There was a recent free day at the local art museum, so I trotted on down there.   (St. Louis has a wonderful art museum and it’s free, so I am against paying to see art, but that’s just me.)   This museum has a focus on Native American and Hispanic art, but also shows  whatever else they can find to flog as art.    Their collection includes an entire family chapel that they moved from northern New Mexico, which is currently not on display, but they were having an exhibition of Santos (Saints) that included both ancient and new works in the traditional style.

This one is modern, it seems to be skillfully made and has a nice composition

A very traditional grouping that is probably a copy of an earlier work.

Old and new.

Very traditional.

It’s kind of unfortunate that some churches sold off their art, they no doubt replaced it with something more of the moment.   These original pieces were made with love and devotion and show the influence of the maker’s hand.  And they are art as well.