Cathedral hosts special exhibit of St. Juan Diego artwork

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is hosting a special art exhibit entitled “Our Lady’s Messenger/El Mensajero de la Virgen,” featuring newly created works of art in honor of St. Juan Diego.The art was created by 11 renowned Los Angeles artists: Rosa Alvarez, Ofelia Esparza, Margaret Garcia, Lalo Garcia, Yolanda Gonzalez, Ricardo Ortega, Melly Trochez, Laura Vazquez-Rodriguez, John Nava, Luis Villanueva and J. Michael Walker. The exhibit opened Dec. 1 and continues to January 1, in celebration of the Feast Days of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe.“There are very few art pieces depicting St. Juan Diego,” explained Lalo Garcia, who designed and built the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Cathedral. “Each of the artists is creating an original work of art portraying the story of St. Juan Diego, a humble Mexican Indian who became Our Lady’s Messenger and the Catholic churches first indigenous saint to the Americas.”The Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, Mexico, in December 1531, when she left her image on his “tilma” or cloak. For 481 years, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been a symbol of unity, peace, compassion and hope for people around the world. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is home to the only relic in the United States of the Tilma of St. Juan Diego where the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously appeared. Given the natural agave fibers used to make the Tilma, experts say it is nothing short of miraculous that the relic at the Cathedral in Los Angeles, and the rest of the Tilma in Mexico City, have survived for almost five centuries. The cloth should have disintegrated hundreds of years ago. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is located at 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. Information: (213) 680-5200.{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2012/1207/cathedralart/{/gallery}