I have always loved the familiar image of La Catrina. I am an artist of “eyes”. Dia de los Muertos: Day of the Dead. A time in Mexican religious culture dating back to 3000 years ago. This is not a day I personally celebrate. However, my intentions are not to disrespect this image in my story. I intend to create her in a way that celebrates life eternal after physical death and how that looks to me as a follower of Christ.

At the risk of misrepresenting this day in November, I approach it from the aspect of many Mexican Christians. Some reflect on this image to remember their loved ones who have gone to be with Jesus. They celebrate with fruit, food, dancing, fellowship and memories!

With that said, in my image (created on real lamb skin) her eyes are surrounded by the thorns in recognition of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Her eyes are encompassed in rings of green in anticipation of life eternal. For the sake of my representation, I name her Jerusalem. Flowers border her face to enclose and certify promises kept. Promises made to Abraham were not and never will be reneged. God drew up a sort of promissory note and gave it to Abraham. The Almighty’s “signature” is a promise kept. He is a God of His word. His covenant is unbreakable. In this image a person cries out yearning for the merciful love by bowing down at the thorns as they reach out to the eye of Jerusalem. A Human and birds of the sky celebrate the pomegranate, basking in the glorious crimson fruit as mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:8.

Moses “spies” sent to Canaan returned with this peculiar red fruit that went on to later be depicted in the hand of the Christ Child in a painting by Botticelli. Solomon hung pomegranates of stone from the columns of the temple as a reminder of God’s promise to His people. The splendor of this fruit and its shiny red grains are desperately yearning to burst out promises kept.

Her shoulders are draped with lamb’s wool significant of His warmth and protection. The tiny bird to her left ear is holding a olive branch as an offering of yet another promise. We the church are grafted into the roots of Israel. We the church will one day become One with the root!