On the eve of Ash Wednesday, February 9, 2016, a fire broke out at the Our of Lady of Guadalupe Church in the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado. This church reflects the community that it serves, predominantly the Hispanic and Spanish community that came from New Mexico into Colorado and is part of the oldest Catholic parish in the region. Interestingly, this church has a history with fire. On February 16, 1921, the original adobe church built in 1863 experienced a fire that nearly destroyed the structure. This short episode, part of a series, follows the work to preserve and restore this church after the 2016 fire. A Place of Miracles would be suitable for librarians looking to develop their art history collections.
The focus of this title is two art pieces from the historic church and the process to restore them. This includes the Our Lady of Guadalupe painting located above the altar which as a result of the fire had a crown over the Lady of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Heart of Mary statue located outside. With both the painting and the statue, the film takes viewers through the restoration process from both an artistic standpoint as well as the more scientific process to understand how best to restore both items true to their original form. During the process, there were some interesting finds including a time capsule under the Immaculate Heart of Mary statue.
This documentary will be interesting to those in the conservation, preservation, and restoration field; it may also draw in those intrigued by the religious history and story of this church. Those looking for a discussion of the religious history of this region, the parish population, and the church itself will be disappointed in this film. Others curious about the restorative work on the statue may find other films more thorough and engaging. While A Place of Miracles supports film collections focused on the rehabilitation of artwork, the film may have a limited audience outside of those living in Southern Colorado. Optional. Aud: J, H, C, P.