Part of Jimenez Underwood’s American Dress triptych, this huipil-inspired wall hanging is dedicated to chili. Virgen de Tepin not only references a garment, but a map, as its delicate golden grid line suggests. The lush velvet canvas contains barbed wire and silk screened images, some of them covered with an “x”. The artist explains: “The intent was to depict the physical rape of the Americas, with the ancient deities watching…I tried to match the red color to the chile tepin, one of my favorite American spices, which still grows wild in some parts of Mexico. The barbed wire represents the colonial domination of the continent.”

"In the American Dress triptych, Jimenez Underwood celebrates the trinity of chili, cacao, y nopal as markers of Indigenous identity and as much-appreciated gastronomic gifts from the American earth." Ann Marie Leimer, "Garments for the Goddess of the Americas", Consuelo Jimenez Underwood Art Weaving, Vision, Duke University Press, 2022

"In Spain, I was surprised at the absence of black pepper on dining tables. Once home, enjoying my spicy cuisine, I reaffirmed my self-identity – of course, I wasn’t Hispanic! In gratitude, I stitched the Tepin (a spicy yet inviting pepper) spirit as a lush, crushed red velvet dress embroidered with golden grids, crossed-out harsh memories, and silkscreened with ancient and contemporary Mexican maternal deities. Gold-wrapped barbed wire bits are snuggled inside the soft and voluptuous material, dangerous to the incautious viewer. Now, whenever I travel, I bring my personal supply of crushed chile." Consuelo Jimenez Underwood