When Elisa and I were engaged, she was so jealous that on the day of the wedding, after the banquet, she was on edge and she died of indigestion. Three years later I decided to marry again. I met a nice beautiful girl, and we got married. After our honeymoon, when we were back, Elisa’s ghost began to appear in our bedroom. She was furious and stared at us with anger. I was frightened, I prayed the Virgin of Zapopan for her soul. I even brought a priest and sprinkled holy water. Her soul rested in peace, and now we can sleep with peace.

Ramiro Balbuena, 1960

Maria Reyes. A prostitute Maria Inez gives thanks to the Virgin for my work as a prostitute.

Merced, 11–Nov–80

I recur to the magic art of a shaman to get luck in my fights.

Blue Demon, 1975

Virgin of Carmel, thanks for saving me from being killed by my mother-in-law when she found out that I slept with her daughter before wedding and living together.

Fidel, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1968

Since Donald Trump began his term as the president of the United States, he dedicate himself to persecuting and attacking thousands of Mexicans—us who honestly work in his country. He deported me and my companions separating us from our families. I beg the Virgin of Guadalupe that Trump wouldn’t win the next election in November.

Felipe N., 2020

I knew it! I suspected that my girlfriend was unfaithful to me. So I started spying on her. Thanks to Jesus because now I know that she is not worth it and now I have the pretext to send her to hell.

Olav Hansen
17–07–2018, Bergen, Norway

I was in my bed with a light fever. Suddenly I saw skeletons who came near me and began to perform a wicked dance inviting me to join them. I prayed the Virgin of Guadalupe to save me from this absurd act and to take the skeletons far away. I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them the miracle had been worked. I was feeling much better. I dedicate this retablo.

August 6, Guadalajara, Mexico

— It’s work…
— The most important thing is work…

This work is a redux of an ex-voto painted almost 10 years ago. The original text reads «To the ghost of Andy Warhol and the attitude of Lou Reed. Keep me on the straight and narrow path of hard work. As Alan Davie wrote to me [in 1997] “Magic (in art) comes from lots of hard work—No easy way!” 25th March 2007». The original work resides in Wellington, N.Z. in the Sweetman collection. The work is also important nod to the album “Songs for Drella” by Reed and John Cale, a huge influence.

Matthew Couper, Nov 3rd, MMXVI

1937, in Mexico, Juaquin Fernandez found himself in a difficult situation when he was caught under his girlfriend’s bed and taken for a thief. He entrusted himself to Saint Raymond and didn’t suffer any harm but got married instead. He gives thanks for such a unique favor.

Thank you Saint Mary full of Grace for saving Phoebe the Velvet Sausage from Baby the Rampaging Playmonster.

The day of the fire my daughter was lost. Since we didn’t know anything about her, I implored the Child of Atocha. Now we know hat she ran away with a fireman. We thank with this retablo because she was about to become an old maid.

Puebla
Juaquina Lopez, 1953

Thank you, my Saint Jude, for the incredible vacation in Zipolite that hot summer of 1980 when I met Vero.

Conchita Monjaraz

A bad day it was when we went to the river to fish salmon and a very angry bear came out to us reclaiming his territory so we decided we’d better leave.