It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Santa Fe received its first snowfall a few weeks ago. Right now the snow is only up in the mountains and Ski Basin. But I found a great video slide show that shows what Santa Fe looks like in the winter. Enjoy!
Santa Fe Plaza
Young santeras
Youth artists
Retablos by Ana E
Simona’s Saints
Youth artists are mentored by adults and participate in the Spanish Market. Two young women were eager to show their artwork. Many youth artists sell out on Saturday, the opening day of the market. The prices are reasonable and it’s a great way to support the young artists. Many of the young artists will jury into the adult market when they get older.
Santeros of Spanish Market
The Saints Come Marching In
Santero Nicolas Otero of Los Lunas
Perhaps, one of the most sought after items at Santa Fe’s Spanish Market are representations of saints. When they are painted on boards they are called retablos. When they are carved figures they are known as bultos. When men create the images they are known as santeros. Women are called santeras. I stopped by to chat with several of the well-known santeros. If you get to the last day of the Market, tomorrow on Sunday, July 26 take some time to talk with the artists about their processes. See more of Nicolas Otero’s art.
Santero Carlos Rael of Ranchos de Taos loves to go out searching for the raw materials for his pigments.
Santero Carlos Rael makes retablos and bultos.
Santero Carlos Rael has an eye for color and loves to go hunting for the ingredients of his natural pigments.
The Ranchos de Taos artist says he doesn’t leave home without a shovel and pail.
He has a special place in Questa where he retrieves some of the raw materials for his pigments.
Take some time to visit with this artist to learn more about his dedication to traditional painting methods.
He makes both retablos and bultos.
Santero Ruben Gallegos of Albuquerque
As you peruse the Spanish Market you’ll notice that no two santeros create their art in the same way.
Ruben Gallegos of Albuquerque creates bright, vivid retablos.
He’s also know for his eggshell art and his fine miniature paintings.
There are many more talented santeros and santeras. Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, is one of my favorites. Do you have a favorite?
Spanish Market on the Plaza this weekend
Spanish Market & Contemporary Hispanic Market
This weekend visitors to the Santa Fe Plaza can enjoy both the Traditional Spanish Market and the Contemporary Hispanic Market. It’s more than two art markets. It’s like a small Fiesta on the Plaza. Listen and dance to Spanish music and stop at one of the food booths to enjoy tasty treats.
Let me know if you’ve ever gone to Spanish Market before in the Comments section below.
Here’s a video from The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper of a previous Market weekend to give you a sample of what the markets are like.
Azadeh at Mono Mundo
Middle East Dance Troupe Performance
Azadeh, a dance troupe led by Eliane Allegre that is based in Madrid, New Mexico, was one the many dance troupes that performed this past Sunday at Mono Mundo on the Santa Fe Plaza. Check out this video by Glenn Neff.
Plaza Flowers
Blooming Flowers and Market Tents
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.
Yakita Starr Field’s artwork
Colorful artwork brightens Cathedral Place
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?
Colorful Santa Fe clothing
Color is the new black in City Different
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.
Experience Santa Fe with Emily 