I, a street musician, was walking with my doggies Canico and Capi, when suddenly the bony death appeared dancing to the rhythm of my violin. I was so scared, I implored the Holy Cross, and it disappeared.

Anastacio Valdez

May you be blessed, Virgin of Guadalupe, for I got my voice back. I was left unable to speak, and I implored you promising this retablo if you’d help me. You know that’s how I earn my living performing serenades and songs in taverns here in Garibaldi. Look after me in my job, and I promise to dedicate you a cantata on every December 12.

Juan Perez, Mexico City

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

Edoardo Merodio Espinosa, 2018

— 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

Our mariachi band singer got sick, and we didn’t know what to do. So our violinist Lupita offered herself to substitute her and she told us that she sings beautifully. We were surprised because it wasn’t true and, instead of singing, she screamed like a dog run over by a car. With all our hearts, we thank Saint Cecily for our main singer recovered her health because those days with Lupita were a real torture and we were frightened to be kicked out of the restaurant we played in.

Mariachi “Sun of Tlaquepaque”, Jalisco

Thanks to Saint Jude Thaddeus because he made possible the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of North-American United States. To celebrate his election and the MLK birthday, I dance and sing with mariachi at the Paseo de la Reforma near the American embassy.

Gabrielle Civil, January 24, 2009

My throat was inflamed and I couldn’t sing. I almost lost my voice. I entrusted myself, with great devotion, to the Holy Child Doctor of the Ill to heal me. The Child helped me, and now I’m singing again and eve better than ever. I thank for that with this retablo.

Lucha Gituerrez — Chihuhua, 1938

I thank the cosmos for helping me to be happy and make music all over the place. Once I was a normal turtle who works and pays the rent but one day I decided to go out to the world and become who I really was.

Gaudensia Sanchez brings this retablo to the Holy Child of Atocha thanking him because her mistress, the painter Frida, gave her her device to play her favorite music which she desired so much.

Mexico, 1942

We thank the Virgin of the Rosary because we got married being very much in love. Our wedding was very beautiful. Besides, the whole town was celebrating with us, and the musicians played all night long.

My daughter Lourdes loves the music. She also likes the birds very much. When she’s playing her flute, the canaries began to sing, and also the parakeets and the cockatoos who sing very strangely but beautifully. I thank the Virgin of Zapopan because my daughter is such a sensitive and talented girl.

With this humble retablo, I give infinite thanks to the Virgin of Juquila for protecting me on every November 2, because on this night my bar fills with the souls of the dead of the town who come very cheerful to celebrate their day with lots of music and mezcal.

Nicandro Tejeda ~ Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico

Gonzalo Rodriguez, a.k.a. Vampire, used to take too much ecstasy. One day he was listening rock, and the devil appears to him during his trip and began to lick his feet threatening to eat him up. Gonzalo thanks Saint Michael the Archangel who helped him to get out of his hallucination and promises not to take drugs anymore.