 | Santa Fe's Spanish Market Offers Art Enthusiasts a Rare Experience Jan 26, 2012 Santa Fe during the July Spanish Market, I was greeted by a small girl with a big smile. “Hi,” she ... Read More |
 | |
 | Interview with Sex and the Symphony Mario Frangoulis on Life, Music andamp; Philanthropy Jan 18, 2012 Sex and the Symphony of concert halls. However, there is so much more to Frangoulis than what meets the eye. ... Read More |
| |
 | Hand-Carved Carousel to Delight Young and Old at Milhous Auction Jan 13, 2012 Boca Raton, Florida. The auction by RM Auctions is being held in association with Sotheby’s and presents an unprecedented selection of ... Read More |
| |
 | Band-Signed Copy of 1964 'Meet The Beatles' Album to Sell at Auction Dec 09, 2011 ... Read More |
| |
 | Tony Bennett's Nude Sketch of Lady Gaga Up to $6,700 on eBay Auction Dec 13, 2011 Lady Gaga couldn't wear one more crazy, ridiculous, over-the-top outfit, she takes it all off. Gaga posed nude for Tony ... Read More |
| |
 | Marilyn Monroe 3D Images For Sale in Bonhams Auction Dec 01, 2011 Marilyn Monroe photographs have done particularly well at auction. The incredibly photogenic star posed for thousands of shots. An image ... Read More |
| |
 | Miami Art Week | Artists Show the Eclectic, Bold, Gaudy and Brilliant Nov 30, 2011 Miami Art Week is back and it’s bigger, weirder, gaudier and more fascinating than any tabloid or socialite coverage might ... Read More |
| |
 | The Art Prophets | The Artists, Dealers, and Tastemakers Who Shook the Art World Nov 28, 2011 art world. In his latest book, PopArt chronicler Richard Polsky rounds up some of the great visionaries of the art ... Read More |
| |
 | Diva Songstress, Emma Shapplin on Her New Album, Life in Paris andamp; More Nov 24, 2011 Macadam Flower, an album entirely written and composed by Shapplin. One wonderful day in Paris, I had the privilege to ... Read More |
| |
 | Christie's Adds Online-Only Exclusives to The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor Nov 15, 2011 upcoming auctions of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor by Christie’s will feature an online-only portion that will run prior to ... Read More |
| |
 | Bonhams to Auction Rare T. Rex Tooth Nov 14, 2011 Los Angeles on December 11, a dinosaur tooth which was just found this summer will be up for sale. The ... Read More |
| |
 | Reproductions From Bravo's 'Work of Art: The Next Great Artist' Up For Sale Nov 13, 2011 Brooklyn Museum and a $100,000 cash price. In the role of mentor to the young artists is the always charming ... Read More |
| |
 | A Day in Paris With Composer Eric Serra Nov 09, 2011 Paris, I spent a day with Eric Serra curious about his beginning that led him down this path of success, ... Read More |
| |
 | Pop Culture Auction at Christie's Offers Rock 'N' Roll Memorabilia Nov 04, 2011 Two upcoming sales of pop culture memorabilia at Christie’s this month contain some sensational items of celebrity clothing. On November ... Read More |
| |
 | Crazy Horse's Antoine Kruk Illustrates Intimate Experiences Behind the Scenes Oct 31, 2011 It has officially been sixty crazy years since the original Crazy Horse opened in Paris, France. With decades of delightful ... Read More |
| |
 | KULT Studio | Fine Art and Pop Culture in One Oct 30, 2011 art gallery that provides original and limited edition fine art selections that originate from animation, comics, and pop culture. There are ... Read More |
| |
 | William Robinson Leigh Paintings Expected to Net $700K at Auction Oct 21, 2011 Heritage Auctions' Art of the American West Signature Auction have combined pre-auction estimates of $700,000. These painting are from the collection ... Read More |
| |
 | Lauren Bacall's Calder Sculpture Up For Auction Oct 21, 2011 The auction includes 116 lots across a variety of price points including two paintings by Japanese/French painter Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita; ... Read More |
| |
 | Christie's Announces $7.4 Million Sales Week Oct 17, 2011 Auction house Christie’s announced sales for the week of more than $7.4 million. The auctioneer's 19th Century European Art auction brought ... Read More |
| |
 | John Wayne's Estate Auction Fetches $5.38 Million Oct 12, 2011 collectibles this year has amped up sales reported by auction houses in 2011. This year continues to be one for auction-adventure ... Read More |
| |
 | Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz Go to Auction Oct 04, 2011 The Wizard of Oz. The pre-sale estimate of the on-screen worn slippers is between $2 and $3 million. The three-day ... Read More |
| |
 | The Exotic Worlds of Artist Hunt Slonem Sep 28, 2011 The Worlds of Hunt Slonem by Dominique Nahas from Vendome Press is an in-depth, lavishly illustrated look at the oeuvre ... Read More |
| |
 | Scarlett Johansson Naked on Los Angeles Street Corners Sep 27, 2011 Scarlett Johansson were recently leaked on the Internet, and now those same photos are popping up all over Hollywood. Appearing ... Read More |
| |
 | Corinne Day's Iconic Kate Moss Portrait to be Sold at Bonhams London Sep 27, 2011 Just over a year after the untimely death of British fashion photographer Corinne Day, who discovered Kate Moss in 1990, ... Read More |
| |
 | Assia Ahhatt Making U.S. Debut with Grammy Award Winner Chris Botti Sep 23, 2011 "These concerts for me are the first experience of performing in front of American public and I'm excitedly looking forward ... Read More |
| |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
Walking through the Plaza in Santa Fe during the July Spanish Market, I was greeted by a small girl with a big smile. “Hi,” she said with a big toothy grin. "Hi there," I mirrored her enthusiasm. I had just met Marissa Chavez, aged 10. I thought she was helping her mother who stood in the background. But then wasn’t I in the youth section of the market? The sun shone and it was a very pleasant 80 degrees. I dreaded going back to 100 plus degree temperatures at home.  I took another look at the bird carvings in front of the small, friendly girl. They were excellent. I examined them more closely and was drawn to one particular sculpture. Soon, I was asking a lot of questions. Marissa, very businesslike, was telling me she was ten years old and that she had been carving since she was three! This child prodigy seemed so extraordinary in our current American culture, where tradition is so rarely passed down; but then I was in New Mexico, not just anywhere.
We think of the East Coast as the heart of our nation’s rich historical tradition, with its farm houses dating back to the 1700s, but the reality is New Mexico was colonized by Spain in 1598. And that rich historic perspective is being continued in part by such events as the Spanish Market which is a function of the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, founded in 1925 by writer Mary Austin and artist/writer Frank G. Applegate. Its purpose was to preserve and perpetuate the Hispano art forms that have been produced in New Mexico and Southern Colorado since Spanish Colonial times.  Each summer, the Square in Santa Fe is filled with booths and teeming with visitors and locals. But you won’t see the regular art fair inventory here. Instead you will see religious iconography taken to the level of Smithsonian collectability. There are over 200 local artists as well as continuous live music and art demonstrations. The youth exhibition is an important part of the festival including 100 outstanding emerging artists. Come December, the market returns with a fresh lineup of indoor excitement. 
Many of the works fall under the category of Santos, images of saints, either bultos, carved sculptures painted or unpainted, and retablos, colorful wooden panels representing Christian iconography. While the works are highly influenced by European culture, the New Mexican art form has taken on a distinctive character of its own over the last couple centuries. You will also see hide paintings, tinwork, furniture, intricate silver jewelry, straw appliqué, pottery and other uniquely regional characterized art forms.
I recommend this event to any serious follower of the arts. While it is rare these days to find any affordable art in Santa Fe, this particular festival with its plethora of vendors is a time when you just might find a “deal.” And you will certainly get the opportunity to hobnob with some serious talent and visit with the artists first hand. Go to SpanishColonialBlog.org to learn more. See more upcoming Arts & Culture Events |
|
||||||
Red Butler provides personal assistant and concierge services. Utilize our concierge and personal assistant services to enhance your lifestyle and save you time. Red Butler also offers Corporate Concierge services which can be integrated into any business environment. Our Corporate Concierge services enable companies to utilize our concierge services and program features to offer their clients exceptional virtual assistant and concierge access. Regardless of whether you are interested in our Personal Assistant and Concierge Services, or are looking to integrate our Corporate Concierge, Hotel Concierge or Residential concierge programs, Red Butler is here to be of service.
