While we were in the Tuscon area, we and our friends visited Mission San Xavier, a lovely old Catholic mission on what is still a Native American reservation. Restoration work on this National Historic Landmark seemed nearly completed, and it is stunning. Constructed in a Spanish Colonial Baroque style in the late 1700s, the church still carries on an active worship and community service ministry. Decorated and gessoed sculptures and wall paintings glow in the cool interior, although the angle of the sun made photography challenging while we were there--some areas too bright and sun-washed and others too dark. A couple of my interior photos are clear enough to show you the color, painstaking detail, and interesting subject matter (a blend of Biblical and colonial themes) of the sanctuary and masonry, dome-like vaults. Another photo shows some of the native plant landscaping near a small side chapel. Inside the chapel, memorial icons and pictures, some quite recent and some very old, honor those who have been buried from this church, as the sight and scent of many dozens of candles quiet visitors who pause inside.Question of the day: Have any of you participated in restoration work? I think it must be fascinating.
Thank you to all of you who continue to visit. I apologize that circumstances continue to make my posting less frequent that I would like, and I am grateful for your understanding.
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Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! It must be even more amazing in real life.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous frescoes and architecture, Mary! I think restoration work would be painstaking but oh so interesting and rewarding! Alas, I'll never be asked to do it! LOL Have you seen my dreck????
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear from all of you--thank you for visiting and for your kind comments. You are welcome, Carol, and thanks for your compliment. An insightful observation, Lisa; the mission is truly amazing to see and experience in real life. Sherry, many of us think your work is lovely, so I hope you are totally joking. And it's possible that you or I (with the proper training, of course :>) would do a super job at some aspect of restoration work. Not that I'll go into it at this stage in life :>).
ReplyDeleteMary - if you need a luggage carrier or a camera carrier on your next trip, let me know. You make everythng look so interesting - and ready for painting! I can't imagine restoration - the craftsmanship, the funding, the organization required to accomplish the task. But I appreciate all they do
ReplyDeleteWow, Robin--what a fun, generous comment! Thank you, thank you. I'm glad if my love for travel and new experiences shows in my posts. Cool thought, us traveling together. Even though we only know each other on-line, I'm thinkin' we'd be compatible travel companions :>).
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