The Story Behind the Art

Shelter of the Spirit is number seven in my journey. I found myself standing in the backyard behind St. Joseph Apache Mission Church in Mescalero, New Mexico. While many visitors are drawn to the front entrance, I was captivated by the rear of the Romanesque church. Its towering ninety-foot stone walls, stacked with remarkable craftsmanship, carried the quiet strength of generations who built, worshipped, and found refuge with them. 

I imagined what these early families must have experienced as they approached this sacred place. The narrow windows, thick stone walls, and weathered architecture spoke of endurance, protection, and unwavering belief. On that particular day, the dusty New Mexico sky blended almost seamlessly with the color of the stone, making the church feel as though it had risen naturally from the landscape itself. 

Later, while wandering through a pottery shop in Taos, I discovered a Marian figure unlike those I had photographed before. The Madonna and Christ Child reflected the rich artistic traditions of Mexico, reminding me that religion has been embraced and expressed through countless cultures across the world. Though our languages, traditions, and artistic styles differ, our shared faith unites us. 

In creating this composition, I layered the Mexican Marian figure over the Apache Mission Church to celebrate the unity. The architecture represents the enduring foundation of belief, while the Madonna and Child embody the compassion and hope that transcend nationality and ethnicity. Together they tell a story of faith that belongs not to one people, but to many. 

This piece is a reminder that God's love is reflected through diverse faces, cultures, and histories. Like the stones carefully stacked to build a church, each culture contributes something beautiful to the larger story of faith.