lil’ miss puta crosses the border

white sands, new mexico

Fascinating history…various opinions…leaving me yearning for a better understanding…the Mexican Puta doll.

Here’s the brief version, in case you’re short on time.  While in San Miguel de Allende at an antique store within La Fábrica, I came across a fascinating paper mache doll, held together by string with loads of character.  Having loved what I heard about the “history” of the doll, intrigue set in and the quest was on to find a much more affordable version.  So after searching and shopping…in a small boutique within the city center…there she was….miss puta…(aka the bitch doll or whore doll) and back to Arizona she traveled. Her first outing?  To New Mexico for a photo shoot in White Sands National Park.

Ok, here’s the long version.   While visiting San Miguel de Allende a must visit is wandering around La Fábrica La Aurora.  Before its renaissance as an art and design center, the complex was constructed in 1902 as a textile plant manufacturing premium cotton thread and textiles.  Unfortunately for the workers, free trade agreements brought many changes to the textile industry in Mexico and in 1991, after 90 years of operation, the plant closed.  Thank goodness the owners decided to save the historical building and in 2001 the large warehouses were transformed into galleries, design stores and working artist studios.  So while wandering the complex, in one of the many antique stores within, I was introduced to the puta doll.

Ok, so there are many tales of the puta doll.  All kinds of stories…from little girls receiving them in their Easter baskets because of how inexpensive they were…to men receiving them from their wives once they learned of their cheating with another woman.  (The cheaters would come home to a puta doll placed on their pillow providing notification they had been found out.) Another popular legend is that the dolls represented prostitutes and when men would pass by the brothels, a doll in the window would show availability, as well as what the available prostitute looked liked.  So interesting!  (So please, if you know any other versions, please let me know!)

So how did she end up sitting in the glistening white sands of New Mexico?  Well I just returned from an incredible week visiting with friends in Las Cruces and of course White Sands National Park has been on my list to photograph.  So guess who came along?  So there will be more to come on the New Mexico adventure, but first there’s still much more to share from San Miguel de Allende.