Devika’s Palacio

Bold, Colorful and Modest—
Ethnic Adornments for the Goddess

by judith kajiwara

Oakland native Rachel-Anne Palacios is a self-taught, multicultural artist who far exceeds the multidimensional horizons of her creativity. Each of her colorful art, craft and accessory pieces exudes a gentle yet provocative reflection of who she is—a woman full of light, joy, gratitude and grace. There’s an ancient yet contemporary boldness to her work—deep, rich colors celebrating the Spirit of Mexico, harmoniously clashing and crashing to embrace the mysteries of life, death and rebirth. Having made art since childhood, today Rachel still expresses with a childlike wonder and innocence—even though her pieces reflect the deep and humble respect she has for culture, religion, traditional values, the elders, and the cycle of life and death. Sometimes subtle, sometimes startling, each work holds a piece of her personal story, and a piece of her Soul.

The day I visited her studio and home was bright and breezy. Her studio overlooked the roof of her apartment building where potted zinnias, basil, sunflowers, marigolds and mint were carefully arranged. Below was a hazy, holographic image of the 580 Freeway, its noise muffled despite the windowless room where Rachel envisions and creates her handicrafts. The sofa where I sat sipping cinnamon tea faced outward, and I couldn’t help gazing into the dreamy expanse of a cloudless blue sky. I surely could have been anywhere but Oakland, for I felt nurtured by a powerful blending of Peruvian, El Salvadorian and Mexican ancestries—the diverse ethnic landscape that runs through the blood and artistry of Rachel.

Rachel grew up in Oakland with her younger brother in a household headed by their mother and grandmother. Rachel was blessed to have an incredible relationship with her grandmother—Nana Rose. Sharing memories of Nana Rose brought a poignant rainbow to her heartfelt words. As a mentor, teacher, coach and friend, Nana Rose was always there for Rachel. From her first elementary school play, her performances at the Oakland Fairyland, her constant love of making art, to her becoming one of the most celebrated artists in the Bay Area, Nana Rose was Rachel’s guiding light.

During Nana Rose’s last 5 years, Rachel would bring her over to spend time in the very studio where we sat. While Rachel made her art, Nana Rose would sit in her wheelchair looking out at the same blue sky, listening to the same dull drone of the 580. Now and then she’d look over and offer some constructive criticism or suggest ways in which Rachel could embellish her art pieces. In between work, they’d eat and chat until the end of another day. So when, three-quarters into our interview, a tiny hummingbird landed on a zinnia plant in front of us, Rachel knew it was Nana Rose’s Spirit checking up on her.

Rachel grew up in the midst of Oakland’s cultural diversity. With many friends of different cultures, she was intrigued by the similar ways in which they worshipped God, honored their ancestors, and created their arts and crafts. This inspiration helped define her art--simple, pure, a reflection of the indigenous way of living, using whatever you have to make something beautiful. Rachel refers to herself as a “community cultural activist,” for her work goes far beyond her open-air studio. She brings it down home to the people, emphasizing that personal and cultural significance is the essence of art. Providing the opportunity to make art on the grassroots level encourages an intergenerational, multicultural community of folks to express in innovative ways that honor their experiences. In Rachel’s words: “I hope to continue creating a positive focal point for our community by heightening respect for cultural awareness and our elders. By providing an alternative learning environment, I believe that we can learn about each other’s culture and re-connect with our own. While doing this we can re-establish family values, create unity and come together in harmony.”

Rachel sparkles when she speaks of her enjoyment of living a simple life. She’s blessed to share this with her partner and soul mate—Joshua Pham Silver, a culinary artist/chiropractor and Rachel’s number one supporter. Josh can be seen sitting in the back of Rachel’s outdoor marketplace, occasionally greeting customers. Together they set up her elaborate booth which warmly invites you into the wondrous world of Devika’s Palacio (Little Goddess’s Palace). Multicolored Mexican blankets, ornate fabrics and mats create a shopping ambience where browsing becomes a near-heavenly experience. Crafted from a variety of different mediums, mainly recycled products and house wares, her ambrosial offerings are catchy and splashy, seeming to reach out to the shopper with a gentle whisper. Offerings include handcrafted necklaces, earrings, bracelets, decoupaged and embellished light switch covers, picture frames, magnets, belt buckles, and nichos (shrines or spirit houses). Her nichos include pictures of Bob Marley, the Virgin of Guadalupe/Mother Mary, Frida Kahlo and other inspirational people she wishes to honor.

One of the deepest forces in Rachel’s work is her homage to the dead. Celebrating life would not be complete without celebrating death. This has made Rachel one of the most sought-out artists and teachers of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)—a national Mexican holiday celebrated on November 2. Her interest in this holiday naturally grew from her personal experiences. At an early age, one of her classmates died. This shook her up because in her mind “kids don’t die.” Then in high school, her boyfriend was killed at a party. She couldn’t ignore death. In her search to find a positive process for healing, Rachel began researching a variety of cultural beliefs about death. Dia de los Muertos opened that path.

It came to pass that in 2004 and 2005, Rachel was selected to be the lead artist for the Oakland Museum’s annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition. As the museum docent and teacher of altar-making workshops for school-age children and youth was an amazing experience for which she is very grateful. It opened the portal for her to share an important custom from her Mexican heritage, and to share her own personal experiences with death. By giving both children and adults the space to make sugar skulls, collect festive remembrances of their loved ones, and decorate their altars with joyful colors and sentimental objects--as an act of love and celebration—Rachel offered a new perspective to the meaning of death.

I was honored when, at the end of the interview, Rachel invited me into her home. I was blown away. There was her living room profusely decorated wall-to-wall, colorful, bright and cheery! Cheery, yet with an energy that was thick and heavy. She admitted her bedroom, as a child, looked just like this. In one corner was her altar. In homage to those who have moved forward into Spirit, were displayed a wedding picture of Nana Rose, her eyeglasses, a silk red rose, sugar skulls, and countless photos of her high school boyfriend, grandparents, aunts, cousins and friends. As I felt Rachel’s joy and enthusiasm in pointing out and describing certain articles on the altar, I noticed a wave of familiar sadness wash over me. Yet I struggled to capture some glimmer of that same joy she had as she shared her altar with me. I realized then that perhaps many of us do ignore death by stuffing our grief and viewing it as horrifying. Yet, as Rachel says, death is something we all have in common. So why not celebrate and be thankful for the eternal life of a loved one’s Spirit?

An article on Rachel-Anne Palacios and Devika’s Palacio would not be complete without writing about mendhi/henna body art. One can often see Rachel in her booth bending over a woman’s hand or foot, drawing very intricate designs with a pastry cone. What she is doing is performing a practice of body adornment called henna or mendhi. Prevalent in India, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia this spiritual practice is done for rites of passage for women and children, such as for brides before the wedding, and pregnant women before birth (applied directly onto their rounded bellies!). Healing for the ill, protection from evil, receiving blessings from ancestors, inducing fertility, or relaxation before a major celebration are other reasons for receiving mendhi.

Similar to decorating a cake, the paste used is made from natural ingredients and left to dry for about 10-30 minutes. Once the paste dries, a mixture of lemon juice and sugar is applied to the design. The acid from the lemon helps the paste stain the skin, and the sugar helps keep it fastened to the skin. Approximately 8-24 hours later, the paste is ready to be scraped off. Rubbing olive oil on the delicate design “sets” it so that it will last anywhere from 7 to 10 days, sometimes even longer depending on the skin type.

Self-taught and having done a lot of research into the art of henna, Rachel’s reputation has made her one of the most called-upon henna body artists in the Bay Area. She feels blessed to be able to give this sacred gift to so many women. Her henna designs are both contemporary and traditional. Many of the designs also adorn her art pieces, either by carving or by drawing with 3-dimensional paint. As opposed to the popular tattoo art, Rachel does not apply names of people, does not draw flippant images such as Mickey Mouse, and does not apply designs to certain areas of the body. Because the practice of mendhi is a very spiritual act honoring the cultural tradition and self-expression of many people around the word, she explains to her clients that it is not done for these purposes.

As with many of the amazingly talented artists in Oakland, Rachel is still searching for a comfortable “place” within the art world. When asked what art school she attended, she pauses and reveals she didn’t go to any art school. Unlike other artists, Rachel graduated from “the school of my own head.” Her definition of art goes beyond and above the textbook definition. For Rachel, art is free, with no boundaries and no rules to follow.

One need only come by the Oakland Artisan Marketplace to feel the depth of Spirit that is embodied in her artistry. Though Devika’s Palacio primarily praises the beauty of woman, Rachel admits she’s a bit of a “machisma.” She seizes any opportunity to let men know that “women are goddesses--powerful, strong, successful, naturally creative” and have the right to be honored as such.

At the end of the interview, I asked Rachel to describe her life. “My life is full of good karma. I live humbly, respect my elders, and am kind and open.” I smiled and thought to myself, “Hmmm, just like a lovely evening receiving henna … a Sunday morning browsing at Devika’s Palacio … or a quiet afternoon with Nana Rose.