Charlie Carrillo: Lenten Saints and Lenten Practices February 19, 2007

DETAILS: Famed Santero Charlie Carrillo will enlighten us with a timely discussion of New Mexico’s Lenten Saints and practices on the Monday evening just prior to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Charlie's selflessness to the Santero tradition is unquestionable. He has re-introduced the traditional methods of the Santero and has many protégés with whom he has shared his wisdom, faith and techniques with over the years. This "new generation" of Santeros along with other contemporary Santeros and Hispanic artisans has led to a renaissance of Hispanic Art in recent years. Charlie is the consummate Santero, for he not only creates the actual artwork and practices the faith behind each piece, he is also passing on the tradition for future generations.

Dr. Charles Michael Carrillo, Charlie, was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from Manzano High School in Albuquerque NM, and went on to attend the University of New Mexico where he earned his Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees in Anthropology.

FURTHER INFORMATION: The program is free and open to the public. The Old Church is fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

DIRECTIONS: Take the Alameda exit (West) from I-25. From the intersection of Alameda Rd (NM 528) and Corrales Rd. (NM 448), go north for 3 miles to Old Church Rd, turn left (west) and proceed 0.3 miles to the Old Church.

More about the Speaker:

Charlie has been painting and creating art work since he was very young, but discovered his destiny to be a Santero during a "dig" he was directing at La Capilla de Santa Rosa de Lima in Abiquiú, New Mexico in 1977. It was in Abiquiú where Charlie re-discovered much of his cultural heritage. Charlie had always been a creative artist and a devote Catholic, but he became infatuated with with the Spanish Colonial religious artifacts, their symbolism and the cultural heritage of Northern New Mexico during his initial involvement as an apprentice with the Morada at Abiquiú. What began as historical research into the area and the retablos and bultos, became his destiny as a world famous Santero, for soon afterwards, he started creating retablos and later bultos using traditional colonial period methods.

Charlie not only discovered his destiny to become a Santero during his "dig" in Abiquiú, he also met his future wife Debbie during that fateful summer. Charlie married Debbie Trujillo in 1978. Charlie and Debbie have two great children, Estrellita and Roán. (see their pages) Charlie and his family moved to Santa Fe in early 1980s.
Charlie completed his apprenticeship in the Morada at Abiquiú and is now a leading member of the Brotherhood of La Morada de Nuestra Señora de Delores del Alto de Abiquiú. The members of the Brotherhood are know as Penitentes, who during the late 1700s and 1800s helped carry on the Catholic Traditions during a period when there was a lack of ordained clergy in the Northern New Mexico territories.

For additional information call 899-6212

Official Website: http://www.corraleshistory.org