Painted pine, 2024
Capilla de Santa Rita de Casia is designed in the traditional architectural style of a small, sacred space—a sanctuary that seems to offer solace and refuge. Cardinale constructs this from carefully chosen pine wood, each plank of which has been painted in soft tones of creamy white, soft reds, and light browns, reminiscent of the warm and humble interiors of historic chapels. The natural grain of the pine peeks through the painted surface, lending an organic, authentic feel to the chapel and grounding the piece in the earthy simplicity. The chapel’s exterior features a simple but elegant facade, with a hinged doorway and a swaying bell at the top. Standing at just only 10” tall, the sculpture is both a visual and spiritual tribute to the saint’s role as a healer and advocate for the desperate and the suffering.
Original Building Location: Bernal, New Mexico, 1850
• 10.75" (27.30cm) height
• 4.75" (12.06cm) width
• 8.5" (19.05cm) depth
• Pedestal 4.5"x 8"x 10" (can be sold without pedestal)
• One of a kind