Picture in Focus: Holy Mary Mola by Unknown Kuna Artist

May 14, 2017

Picture in Focus: Holy Mary Mola by Unknown Kuna Artist

For my Marian images in May series, we return once again this month to the San Blas Archipelago off Panama's Caribbean coast, where an unknown embroiderer of the Kuna People created a reverse applique stitched image of the Virgin Mary, recently added to the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection. In an oval titled, HOLY MARY OUR MOTHER, we see a half-length portrait of the Mother of Christ with her symbolic attributes. The four stars recall Mary's identification with the Morning Star. She holds in her hand what might be a rose or the Stem of Jesse, linking her to the family tree of King David. On her chest, we see the radiant Sacred Heart of Mary pierced by the Cross. The four mysterious creatures at the corners are the unknown Kuna artist's own creations. This cloth panel, called a mola, was made to be worn on a blouse and joins another embroidered image of Mary in the gallery of the Molas of the Kuna People page in the Schools of Sacred Art section. (John Kohan)