Wedding Waltz

by J Michael Walker, 2006 Color pencil on paper, 80" high x 84" wide

In 1974 an unpredictable invitation to go illustrate a mimeographed textbook, written by a nun in the language of the Tarahumara Indians, offered me entrée into another world. No sooner had I arrived, in a tiny village of Mexico's Sierra Tarahumara, than I felt I had come home; it helped that the next day I met the love of my life.

Three summers later we were married, in the modest 18th century echurch of Mimí's nearby hometown, Bocoyna. The rest is history, myth and life itself.

This drawing flows from a small black and white photo of us dancing the night of our wedding.

The old church in which we were wed looms large at left; and before it, a José Guadalupe Posada calaca rings one of the cast iron bells that hang out front. From above the Virgin of Guadalupe proffers lilies and Rosas de Castillo for Mimí's headdress; while to the left and right angels carry banners bearing the copla (couplet) “Ah what a fragrant rose / what a sweet cupcake / what a pretty young girl / so lucky is he whom she takes.” I can only agree.