This Thursday, December 18 Sevilla will find the Macarena on the ground floor in a new celebration of the Virgin of Hope which this year will be more special if possible after the recent return of the image after its restoration … in the workshop of Pedro Manzano and the celebration of centenary of the kiss of hands in the parish of San Gil. In addition, it will be the first worship in charge of the new government council led by Fernando Fernández Cabezuelo, and also the first time that the Virgin will appear dressed by Jose Carlos Gutiérrez Romerowho was appointed dressing room of the Macarena and the Lord of Sentence last Sunday.
This 51-year-old man from Jerez, responsible for dressing the capital images of Holy Week in his city such as the Hope of the Yedra or the Mother of God of the Misericordia del Transporte, succeeds José Manuel Lozano after eleven years. Gutiérrez, consulted by ABC, admitted with great emotion that “my throat has been tight for two days”, as well as professes great devotion and affection for the Macarena since I was a child. The link goes back many years, when he received, with his uncle, priest of the Brotherhood of Transport – of which he is currently butler – the old breastplates and feathers of the arms of the Macarena: “Becoming the person of confidence and the person responsible for dressing the jewel of the brotherhood, of Seville and of the world, the Golden Rose… is simply incredible.”
The scope and universality of an image like the Macarena are indisputable, which is why its marked style, the imprint that Pepe Garduño gave him a long time ago. The new dresser of the image defends the recognizable way in which the Virgin has been presented to the faithful for so long and will work to achieve excellence with her without leaving that “essence” that characterizes her: “It is very clear that the Macarena is an iconand it is necessary to preserve the proportions and the essence.
Respect the Macareno seal
Gutiérrez humbly clarifies that “if something needs to be improved”, it will be done in this style: “It’s curious to see how each locker room, with the same wickers, brought something and always went a little further. Like Pérez Calvo, who started with this wonderful frown. Everyone brought somethingand I find it very beautiful, but always with respect, because it is iconic. “It happens to her like the Virgin of Rocío, it is unthinkable to see her otherwise.”
“Each locker room brought something, but always with respect. It looks like the Virgin of Rocío, it is unthinkable to see her otherwise.
This will be the premise from which the holding of the Macarena will begin from this Thursday. An outfit in which we will above all keep in mind the sacred and devotional character of the image, since its dresser believes that “images should not be dressed for fashion shows, nor in a spirit of criticism, but for the devotee, because the image is designed for worshipto move. People should see their Virgin when they pray, whether it is one or the other. But with the Virgin of Hope and her whole journey, this is amplified: “You can’t lose her because she is like that. “You always have to look back and have that respect.”
José Carlos Gutiérrez, who is a discreet person, already had the opportunity to meet the waitresses of the Virgin before his first mission. He assures that “the emotion is uncontrollable” and that “I will give myself body and soul”. He is convinced that it will be the Virgin herself who will show him the path to follow, since the brotherhood no guidelines or red lines have been marked at the time of his new locker room job, which begins, neither more nor less, with the celebration of the kiss of hands in the parish of San Gil to commemorate the centenary of the pious act.
The kiss of hands in San Gil
He kiss the hand it will be at the same time litmus test and cover letter for the thousands of faithful who pass for four days in front of the Macarena to pay homage to it. The native of Jerez is not afraid of the major challenge that awaits him, even if he respects it: “It’s an accumulation of feelings: joy, anticipation of the day and respect.” Highlights the role of artistic advisors of the brotherhoodwho “love the Virgin and know her perfectly, and there is great harmony in everything”, which constitutes a “guarantee” for their work and gives them “peace of mind” as well as the confidence placed by the new board of directors: “I hope to be up to the task”.
Gutiérrez also thinks of the one who, for more than a decade, has been the locker room of the titular images of the Macarena brotherhood, José Manuel Lozano. For the disciple of Garduño, whose work has been questioned on several occasions, has only words of praise: “I never spoke to him, but I remember him a lot and I asked for his phone number to send him a message. People don’t know the connection that a wardrobe acquires almost involuntarily with the image by dressing it for so many years. He knows her secrets best. That’s why I remember him a lot and I hope to see him again, because I also know that he is a very good person.
Even aware of the media nature of the Macarena brotherhood and the fact that each of its changes will be scrutinized, the new locker room of the Madrugada corporation wants stay out of controversies and he hopes that the agitation aroused by his appointment will subside, leaving all the room for the Virgin. He also assures that he will carry out his work in silence, away from the spotlight, as he has been doing all this time in his brotherhoods in the neighboring town of Jerez de la Frontera.
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