Embroidery

NameEmbroidery

Maker Policarpio Valencia

CultureHispano

Dateca. 1927

Place madeSanta Cruz, New Mexico, United States, North America

MediumWool, cotton

DimensionsOverall: 46 1/16 x 61 in. (117 x 155 cm)

Credit LineH. Cady Wells Bequest, former collection of Gladys Butler, Museum of International Folk Art (A9.1954.28)

Object numberA9.1954.28

ProvenanceGladys Butler of Santa Fe purchased this embroidery in 1927 directly from Policarpio Valencia. She later described him as “a very salty old man” who told her the embroidery contained his “confessions and prayers.” She later gave it to H. Cady Wells of the Rio Grande Painters Group, who then gifted it to the Museum of New Mexico as part of a major bequest.

DescriptionLike a typical quilt top, this textile is constructed of pieced patchwork. The reverse side reveals many small, overlapping patches cut in various sizes and shapes from a diversity of cotton and wool fabrics. One long edge made of heavy wool twill was once a woman’s skirt hem. On the front side, Valencia uses the patches to organize his text, creating a crowded and disorienting design.

In this text, Valencia alluded to a common Spanish proverb “el león no es como lo pintan” (the lion is not as he is painted). In other words, appearances deceive. In his variation, Valencia stitches, “There is an adage that says, the lion is not as he is painted even if by a good painter. He who painted it first did so even to the color and so it is and shall be.” He implies the eternal nature of God’s Creation and the difficulties humanity experiences when trying to interpret or reproduce it. In seeking to understand Valencia’s stylistic intentions, his combination of philosophical language and challenging designs with no single orientation suggest that he believed wisdom required patience, hard work, and a higher perspective.

A formal introduction, giving an explanation of what is to be seen.
Here you will see the likenesses of animals that imitate their
appearance in every way, except people would avoid eating them.
Some are already rare, but they are depicted for future memory.
There is an adage that says, the lion is not as he is painted, even
if done by a good painter. He who fi rst painted it did so in its true
colors, and that is how it is and will be.
Number 1. To follow the conversation, look at the number you
fi nd at the beginning of this story and additional stories without
number written with interesting words.
2. You will also see very amusing writings with very good content.
Whoever reads them will undoubtedly be convinced.
3. It is said that the spinner never lacks a shirt. And I say that
wherever you want, greed, pride, envy, and injustice harm us. We
should each be content with what we get, for the arm does not
stretch past the point it reaches. If anyone doubts it, it reveals
their ignorance that it must be an easy path. The same is true
here, whoever comes and goes, reveals their perseverance. We
are looking for their deceivers. You will discover that in this world,
everyone has their own size and cannot add even an inch to their
stature. It’s evident in Scripture.
Number 4. The world is shaped like a ball, may it keep spinning
as it always has, for time will catch up with us. And each day that
dawns, each one of us gets closer to our grave. And we are waiting
for death, stunned without knowing the hour or when.
In your life you secure what you will fi nd in death is going to the
grave.
There is no appeal. God knows what he ought to dole out, and if his
judgement lasts, no one can take it away.
5. Appearances deceive. It is the general opinion and can’t be
denied, for they come with tricks.
Do not let yourself be deceived by the world or of the fl esh, much
less the devil[.]
Number 6. The letters in this composition are also meant to teach
a lesson to all who read them, if they observe the explanation.
Whoever reads them casually, will be made to laugh, but after
the laughter has caught your attention, you will see that they are
substantial. They do not follow tradition, but remain convinced that
they are giving you a good lesson. You will see.
Number 7. To do this work requires patience, including those
words that reveal our potential.
Number 8. Pride and arrogance[.] They cannot be separated,
for both were guilty since the beginning of evil. No wonder they
ranked them fi rst in the Seven Deadly Sins. Next, greed causes
us no less harm. He who wields it is not satisifed with all the water
in the sea. Third, lust is a vice that drips like honey. If you don’t
curb it, it changes the color of your character and makes everyone
more bitter than bile. In fourth comes wrath. It makes man a tyrant
Transcription
to inferiors and equals, which is typical of animals because it is not
human affection.
In fi fth comes gluttony, but it has a scale, so to avoid suffering its
affects, resort to temperance.
In sixth place comes...
Envy, with its depraved evil, therefore comes with its own
crookedness and punishment. Sloth is a disease as bad as death,
so there is no place for the lazy in any society. Society is the state
of being with
others and you will be accepted if you are fair, modest, and kind.
That concludes The Seven Deadly Sins.
Policarpio Valencia Santa Cruz N/M
Bison
Frogs
Mule
Pigs
Camel
Rats
Bear
Cows
Dogs

Transcripción:
Introducion parlamentaria dando esplicacion que ben a la bista[.]
Aqui beran himitasion de animales que en todo imitan su paraser
lo que si ebitan comer[.]
Y unos ya son raros pero se pintan para recuerdo foturo[.] Sierto
hay una adajio que dise no es ... el lion como lo pintan mas que
lo aga un buen pintor[.] El que lo pinto primero le puso hasta su
color y asi es y sera[.]
No 1° para llebar la conbersación bea el numero lo aya al prencipio
de su naracion y adicionales sin
numero escrito con palabras interesantes[.]
2 Tambien beran escriptos muy debertidos y de muy buen
contenido[.] El que las lea no hay duda que
quedara conbensido[.]
3 Se dise que a la ilandera nunca le falta camisa[.] Y yo digo que
donde quieres nos asen mal la abaricia
la soberbia la enbidia y la injusticia[.] Nos debemos conformar
cada uno con su ganancia pues el braso no se alarga u...un
punto de lo que alcansa[.] Si alguno lo pone en duda se deja
ber la inorancia que a de ser bial sencillo[.] Lo mismos es aqui
el que entran y salen ay si son perseberansia[.] Se busca su
desengañor[.] Allara que en este mundo cada uno es de su
tamaño y sin poder añadir ni un codo a su
estatura[.] Se be en la escritura[.]
No 4 El mundo fi gura bola dejarlo siempre rodar como a benido
rodando que el tiempo se llegara también caminando[.] Y cada dia
que amanesemos bamos mas asercando cada uno a su septura[.]
Pues esta…lo esta esperando esto es atodonacido sin saber la ora
ni cuando[.]
En tu bida tu aseguras lo que en la muerte has de allar es allendo
a la sepultura[.]
Alli no ai apelasion[.] Dios sabe lo que a de dar y esta sentencia si
dura no hay quien la pueda quitar[.]
5 Las apariensas engañan[.] Es opinion general y no se puede
dudar pues estas bienen con mañas[.]
No te dejes engañar del mundo ni de la carne mucho menos del
demonio[.]
No 6 Las letras en este cuadro son tanbien de dar lecion a todo
aquel que las lea si obserban su esplicasion[.]
Los que las lean de rondon a estos les causara risa pero despues
de la risa si les llaman su atension beran que es cosas masisa[.]
Y no allan con tradicion pero quedan connbensidos que le dan
buena lecion[.] Ya ud bera[.]
No 7 Para aser este trabajo se necesita pasiencia y incluso
aquellas palabras que nos dicen las potencias[.]
No 8 El orgullo y la soberbia[.] No se pueden apartar pues los
dos fueron culpables desde el prensipio del mal[.] Pues con rason
la pusieron primera en lo capital[.] Y la abaricia en seguida nos
causa no menos mal[.] El que la usa no se sasia con toda la agua
del mar[.] En tersero la lojuria esta es un mal que estila miel[.] Sin
Transcripción
no se le pone freno muda de color la piel y todo lo adiciona mas
amargo que la giel[.] En cuarto biene la ira esta ase al hombre
un tirano de inferiores y de iguales pues es propia de animales
porque no es afeto umano[.]
En qinto biene la gula pero esta con su balansa para no sufrir su
efecto acudir a la tenplansa[.]
En sesto biene la...en...
Enbidia con su mal entriscesido por eso tiene consigo su torsedor
y c...castigo[.] Peresa es enfermeda
tan mala como la muerte asi no cabe el inerte en ninguna
sosieda[.] Sosieda es el estado en que con otros bibientes y seras
sosial si fueres justo modesto y asiado[.]
Fin de lo capital[.]
Policarpio Valencia Santa Cruz N/M
Sibolo
Ranas
Macho
Serdos
Cameo
Ratas
Oso
Reses
Peros