated that for the first time she felt accepted as an American Jew.

Although it was a tradition in Miriam's family to bury the dead within twenty-four hours, when her mother died, Miriam's aunt intervened and arranged with her priest to perform a Catholic funeral. The funeral was filled with conflicts between the priest and the family because Miriam's siblings were looking for ways to inject the services with Sephardic overtones. The priest scolded Miriam's father for letting the family become Jewish and even gave a sermon trying to convince converted members to return to Catholicism. At the gravesite, Miriam and her siblings finally said Kaddish for her mother. This angered the priest and he left the gravesite in a huff.

The poems Miriam read were "Blessing the Animals," "Elegy for an Angelito," Suppose: A Letter from Jerusalem ," "Homecoming," "Childhood Dream in Chalk," and "Kaddish for Columbus ."

DANCE

Lili del Castillo

Lili del Castillo, flamenco dancer and choreographer, related the development and realization of her video presentation of “ Revelaciones : The Inquisition and Crypto Judaic Themes in Dance.” Revelaciones is a flamenco dance drama she was inspired to develop after she read the book The Last Marrano . It depicts a woman in sixteenth century Spain going to her recently deceased parents' attic, opening a chest, and discovering remnants of their secret Jewish past. She explores the items in the chest, dances with them, all the while fearful that she will be discovered by the Inquisition. A nightmare follows, in which she sees herself arrested by the Holy Office. Upon awakening, she flees Spain for the New World .

Castillo introduced Luís Campos, who spoke about his experience composing the music for the drama and serving as a musician.