With lights, wood and ceramics, the Colombian-American Javier Sánchez, 52, has dedicated himself to creating a Christmas village in an unusual place every winter.
And it is that for more than a decade, under a skyscraper, in an Upper East Side parking lot, Sánchez has surprised the inhabitants of the complex and all the curious with his creation.
-Javier, what do you want people to understand from this?
“What I want to convey with my villa is that people remember that Christmas is the most beautiful time to be with family, to enjoy unforgettable moments and that we keep this holiday so beautiful. It has a lot of diversity, a lot of people, here is a happy place for everyone, to forget our daily problems,” explained Sánchez.
And if you’re wondering how long it takes to bring his Frosty Village to life… in reality, even he himself loses count because some curves take longer, as well as multiple setbacks such as injuries and a large investment from him and his team. companions . But what he knows is that the smile of his visitors is worth everything.
“When I see a child looking at this village and I see the joy reflected on his face, I see there in that moment that all that I have delayed, all the work he has, coming and going, sometimes including you burning your finger with the rubber you use, which is really worth making and continuing to make year after year,” said Sánchez.
If we talk about complexity, this is one of his most complex works, as it features several “flying Santas”, four moving trains, small illuminated houses, an amusement park, a snowy mountain landscape with a waterfall and a bridge where he and his wife are.
Holiday village.
“It’s the biggest thing I’ve produced on this occasion, on this twelfth anniversary. This has been the most complex villa I’ve done right now, which has more details, more places to meet and admire,” said Sánchez.
Sanchez.
The exhibit is interactive, as it allows children to touch certain items, but this year has a big challenge: they have to find a “sasquatch” or big foot hidden somewhere in the exhibit and if they win they will receive a palette, which makes Happy Sanchez.
“Chances are they will forget about me one day, but they will never forget this beautiful villa, that’s guaranteed.”
