Painted pine with found objects, 2020
Santuario de Chimayó is a reverent, mixed-media sculpture that draws inspiration from the iconic pilgrimage site in northern New Mexico, known for its spiritual significance and the miraculous healing properties attributed to its sacred soil. The painted pine, combined with the found objects, serves to create a dialogue between the sacred and the everyday, the divine and the human. The doors are hinged and can swing gently open, inviting the viewer into the space, much like the chapel’s actual entryway, which beckons pilgrims to step closer to the holy ground. This sculpture is not just an interpretation of a place—it is a testament to the ways in which spirituality can be woven into the fabric of ordinary life, transforming even the simplest objects into symbols of profound meaning and connection.
Cardinale finishes the composition with a drawer on the front of the piece. Upon opening, Cardinale’s wife PJ, of over 50 years, composes a mix-media collage paying homage to the church. Inside lays a capsule filled with the sacred dirt, or tierra bendita, believed by many to have miraculous healing properties.
Original Building Location: Chimayó, New Mexico, 1816
• 12" (30.48cm) height
• 9.5" (24.13cm) width
• 16" (40.64cm) depth
• Pedestal 4.5"x 11"x 17" (can be sold without pedestal)
• One of a kind