It seems fitting that today, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, that the City of Angels should have the blessing of rain. It is a gloriously blustery day as I snugly make this post. Gracias.
As today is her feast day I wanted to make a print to honor the event , the vision of Our Lady by Juan Diego back on Dec. 12th 1531. There are countless images of the Virgen yet I felt emboldened to create my own. It was tempting to make yet another sweetly naive woodblock image of her, but I wanted my own image, one conceived from my own perspective as a white middle aged gay guy from the East Coast, not at all able to claim Latino heritage (although my husband is half Mexican) yet respectful and enamored by the culture.
So this is the result, in several color ways.
Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
Dec. 2014
4 color relief print on paper
image size 8 by 10 inches, print 9 by 12
2 color relief print.
I think I like this approach the best and I will play with it some more. I like how Juan Diego’s guardian angel appears ethereal, more of an apparition.
Artist’s proof
My intention with this print was to implement the motifs that recur frequently within my work, namely the queer elements, in this case the Hero Twins as played by Juan Diego and his Aztec Guardian Angel. I loosely borrowed elements from the codices in creating the angel. There is a vague and historically inaccurate reference to a New Fire Ceremony in the background, a nod to the “pagan” past.
My intention was for it to appear as if the Old Gods were giving their blessings to the New.
Have a great feast! Thanking Tlaloc for the rain!
Lg
Boondocks Babylon 
This theme of the old gods meeting and giving blessing to the new is such a fascinating subject I could spend years and years exploring it , but I really love how you’ve depicted it here, dignified, timeless, with the blessing being the focus. The hero twins looking particularly fine! By the way Leonard, coming over to LA early next summer for a holiday around the area so I’ll see if you’re about when we’re in town 😉
thank you friend! I sent along a little package to you the other day, hoping it arrives safely (and timely) xLg
Love this.You rock with the lino-cutting!!!
That means a lot, you inspired me years ago to pick up the knife ( I still use the cheapie ones you hate- I actually prefer them!) . But knowing of your own great skill, your praise is particularly valued. xLg