Plate 5: Main Altarpiece, Santa Cruz: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

Editor: This watercolor and drawing, "Plate 5: Main Altarpiece, Santa Cruz: From Portfolio 'Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico,'" comes to us from an anonymous artist sometime between 1935 and 1942. I am immediately struck by the geometry and how the rendering, almost like an architectural study, still captures something emotional. What do you see here? Curator: What I see is a compelling intersection of cultures and histories embedded within this seemingly straightforward depiction of an altarpiece. Consider the historical context: this work emerges from a period when Indigenous artistic traditions were often relegated to the margins, particularly under the shadow of colonialism. But, the colonial gaze couldn't eradicate deeply entrenched cultural memories, could it? Editor: Definitely not. So, are you saying that this rendering shows the blend of colonial influence with Indigenous traditions? Curator: Precisely. The composition reminds me of European church architecture, yet the bright colors, stylized floral motifs, and the overall flattening of space hint at Indigenous aesthetic sensibilities. The dove, a traditional Christian symbol of the Holy Spirit, is reinterpreted here within a distinctly New Mexican visual language. The interesting fact is that the region where the artist made this was and remains an important intersection of cultural exchange and negotiation. Can we really view this altarpiece as merely a religious object, or does it operate as a powerful site of cultural resistance? Editor: Wow. It is far more complex than just its face value. Now that I see this fusion, it has changed how I look at such cultural objects. I would have never considered its socio-political impact through such an image of cultural interpretation. Curator: I think looking at it in intersectional terms lets us appreciate the dynamic dialogue between cultures, colonial power, and the enduring strength of Indigenous identity. It allows us to unpack the narratives embedded in objects like these and realize how intertwined history, power and identities can be.