Lord of Chalma, I thank you for delivering me from dying being shot by my girlfriend’s father when he caught me painting a graffiti on his house. I was so fucking scared I got diarrhea that wouldn’t stop for fifteen days. Now I’m fine, and I promise not to do this again.

Angel V.
Barrio Norte, Mexico City, February 14, 1999

Ricardo Gutierrez was painting a graffiti on a wall. A neighbor got angry and let his doberman loose on him. With this retablo, he thanks Saint Benedict because his wounds have been healed and he didn’t get any infection. He promises to ask for permission next time.

February 20, I was painting graffiti and was shot by don Jose, policeman. In this mortal danger I implored you to save my life, Virgin of Gudalupe. You saved me, and now I’m alright and hanging out.

Jorge de Jesus
March 9, 1999

Victor Peralta was painting the neighbor houses with graffiti. The neighbors got pissed off, tied him to a pole and showered him with paint. Victor thanks the Child of Atocha for nothing serious happened and promises to amend.

I thank the Virgin of Montserrat for getting free from the police on November 9, 2005. I was arrested when I was painting a graffiti with my buddy.

Raul de Dios

I thank the Archangel of the Neighborhood for the gentleman withdrew his complaint that my son was damaging his property. He was caught drawing graffiti on this man’s house. I was scared the police would do something with my son because of the manner in which they arrested him. I entrusted him, and the next day he got released. He payed for the damage learned the lesson what is the respect of the others’ rights means.

Teresa Molino
Santa Fe, Mexico City
November 2000

Carlos Rivera dedicates this retablo to Saint John Baptist de La Salle because many of his neighbors gave him permission to paint their houses with graffiti so he became a very famous and popular artist.