I thank you, Virgin of Carmel, because I managed to get out of hell where I stayed because I couldn’t stand my ex-wife.

Jasinto, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1969

I, Emmanuel Espin PIneda, give thanks to God for my life and because I was planted in a beautiful garden. I hope my fruits would be good, because you are God who makes a dry tree flourish. I finished painting this exvoto in front of the Tree of Tule in Santa Maria, Oaxaca. Mexico, 2020.

Notes:
Tree of Tule

Thank you, Virgin of Carmel, I was able to find my fiancé and convince him to go to the church for his own good.

Petra — Oaxaca, Mexico, 1968

Holy Child of Atocha, I give you thanks for delivering me from the pain caused by an evil woman who broke my heart.

Vicente, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1968

I thank for I have a new boss now who gives me everything—woman and liquor non-stop.

Priest Fidel — Oaxaca, Mexico, 1965

I thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, because my father didn’t kill my boyfriend when he found him in my room. He got off with fright and marriage.

Silveria, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1960

We ask the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe to give rest to souls that sometimes appear at Arrocito beach in Oaxaca.

We thank Saint Jude for the incredible vacation we spent in Zipolite.

Alice & Karen

November 2, Fidencio and Laureano Trejo went to the cemetery to drink and met a mister who sat on a grave. He wanted to give them a chest full of gold so they would keep enjoying their sin, but suddenly the brothers realized it was a dead man who was speaking with them. They implored Saint Benedict for help to protect them and not to let anything happen to them. They promise to cut down on booze and respect the dead.

Oaxaca, Mexico

We thank you, Guardian Angel, for protecting our daughter from the beings of the night and always looking after her.

Fidel & Julia, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1967

I was fishing in Puerto Angel when I was attacked by a blu shark but thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe I was able to dodge.

Julio Rios

I heard some noise in the night, I woke up and saw a dead men coming into the house. I implored you, Virgin of Guadalupe, not to let him come to me, and you heard me. Thanks.

Inez Perez, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1964

On September 11, 2020, James Eddy and his son Felix, age 16, went swimming at Bocana Beach. Felix reminded his father about the strong ocean current at the north end of the beach and insisted they both stay close to shore but James, as stubborn as a mule, and sometimes as stupid, did not heed his wise son’s warning about the currents and pushed out beyond the break. Within minutes James was upside down and ass backwards inside the barrel of a large wave. He tried to swim perpendicular to the current but it was too strong and each time he surfaced for air he was pummeled by another wave. James knew he was in big trouble so he raised his hands high over his head, screamed out for help and prayed hard for a miracle. After several more minutes, when he could barely keep his head above water, he saw Viridiana Martinez Rios paddling up behind him with a surf board and Flora Liz Martinez Rios wading outside the rocks. He grabbed onto the board and Viridiana steered him through the rocks and pushed him safely back to shore. James gives infinite thanks to the Rios family for saving his life that day. This retablo was created in honor of their heroic act and in commemoration of James’ miracle.

Bocana Beach, Santa Maria Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico.