Maria de Agreda From Mariadeagreda.org

Artists looking to legally leave their mark on a national park might want to contact the folks at Salina Pueblo Missions National Monument in New Mexico, as they're looking for an artist to create a wayside exhibit honoring Sôr María de Ágreda.

Who was Sôr María de Ágreda? She was an early 17th century Spaniard who, according to the park staff, "is reported to have experienced a period of bilocations beginning in 1620."

"Sor María revealed that while in a trance in her convent in Ágreda, Spain, she was also mystically present in New Mexico and other places in the present-day American Southwest and Mexico," say park historians. "While in New Mexico, Sor María reported that she had visited the Jumano Indians, encouraging them to visit the Spanish missions to ask that a missionary return with them to their pueblos and villages. By 1626, reports from New Mexico were relaying stories of Native Americans arriving at missions because a 'Lady in Blue' had told them to go and speak to the priests at those missions.

"One location said to have been visited by this 'Lady in Blue' was the pueblo of Las Humanas, now known as Gran Quivira. She was also reported to have repeatedly 'visited' a group of refugee Jumanos near the mission of Cuarac (Quarai). With the arrival of additional missionaries in 1629, Gran Quivira became a visita (satellite mission without a resident Father) of the Abó Mission."

The planned wayside exhibit is to be placed at the Gran Quivira unit of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The park staff is looking for one artist who will capture the story they would like to tell on that exhibit. The exhibit will capture the image of Sôr María de Ágreda and tell the story of her importance to the Jumanos and other native peoples in the Americas.

To initially indicate your interest in this project, call 505-847-2585 x221. The next step will be to provide a draft sketch. After all the sketches are in, a committee from the art community of Mountainair and employees from the monument will choose which sketch best captures the story.

The artist will be paid a stipend and the monument will own the copyright and the finished product.

This call for artists is open from January 14—January 31, 2020.