The eighth piece in my Faith Series is a quiet invitation to pause.
This tiny primitive church on a ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, transported me back to my childhood in mountains of Colorado, where my own faith was planted and nurtured in a simple wooden church. I remember the warmth of the wood stove on cold mornings, hymn accompanied by an old piano that was never quite in tune, and the steady voices that taught us to believe, to love, and to live with purpose. I remember the older members of our congregation surrounding my family with prayers, encouragement, and potluck meals. Childhood faith was uncomplicated. It was raw, genuine, and rooted in community. Standing before this little church, I found myself longing for that simplicity again.
The Marian figure carries a similar story. It is and antique image brought to Texas by Spanish priests who sought to share their faith with indigenous communities. Though modest in appearance, time only deepened its beauty and significance.Its quiet presence reminds me that what endures is rarely elaborate. Sometimes the simplest places, the simplest traditions, and the simplest acts of faith are the ones that remain with us the longest.
In this work, the weathered church and the aged Marian figure become symbols of a faith that is less about grandeur than about presence. Together they invite us to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember that places that first taught us hope. This piece reminds us that simplicity has the power to make us breathe, pause, and remember what matters most.
