Cathy L Baca
Spanish colonial tinwork & Folk art of northern New Mexico
Taos New Mexico

I am a Native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque.  After many years of coming to Taos, New Mexico, I made a final move in 1992.  I began creating Tin Work in 1997.  Spanish Colonial Tinwork began here in the early 1800's and is still a big part of our heritage today.  At the beginning, tin frames were made for the patron saint.  It then expanded to many other uses such as candle holders, nichos, mirrors and more.  Today you see tinwork embelishments throughout New Mexico.  I use 30 guage turne plate tin, wood carving tools, chisels and other tools specific to tinwork to create my pieces.  Each piece is unique.  When I'm creating a piece, I move myself out of the way and let spirit come through.  Living in this beautiful area makes it easy to connect with spirit.  I love working with santos, and other icons.  I was taught arts and crafts at a young age by my mother and grandmother.  My grandmother did alot of needle crafts and was always creating something which captivated me.  As I got older, my mother and I would spend hours together making Christmas gifts for family and friends.  I loved it so much, the time went by very quickly,  I felt like I was playing the whole time.  I knew I needed to figure out how to make a living creating art.  I believe thats the key to knowing what you are supposed to do in life.  As Joseph Campbell says "Follow your bliss".  My mother still crafts today at the age of 83.

I am also an energy worker, shamanic practitioner.  I was ill for quite a while, on disability for years.  I started out using western medicine.  During that time I was given medications for my illnesses, the side effects added up and I was given  medications for the side effects.  I got to a point where they were giving me pain killers because there was nothing else they could do, they had exhausted all medical procedures they knew of.  I knew I needed to find another way.  Alternative medicine really helped, it gave me hope and I was able to start my healing journey.  At another point I found a Spiritual Healer (energy worker) that helped me heal, I was able to get off disability and get my life back.  At that point I was called to be of service... to be a Spiritual Healer, energy worker.  That's when I started studying with the woman who helped heal me. I continued on to study Mayan Shamanism with Rosita Arvigo in Belize and then Incan Shamanism with Alberto Villoldo and the Four Winds Society.  If you are interested in a healing or if you have any questions about energy work,  please call me at 505.741.1172.  I carry smudge products, sage, palo santo, copal and more.