The Folk Tree

SAINTS & SINNERS XVIII, The Folk Tree's annual Easter season exhibition, is on view March 5 - April 9, 2005. Old and new Latin American (largely Mexican) religious folk art and artifacts are displayed alongside a wide variety of works by area artists in other media that depict themes related to Easter, and more generally deal with issues concerning "the sacred and the profane." The public is invited to a reception on Saturday, March 5, from 2 - 6 P.M.

Easter is the most important holiday of the festival calendar for many Mexican Catholics. The abundance of Easter and Lenten season rituals, including processions, dances, and other observances are evidence of its significance.

Some of the works in SAINTS & SINNERS include: large processional pieces from
Oaxaca (calendas) depicting religious symbols or figures and made of tiny multi-colored "everlasting flowers;" a variety of retablos (late nineteenth and twentieth century religious paintings on tin or wood); santos (polychrome wooden carvings of saints); milagros (miracle offerings) and mixed media portable home shrines. Through these small wooden boxes, in which paper, plastic or wax flowers are combined with colored foil and wooden carvings of Christ or other religious figures, anonymous artists make very personal statements about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Many local artists are represented, working in a variety of media such as painting,
found objects, printmaking, wood, clay and more. Folk Tree general manager Kathi Oshima explains, "We intend to create a church-like environment in the SAINTS & SINNERS installation, which will serve as a backdrop for a variety of religious and devotional objects."

The Folk Tree is located at 217 South Fair Oaks Avenue, minutes walking distance from the Gold Line's Del Mar Station (and just fifteen minutes from downtown Los Angeles
off the end of the 110 freeway) near the heart of Old Pasadena. Gallery hours are:
M-W, 11-6; Th-Sat, 10-6; Sun, 12-5. The Folk Tree Collection is a few doors north at 199 South Fair Oaks Avenue. For more information, contact Kathi Oshima at The Folk Tree at 626/795-8733, or Gail Mishkin at The Folk Tree Collection at 626/793-4828.