DepartmentTextiles-Hispano US

La Vida Loca (The Crazy Life)

NameDrawing; Paño

Artist Pat Mora

CultureHispano

Date1995

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

MediumCotton pilowcase, Ink

Dimensions28 9/16 × 20 1/4 in. (72.5 × 51.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Museum Purchase from the Collection of Rudy Padilla, A.2022.41.15

Object numberA.2022.41.15

ProvenancePaños, or hand drawn works on handkerchiefs, particularly done in penitentiaries/prisons to give to loved ones. This collection was purchased with MNMF funds on June 20th, 1996, by Mariah Sacoman, previous Curator of Contemporary Hispanic Folk Art for the exhibition, “Paño Art from the `Inside’ Out” from July 21, 1996 - January 7, 1997, in the Hispanic Heritage Wing Changing Gallery. Rudy Padilla was a well-known paño and prison art collector, of which most of his collection was recently acquired by the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

DescriptionInk drawing on a white pillowcase. Drawing includes various images, in the center of the piece is the figure of a man with a mustache, wearing a bandana and checkered shirt pointing a gun out at the viewer. There are also two depictions of clowns, one smiling and one frowning. There are also the words, "Cry Later" and "Smile Now" in a cursive script.