“Umbanda 1” 1988, 28” diameter; European and domestic glass, lead, sandblast etch. Artist's collection
			In 1987, during the course of several visits to Brazil, Spaulding came into contact with Umbanda spiritualist practices. This esoteric religion is a fusion of African spiritual practices, known as Macumba in Brazil, and mid-19th Century European spiritualism. The artist embarked on a series of works inspired by Umbanda. In Umbanda 5, called Exu Curado, the seven mandalas progress from indigenous components to narrative symbolic designs. The interior medallion is an invocation of Exu, entity of the Crossroads, in his manifestation as a healer. This supplication for spiritual intervention, immunization and protection was the artist’s first response to the AIDS epidemic.