Art seems to grow out of the ground in New Mexico. The Hispanic culture is colorful, emotional, loyal. The dead are commemorated with flowers, beads, paintings, cards, letters statues and colorful objects. These memorials are all over the local cemeteries and all over the roads, marking those who died or have been killed.

Many are extraordinarily beautiful, and they give a poignant and beautiful air to the place. I was especially drawn to this memorial for Tommy Martinez on busy Route 76. I’ve seen scores and scores of them, almost all elaborately attended and conceived.