POPE-PARAGUAY/PREVIEW-ALTAR Paraguayan artist creates giant corn altar for Pope's visit

Record ID: 149063

  • Title: POPE-PARAGUAY/PREVIEW-ALTAR Paraguayan artist creates giant corn altar for Pope's visit
  • Date: 30th June 2015
  • Summary: SAN IGNACIO GUASU, PARAGUAY (RECENT) (REUTERS) SIGN FOR SAN IGNACIO GUASU, 230 KILOMETRES (142 MILES) SOUTH OF ASUNCION DOOR TO PARAGUAYAN ARTIST KOKI RUIZ'S 'EL MOLINO' WORKSHOP PEOPLE STANDING IN WORKSHOP OF PARAGUAYAN ARTIST KOKI RUIZ'S VARIOUS OF COCONUTS BEING SIGNED GIRL TAKING PHOTOGRAPH IN FRONT OF ALTAR VARIOUS OF FRUIT BEING SIGNED ALTAR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PAR
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Paraguay
  • Country: Paraguay
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5XPJUH4AD5812WV4DAJDS50DR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Using a harvest blend comprised of corn cobs, coconuts, pumpkins and seeds, Paraguayan artist Koki Ruiz has constructed a massive altar from nature's bounty that will be used during mass when Pope Francis visits the South American country next week.
    Ruiz emphasized his desire to represent Paraguay's blend of both indigenous and Spanish cultures.
    "We are making the altar to reflect our blend of cultures. The baroque of the Jesuit missions but with the fruits of the earth," said Ruiz speaking from his El Molino workshop in San Ignacio Guasu, located 230 km (142 miles) south of Asunsion.
    The food-filled altar is 40 metres (131 feet) wide and stands 14 metres (45 feet) high.
    "Thinking about the Guarani [indigenous people from region] culture that speaks of the seeds of Mother Earth, like all the indigenous from America before Columbus' arrival, thinking that the Earth is Mother Earth which feeds all her children equally and that the Earth is bread for all of her children," he said.
    In addition to over 30,000 ears of corn, Ruiz explained how people had sent in their wishes for Pope Francis that were later inscribed on young green coconuts.
    "There are over 30,000 ears of corn that make up the altar, 200,000 coconuts, or more, that have written messages which bear the names of people and their wishes," he said.
    Pope Francis will bless the coconuts when he delivers an outdoor mass in Nu Guasu park on the outskirts of Asuncion on July 11.
    People have flocked to Ruiz's workshop to get a glimpse of the unique edible altar.
    "It gives us great satisfaction to see so many young people who are seeing how creativity makes wonderful things," said retiree Estela Galeno.
    Architect Jose del Rio was excited about the fact that the altar would be broadcast all over the world during the Pope's mass.
    "Being an altar that will be seen all over world, it's a pride and joy for all of Paraguay," he said.
    Otilia Lopez used an expression in Guarani to describe her emotions upon viewing the altar, saying it gave her goosebumps.
    "This is unique in Paraguay and why not say it, in the whole world. What I can say in Guarani is 'che mopirimba' [It gives you goosebumps]," said Lopez, a hairdresser.
    Francis, the first pope from Latin America, will be in Ecuador July 6-8, Bolivia July 8-10 and Paraguay July 10-12. It will be the Argentine's second trip to Latin America since his 2013 election that brought him to the helm of the Vatican, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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