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Inspired by his decade long research in central and southern Mexico, Dana Salvo looks at home altars—altarcitos—in this work. These beautifully adorned, nearly theatrical devotionals demonstrate a religious plurality fueled by increasing globalization and assimilation. The varied iconography in this image—a statuette of Saint Sebastian, plastic fruits, a Santa ornament—makes space for viewers of many spiritual or religious backgrounds to admire the ornate assemblage of cultural objects, photographs, religious icons, and adornments.
Thumbnail-size images of copyrighted artworks are displayed under fair use, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts, published by the College Art Association in February 2015.
Blue Nativity
Dana Salvo (American, born in 1952)
1987
Medium/Technique
Photograph, chromogenic print (Ektacolor)
Dimensions
Image: 38.1 x 48.6 cm (15 x 19 1/8 in.)
Sheet: 40.6 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 in.)
Sheet: 40.6 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 in.)
Credit Line
A. Shuman Collection—Abraham Shuman Fund
Accession Number1991.231
CollectionsContemporary Art, Americas, Photography
ClassificationsPhotographs
Inspired by his decade long research in central and southern Mexico, Dana Salvo looks at home altars—altarcitos—in this work. These beautifully adorned, nearly theatrical devotionals demonstrate a religious plurality fueled by increasing globalization and assimilation. The varied iconography in this image—a statuette of Saint Sebastian, plastic fruits, a Santa ornament—makes space for viewers of many spiritual or religious backgrounds to admire the ornate assemblage of cultural objects, photographs, religious icons, and adornments.
InscriptionsInscribed in black ink on verso along bottom edge: BLUE NATIVITY CHIAPAS MEXICO 1987 5/15 Dana Salvo.
ProvenanceArtist; purchased March 1991.