A few months ago I toured Georgia O’Keffee’s home in Abiquiu. It was a wonderful tour. Those who would like to visit need to pre-register for the tour. Please note that you are not allowed to photograph while on the tour. But I can guarantee that you’ll go home with wonderful memories. Here’s a short video about the famous artist. Enjoy!
Check out these photos that I took at last year’s market. This has to be one of Santa Fe’s most colorful events. Take a bus from downtown to travel to Museum Hill for the Market. Click here to find out more about this year’s market.
The gorgeous hanging flower baskets are back on the Plaza! And on last weekend the big, white plastic tents arrived to mark the beginning of the craft market season in Santa Fe. Last weekend, artists sold a variety items from jewelry to metal sculpture water fountains.
In the weeks to come, we’ll have many more specialty markets and fairs on the Plaza. The big ones to watch your calendars for are: Spanish Market, Indian Market and Folk Art Market.
But even on the weekends when there isn’t a fair or market, do take time to stroll through the Plaza and enjoy the festive baskets of flowers. And during the day there are a few picnic tables, so bring a lunch or buy a treat from one of the Plaza food carts.
If you’re walking along Cathedral Place in Santa Fe, you can’t help but notice the brightly colored posts supporting the portal of The Museum of Contemporary Native American Art.
You can’t miss the burst of color that has been vividly painted by artist Yakita Starr Fields (Cherokee/Creek/Osage). He was born in Oklahoma, but today he lives in New York City and has created large scale works around the country.
He attended the Art Institute of Boston from 2000-2003. And according to sign outside the museum, it was during that time that he became interested in “graffiti aesthetics,” which has continued to influence his work.
To me the work is interesting and like all great art has me wondering about it meanings. I think I will come back and look at up close at the posts a few more times. But right now, I enjoy just seeing the full span of colorful posts.
What do you think about the work?
My friend Rosanna is visiting Santa Fe. She’s an artist and commented how refreshing it is to see all of the colorful clothing in Santa Fe. She notes that when she travels through many of the country’s big cities that everyone is wearing black.
During the afternoon it’s not uncommon to see samples of colorful clothing as you stroll downtown. The photo above shows a selection of dresses at Capricho at 228 Old Santa Fe Trail.
I have to admit that I wear black, but I love wearing colors when I’m in a festive mood. I’m particularly fond of shopping for colorful scarves. These beautiful scarves at Passementrie caught my eye the other day as I walked near the Plaza.
Santa Feans rejoice whenever the Santa Fe River starts running downtown. That’s because for much of the year, we see a dry riverbed. Also, due to previous neglect and drier weather patterns, our beloved river had become a mere trickle meandering through town.
Many years ago, the riverbed literally became a dump where some people discarded their trash. Now, however, community leaders and volunteers have come together to keep the riverbed clean and there’s been a concerted effort to have the river flow for part of the early summer. The city actually releases the water to mimic seasonal flows of long ago. The flowing river then nurtures the native plants along the banks.
Writer Laura Paskus wrote an exceptional piece about efforts to keep the river running and restored. Read her story, “A River Tickles Through It,” from the June 3 issue of the Santa Fe Reporter.
Also, I loved the cover image designed by the Santa Fe Reporter’s art director, Anson Stevens-Bollen.
I’m loving the Santa Fe River. Bring your lunch downtown, find one of the concrete park benches and enjoy!
Experience Santa Fe with Emily 