La Virgin de Guadalupe Celebrated Since Dec 12, 1531

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe's story originated as Tonatzin, the compassionate Aztec mother goddess,s pregnant with life, cloaked in heavenly stars. She stands before a sunlit corona warms and sheds light upon her heavenly body, standing on a crescent moon and carried by her messenger, Juan Diego of Guadalupe, Tepeyac.

image representing mother earth to the indigenous people of the Americas.

The image of Tonatzin was carried by Juan Diego to leaders of the Catholic Church and embraced for conversion of indigenous people across the continent to Christianity. The two representations endure in the hearts of many across the world. 

 The image above:

In 2013, artist, Cynthia Gomez, crafted her devotional representation of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, with recycled materials including cloth, gold thread and ribbon, embroidery, vintage jewelry, cut paper and tin, adding worry dolls as a representation of her devotional followers. Worry dolls are intended to carry the worried of the person to relieve the burden as does devotional prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

 Recently Cynthia photographed her collage art for her center piece of her Shadow Boxes and note cards.  Shadow Boxes are various sizes from matchbox to 5x7" and have been large enough to house a 12" statue.  Cynthia's original collage has been shown at the South Broadway Cultural Center’s Guadalupe Exhibit and hangs in the Casa Veranda Gallery in Albuquerque.

Cynthia Gomez,

Artist