For Holy Week I wanted to try something different to celebrate the occasion. That’s when the notion of exposing the secret Virgins of SMA became the obvious solution.
A group of local female painters have gathered twice a week for nearly a quarter of century to paint together thus sharing techniques and interests. Their specialty is religious art. Their stipulation is they cannot sell their faith-based paintings believing instead that religious art should be given away to provide hope and comfort to the recipient.
So it was time to display a slew of paintings that have never been in a gallery, or offered for sale, ready to strut their stuff at Muro’s Café in Colonial Obraje. Muro’s owners had the brilliant idea of placing the paintings on the more than a century old metal piping alongside the building. The tube once carried the water down the mountain to provide the electricity to the factory making the white linens for tennis shoes and is now home to high end art galleries.
In addition to folks that came to view the art and enjoy a great meal, the painters came to celebrate with a grand comida. They were thrilled to see art lovers enjoying their Virgins between courses.
For dessert I had a Barbie cake modeled after Mary in one of the paintings even copying her veil in fondant form. In honor of my Low Country roots I had Barbie Mary swing by the plantation to pick out an Antebellum off the shoulder frock.
Following dessert I led the painters (and Barbie in a purse) down to the Fabrica for coffee which was entirely another adventure! The day was certainly the best Monday of Holy Week I’ve ever experienced and will always remind me to enjoy San Miguel’s Virgins!
Joseph Toone is the Historical Society’s short-story award winning author of the SMA Secrets book series. All books in the series are Amazon bestsellers in Mexican Travel and Holidays. Toone is SMA’s expert and TripAdvisor’s top ranked historical tour guide telling the stories behind what we do in today’s SMA. Visit HistoryAndCultureWalkin
