Artist Statement: “Milagros” is the Spanish word for “miracles” and in the religious world are small metal folk charms that are traditionally used for healing purposes and as votive offerings in Mexico, New Mexico, and Latin America. These small charms, often depicting arms, legs, praying people, farm animals and a wide range of other subjects are typically nailed or pinned to crosses or wooden statues of various saints like the Virgin Mary or Christ, or on the clothing of saint statues, or hung with little red ribbons or threads from altars and shrines. Each charm symbolizes a prayer, hope, wish, or request. They are offered as a reminder of a petitioner’s particular need, or gratitude for a prayer answered. They also may be carried for protection and good luck. In Mexico, the use of milagros is connected with an institution known as the manda. This where a person will ask a favor of a saint, and then, in order to repay the saint after the favor has been granted, one must make a pilgrimage to the shrine of that saint,and take a milagro and leave it there.