Pilgrimage of the Sierra

Tito Medina’s Pilgrimage of the Sierra is a stunning gourd etching that invites close observation. At first glance, it appears as a cohesive landscape — but look closer and a multi-layered story unfolds. A caravan of figures and animals traverses a mountainous terrain, likely part of a sacred procession or trade route. Llamas and alpacas are carved with grace, carrying goods as people walk with musical instruments, hats, and offerings in hand.
Above this pilgrimage, a woven-style band of interlocking patterns surrounds a top medallion etched with what appears to be traditional ceremonial symbolism — fourfold geometric designs, birds, and ancestral markings. The harmony between landscape, pattern, and purpose gives this piece a sacred tone, as if it holds a memory not just of place but of cultural journey.