Amadeo Sandoval's kitchen and bedroom, Río Lucío, New Mexico, June 1985

From Amadeo’s rooms I understood better my sustained attraction to this small, uncommon island of Hispanic northern New Mexico. I understood why for over eighteen years (as I write this introduction) I have lived and photographed in the region, and for the last decade, in an effort bordering on compulsion, I have carried my large camera, heavy tripod, light meters, lenses, and film holders above villages, into fields, onto the backseats of automobiles, in front of houses, and inside rooms. In these ten years I’ve wanted to photograph spaces without their inhabitants, spaces that tell a certain kind of story. The inscription in Amadeo’s kitchen provided the key to my understanding: “I love my God.” He cared for his home as a temple. “I love the red white and blue.” He celebrated his temple with the colors of his country and for the sheer pleasure of using beautiful colors. “And You.” He loved his family, his neighbor, and a stranger. All were welcome in his rooms. “Red White Blue and God Bless You.” Those fortunate enough to enter the space he created, to gaze at his colors, were blessed by the God he celebrated. Almost every room I have photographed in northern New Mexico contains some of the feeling of Amadeo’s rooms, tells the story of religion as part of daily life, tells the story of human devotion to home.

From the introduction to “Red White Blue and God Bless You”

  1. Las Trampas, New Mexico March 1984
  2. George and Oralia Romero's Front Porch, El Valle, New Mexico, August 1980
  3. Amadeo Sandoval's kitchen and bedroom, Río Lucío, New Mexico, June 1985
  4. Penasco, New Mexico, July 1981
  5. San Lorenzo Fiesta, Penasco, New Mexico, August 1985
  6. Ojo Sarco, New Mexico, July 4th, 1986
  7. Jacobo and Eloisa Romero, El Valle, New Mexico, March 1982
  8. Tomás Montoya's bedroom, El Valle, New Mexico, August 1985
  9. Bialquín Pacheco's house, Vallecíto, New Mexico, May 1982
  10. Hong Kong Lounge, Las Vegas, New Mexico, looking north from Richard Lucero's 1972 Buick Centurian, July 1987
  11. Camposanto, El Valle, New Mexico, August 1986
  12. Onésimo and Eleanor Pacheco's house, Vallecíto, New Mexico, May 1985
  13. The High Road looking west from Prisoner's Curve, February 1987
  14. Las Trampas, New Mexico, looking east from Leví Lovato's 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, July 1987
  15. Las Vegas, New Mexico, Looking east from Myles Sweeney's 1960 Chevrolet Impala, July 1987
  16. Furr's parking lot, Saturday Night,  Espanola, New Mexico, looking south from J. R. Roybal's 1966 Chevrolet Caprice, Feburary 1987
  17. Las Vegas, New Mexico, January 1984
  18. Amadeo Sandoval's Living Room, Río Lucío, New Mexico, July 1984
  19. Amadeo Sandoval's living room, Río Lucío New Mexico, June 1985
  20. Amadeo Sandoval's Kitchen, Río Lucío, New Mexico, June 1985
  21. Black Mesa, New Mexico, looking east from Fred Cata's 1957 Chevrolet Belair, July 1987
  22. Sombrilllo, New Mexico, looking south from Ben Vigil's 1952 Chevrolet, August 1986
  23. Amadeo Sandoval’s Kitchen and Bedroom, Río Lucío, New Mexico, June 1985
  24. Teodoro Griego's house, Llano Largo, New Mexico, January 1982
  25. Celledonio Gallegos's house, Llano de San Juan, New Mexico, June 1985
  26. The Edge of the Great Plains, ten miles north of Las Vegas, New Mexico, July 1987
  27. Rodarte, New Mexico, looking south from Fred Martinez's Chevrolet, Impala, April 1987
  28. Truchas, New Mexico, August 1984
  29. St. Martin de Porres and the Virgin Mary, Rosenda Medina's house, Penasco, New Mexico, December 1986
  30. Llano Arriba, El Valle, New Mexico, November 1986
  31. Onésimo and Eleanor Pacheco's House, Vallecito, New Mexico, April 1987
  32. Genera Gurule's House, Penasco, New Mexico, August 1985
  33. Chamisal, New Mexico, looking east, November 1980
  34. El Valle, New Mexico, looking west from Pollyanna Leyba's 1972 Chevrolet, July 1987
  35. Llano San Juan, New Mexico, August 1981
  36. Chamisal, New Mexico, looking north from Juan Dominguez's 1957 Chevrolet Impala, July 1987