Bultos

Bultos: Hand Made Devotional Statues of The Southwest
In the novel //So Far from God// By Ana Castillo, there is a character named Francisco el Penitente who learns the sacred art of carving Bultos from his uncle. A Bulto is a small to medium sized hand carved wooden sculpture of a Catholic saint. There are three kinds of Bultos; a single solid piece of wood (bulto means bulk in Spanish), the second type is a wooden torso with a canvas base, and the third, the Bulto Vastir which has a head and torso of wood, but the base is a frame, meant to be dressed according to the occasion. They are usually made of trees that grow locally in the Southwest, such as the Cottonwood tree, as well as Aspens and Pine. Cottonwood roots were the preferred wood because it was easy to carve and has no core. After the Bulto is carved it is covered with gesso, a mixture of native gypsum and glue, to prepare it for painting.

Bultos are Created by people called Santeros, or Santeras (Saint Makers). Santeros are highly devoted to their faith, but hold the same status in society as any other person. Their gift is through their art. Their elders teach them their skill, and through time they develop their own style of carving. It is through the Santeros dedication to their faith, and art, that the Bultos gain their particular divine powers.

Bultos and their early manifestations, Retablos (paintings done on a wooden surface) go all the way back to the Spanish colonization of Mexico. The earliest forms were painted on tanned hides for Franciscan Friars who would travel from village to village converting the local people. Once there were enough converts construction began on churches and missions, so the need for more permanent sacred images arose. The Friars selected a special few and taught them how to carve wood. These few artists became better known as time passed and their work gained recognition, and their demand increased. Thus, the Santeros were born, and the traditional carving of Bultos began.

Churches usually commissioned a Santero to create a Bulto specifically for their place of worship. As the Santeros traveled to new areas, the locals would barter with them so they too could have a Bulto in their own homes to decorate their personal alters. They were used for daily reverence, and good luck. Similar to the Hopi tradition of Katsina carving, the original reason for creating Bultos was sacred, but with the coming of the tourism age, a new niche was created for the Santeros. There has been a revival in Traditional wood carving since the late 1960’s. The Newer Bultos reflect the sensitivity of contemporary times, while the older Bultos that remain are highly sought after by collectors.

Works Cited:

Briggs, Charles L. "//The Art Of The Image Maker In New Mexico//". Laplaza.org. 12/02/2009 .

Castillo, Ana. __So Far From God__. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.

Cordova, Gloria Lopez. “ //La Huida a Egipto// ”. Photo. Traditional Fine Arts Online Incorporated 1996. 12/02/2009. <[] >.

Goler, Gustavo Victor. “ //Uriel Arcangel//”. Photo. Victorgoler.com. 12/02/2009.< [] >.

Lopez, Felix. “ //Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe//”. Photo. Traditional Fine Arts Online Incorporated 1996. 12/02/2009. .

Lucero, Joseph. “ //Santa Gertrudis Bulto//”. Photo. New Mexico Creates 2009. 12/02/2009. <[] >.

Netz, Genevieve. " //Tree Notes//". blogspot.com. 12/02/2009 .

Rael, Carlos. " //elsantero.com//". 12/02/2009 ..