I thank Saint Monica for looking after the most important women in my life. They have taken care of me for many years, and I love them very much.

Paul and Abi, Xmas 2019

Holy Mary, thanks, Holy Virgin Mary, for your loving protection, thanks for your love and this rebirth, thanks for this serenity after so many difficulties.

Catalina

I thank you, my Virgin of Guadalupe, for giving me strength to get out from a dark period of my life.

Gina Bonifaz

I thank the Christ of the Rocks for helping me to follow my path despite constant stumbles and obstacles.

September 2019

In March 2016 James Eddy’s financial woes were mounting. He thought if he could work harder he could improve sales so he began to self medicate. After several sleepless months James convinced himself and then tried to convince his wife that he was under surveillance and a target of massive government investigation. Next year James was hospitalized and held in the psychiatric unit for evaluation. The nurse ordered James to fill a Dixie cup for tests and his discharge was contingent upon compliance but James was ashamed and terrified of his wife’s reaction if she learned the truth so he refused. A Mexican standoff ensued and on the eighth day the doctor blinked and nurse Ratchet cut James loose. It wasn’t long before his behavior became even more outrageous. Two officers came to his house to serve a stay away order with fifteen minutes to pack his bags and leave. The next several months he slept in his car and daily hotels when he could afford it. As time dragged on, and his situation grew more dire, he realized how badly he fucked up. He was wrong about many things. His good looks, charm and vivacious personality had not caught the attention of Angelina Jolie and despite his childhood dogs being named ‘William’ and ‘Harry’ he was not a member of the royal family. He missed his ex-wife and children so much he ached in his heart. James decided it was time to pick up the pieces of his life and turn over a new leaf so the new James told the old James to ‘fuck off.’ On December 31, 2019 he called out to God, his family and his friends and asked for their forgiveness. He got sober and in commemoration of this great miracle this retablo was offered.

San Francisco, California, February 27, 2020

Saint Sebastian, thank you for my family, for they are so kind, cool and awesome guys who respect and support my decisions. Bless them so they could keep on celebrating this joy with me.

Oscar Espinosa Garcia
Mexico City, November 10, 2017

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for I realized who are women in reality, where do they come from and why do they have power to seduce.

Silvano
Oaxaca, Mexico, 1960

James Eddy gives infinite thanks to his mama for giving him the gift of life.

San Francisco, CA. 2020
James H. Eddy III

I thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for the miracle of my life. The cosmos and your intervention made me unique, and I thank you for that.

Puss the cat, Mexico
Tulum, 2019

I dedicate this exvoto to Saint Genesius, saint patron of the actors, for the movie “We, the poor”. When I was little we lived in a communal neighborhood because my family lived a very modest life. Now, when I grew up, I watch this movie and I relate to its characters. I remember that, despite poverty and social injustice, the family union is the most important thing.

Mexico

I give thanks to Saint John for enlightening my path and bringing fortitude and music to my life.

Edoardo Merodio Espinosa, 2018

Saint Michael the Archangel, deliver me from the evil and make me quit being an idiot.

— 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