Galeria de Don Cacahuate Leopoldo Garcia
Tour Stop Number: 16Category: Folk Art, Gallery, and Woodworking
Phone: 505-685-0568
Traditional Hispanic wood carvings: retablos and burgos
I am a native of the village of Abiquiu in northern New Mexico. I had the advantage of growing up under the influence of my Hispanic ancestors and culture . My father, Napoleon Garcia, was a well-known woodcarver and storyteller in Abiquiu. I established a small working studio/gallery in my home and for the past 25 years I have participated in local art shows and the annual Abiquiu Studio Tour. I was always fascinated by watching my father carve and I began carving at an early age. I learned to carve using stone as well as using wood. Later I began to paint murals and retablos using traditional natural pigments. I feel as if I am strongly influenced by my ancestral environment. I have enjoyed passing my craft onto my children and grandchildren.