Even after 205 years, San Juan Bautista remains the one of
California’s 21 mission cities where the identity of the town and
the church are inseparable. So it’s not surprising that when the
community decided to sustain a public art project across the
decades, it would pay tribute to the Mission system.
Even after 205 years, San Juan Bautista remains the one of California’s 21 mission cities where the identity of the town and the church are inseparable. So it’s not surprising that when the community decided to sustain a public art project across the decades, it would pay tribute to the Mission system.
The San Juan Bautista Saints – one for each of the 21 missions – plus the ubiquitous Father Junipero Serra are the Mission City’s tribute to the holiday season. From Thanksgiving until well into January, the 2½ foot wooden icons adorn the town’s faux gas lampposts, a dignified alternative to wreaths, candy canes and flashing lights.
Forty years after they were first commissioned and weeks off their second facelift, the simple Saints, reminiscent of classic Russian and Greek orthodox icons, are back in place with fresh paint and a nod toward today’s more commercial holiday season: Saints Frances, Diego, Barbara, Clara, Cruz, Jose and the others are open for sponsorship.
“I think that they are a beautiful representation of what this town is about,” says Terry Marburger, the San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce director who oversaw restoration. “When you look at them you feel good.”
Bordered by copper, the spruced up saints in subdued acrylics stand in a golden niche along with something that defines them – a shell in the hand of John the Baptist, a sword like Juan Capistrano used in the crusades, a scaly Satan subdued at the feet of the archangel Saint Gabriel.
The Saints have been tradition since Faye Dixon was commissioned by the chamber to paint the first ones in 1964. After years of exposure to the harsh winter elements, in 1983 they were redesigned by renowned San Juan artist Ursula “Tibi” Hanes Guthrie and Donni Reynolds. They did them in the style of a 21-panel series by Father Michael Buckley, then priest and artist at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Cuyama, CA.
Now the newer renditions of the saints have been restored by local artists and are making their first appearance since 2001 in their customary positions along Third Avenue. Rejoining them will be San Buenaventura, who was stolen during the 2000-2001 season.
“They were in terrible shape,” recalls Irene Schultz of San Juan Woodworks, which was commissioned to make the physical repairs to the wood surfaces and the metal borders. “The metal work needed to be hammered out, pieces needed to be replaced, the paint was so badly chipped out that on some you couldn’t even read the name of the mission. One more year and they wouldn’t have had anything to restore.”
At a cost of $75 a saint, San Juan Woodworks stabilized the icons. Then local artists Gayle Sleznick and Norman Scott were commissioned for the painting.
The project took 450 hours, less than the 900 needed for their 1983 debut. The project was made easier because Rebecca McGovern is loath to throw anything away and kept the original tracing paper designs and the exact mixes of paint used to create them. McGovern was Chamber of Commerce director when the current versions of the saints were commissioned for the 200th anniversary of Father Serra’s Death.
The chamber had big plans for the saints after their 1984 debut, according to a 1984 chamber document: “It would seem entirely in keeping with the spirit in which the artwork was conceived and completed to make it available to the people of the state of California.”
The Chamber’s plan was to take them on tour of the 21 California Missions. They also wanted, with the Saint Francis Retreat Center, to print a large format book featuring the San Juan paintings.
Buckley objected to both projects.
“Father Buckley didn’t think he was getting any money from this,” said McGovern.
Buckley now resides in a Los Angeles Alzheimer’s care center, and his Saints poster is for sale in the Mission gift shop. Or for $100 one can adopt one of the San Juan Saints for a year. The funds will defray the $8,400 price tag for restoring the icons and go toward upkeep. Sponsors’ names are etched into wooden plaques hung from the saints.
Joe Cullumber, who has lived in San Juan Bautista all of his 84 years, sponsored San Jose.
“I wanted to help out the local merchants,” says Cullumber, who found a special affinity for San Jose. “My name is Joseph, so I’m Jose, so I chose that one.”
Cullumber isn’t able to walk well so he hasn’t gotten a real good look at most of the saints, but luckily for him San Jose is in front of one of his haunts, the San Juan Bakery.
“I think they’re great for the town, it kind of fits San Juan,” says Cullumber.
To sponsor a saint, contact the San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce at 831-623-2454.
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A Guided Tour of the Saints
The saints are not placed in order of their position on the El Camino Real. To assist you in an historical understanding, here is a list in the order of their appearance along Third Street, beginning on the north side of the road at Franklin to Muckelemi and then back up the south side. The information about the saints is from Father Buckley’s brief notes and the book ‘Saints of the California Missions.’
Some saints are still looking for sponsors and are so noted in the description.
Father Junipero Serra (sponsored by Hazel Hawkins Hospital; GraniteRock): The Franciscan priest oversaw the founding of the first eight of the 21 California Missions and is holding a portrait of Mary of Guadalupe. Serra was declared Blessed in 1988, the second of three stages in becoming a saint.
San Carlos (no sponsors): Charles Borromeo was a 16th century Italian bishop who lived an austere life, championed reform within various religious orders, and lead efforts to contain the plague of 1576. He is shown wearing a cardinal’s robe and a rope of penance.
San Antonio, (sponsored by County Bounty; and Ponzini Insulation in Memory of Sev Celotti): 12th century Portuguese theology teacher and preacher known for his good works and numerous miracles, which lead to his nickname: “Wonderworker.” He was canonized one year after his death and is the patron saint of the poor who also is invoked for the return of lost articles.
San Luis Obispo (no sponsor): 13th century French bishop came by his vocation in an unusual way. Louis and his two brothers were sent to Barcelona as hostages in exchange for the release of their father, King Charles II, who had been captured in a Naval battle. For seven years Louis was held and taught by Franciscan friars, and upon release he gave up his right to the throne and turned to a religious life. The chess pieces at his feet signify the worldly powers he gave up in order to become a bishop.
San Juan Capistrano (no sponsors): a 14th century Italian governor-turned priest who preached throughout Europe and, as a crusader, led a victorious battle against the Turks in Belgrade.
San Buenaventura (sponsored by Studio 808): a 13th century Italian cardinal bishop educated at the Sorbonne in France and known for his erudition.
La Purisima (sponsored by Moises Roizen; Mr. & Mrs. B’s Z-Place): The Virgin Mary, or the Most Pure Conception of Mary Most Holy, stands on a crescent moon. The iconography comes from the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelations: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed in the sun, and the moon under her feet….”
Soledad (sponsored by Native Daughters of the Golden West; Claudia’s Bookkeeping): This is a depiction of Mary Mother of Jesus after His crucifixion, which is known as Our Lady of Solitude. She is contemplating a crown of thorns as a sword of sorrow pierces her heart.
San Juan Bautista (sponsored by San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce; Cece Johnston in Memory of her father Harvey Johnston): Saint John the Baptist holds a staff and a shell, the kind he might have used when baptizing Jesus on the banks of the Jordan River.
San Fernando (sponsored by Terry’s Candles): the 15th century Spanish King Ferdinand was known for uniting the kingdoms of Castile, represented on his coat by a castle, and Leon, as well as for driving the Mohammedans out of much of Spain and turning their mosques into cathedrals.
Solano (sponsored In Memory of Lawrence F. Freitas; Margot Shinneman): a 16th century Spanish priest considered the Apostle of South America. While in Peru and Paraguay he learned many Indian languages and entertained the converts with his violin playing.
San Rafael (sponsored by One Fine Day; Ottoboni and Fiori Family): The Archangel Rafael is patron of the Mission San Rafael, which is across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco and was sanitarium for neophytes from Mission San Francisco. Rafael, as an angel, has wings and carries a fish and a pilgrim’s staff because in the apocryphal Book of Tobit he posed as a pilgrim to help Tobias cure his father’s blindness with a fish’s gall.
Santa Ines (no sponsors): Ines, or ‘Agnes,” was a fourth century Roman maiden whose virginity was protected by a miraculous growth of hair, and her life preserved by a one-time immunity from fire. At age 13 or 14 she was beheaded for her refusal to offer incense to a pagan idol. She is shown holding her symbols, the lamb of innocence and palm of victory.
San Luis Rey (not sponsored): Louis IX was King of France during the 13th century and fought two crusades. He is shown holding a relic of the Crown of Thorns, given to him by the King of Constantinople.
San Miguel (sponsored by American Electric; Ruth Kesler in Memory of Al Kesler): The Archangel Michael is the leader of the Heavenly Host against Satan, and is shown subduing the devil.
San Jose (sponsored by Joe Cullumber; Holmes & Sons): The husband of Mary and father of Jesus, Joseph is depicted wearing an apron and holding the tools of his carpentry trade.
San Diego (no sponsors): Didacus of Alcala was a 15th century Spanish peasant who joined the Franciscan order and performed many good works as a lay-brother at the Canary Islands, Rome, and Castile. Father Buckley refers to the image as “Franciscan lay-brother, aproned with broom, sweeps monastery and opens door with key.”
Santa Cruz (not sponsored): The figure depicted is Saint Helen holding the cross on which Christ was crucified, called the True Cross and marked with INRI, or Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. Helen found the cross in Jerusalem in 326 AD. Helen is the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, who proclaimed Christianity the official religion of the empire in the fourth century.
Santa Barbara (sponsored by Mary and Alex Gibson; Barbara Roizen): a 3rd century Roman virgin and martyr whose pagan father imprisoned her in a homemade castle for conversion to Christianity. She is holding a Blessed Sacrament, which angels are said to have brought to her in the prison.
Santa Clara (sponsored by San Juan Bautista Historical Society; Mission Village Realty): a 12th century Italian who was inspired by Francis of Assisi sermon to found her own order, the Poor Clares. She is holding a monstrance, used to display objects such as the Blessed Sacrament. She is said to have once driven away attacking Muslims by holding up the monstrance.
San Francisco (sponsored by John & Diane Hopper; Saint Francis Retreat): Francis of Assisi is the famous 12th century Italian who gave up his inheritance and founded the order of the Friars Minor, who took vows of poverty and chastity. At age 44 he received the Stigmata, the five wounds of Christ, as a sign of divine favor.
San Gabriel (sponsored by Larry and Judy Cain; Franco/Townson Families): The archangel Gabriel holds a censer for burning incense, which signifies the story of his announcement to Zachary, at the hour of incense, the birth of John the Baptist. Gabriel is one of only three angels mentioned by name in the Bible.
