Welcome to the Land of Enchantment!
Santa Fe is the capital city of New Mexico. In fact, it's the oldest capital city in the United States! It has also been the capital of three countries: Spain, Mexico, and the U.S.
Santa Fe is known for a strong art culture. It's actually the third-largest art market in the U.S.! We embraced the art scene by visiting a few museums.
The mission of the Museum of International Folk Art is to shape "a humane world by connecting people through creative expression and artistic traditions".
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| Telephone Wire Art |
This exhibition, "iNgqikithi yokuPhica / Weaving Meanings: Telephone Wire Art from South Africa," conveys the Museum’s mission by showcasing the energy of South African artists who recycled telephone wires. The use of materials that facilitated communication across the world now communicate the diversity and culture of these artists.
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| Telephone Wire Art |
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| Telephone Wire Art |
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| Telephone Wire Art |
Speaking of communication, the people of Vanuatu uses Sandroing to convey folklore, current events, histories, farming techniques, rituals, and other forms of local knowledge and customs.
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| "Bwati iliulin / Collaboration" by Ligo Balango |
The exhibition "Sandroing: Tracing Kastom in Vanuatu" demonstrates a performative and ephemeral storytelling tradition. Narrators illustrate their story on the ground by running their fingertip through sand, volcanic ash, or loose surface soil forming intricate, symbolic patterns.
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| "Ularuvatuva (One World. One Good Life.)" by Edgar Hinge |
"This story is about human connection, our hereditary link to people all over the world, and our shared experiences despite having our own unique forms of kastom (local, traditional knowledge). For example, marriage rituals may differ from place to place, but the underlying desires for companionship, family, and a good life resonate through practices like sharing meals, celebrations of life, and having children."
Santa Fe's identity is shaped by centuries of Indigenous, Hispanic, and Mexican heritage. This is especially reflected in the art, architecture, and history of the New Mexico Museum of Art.
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| New Mexico Museum of Art |
The Museum is an example of the Pueblo Revival style or Santa Fe style, a regional architectural style of the Southwestern United States. It features works by many New Mexican artists, including woodcuts by Gustave Baumann, who made his home in Santa Fe beginning in the early 20th century.
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| "Silver Sky" by Gustave Baumann |
"Silver Sky" is a color woodcut print that Baumann enhanced with aluminum leaf.
This next work is a fresco painted by Will Shuster. Shuster moved to New Mexico in 1920 to improve his health and became friends with the small but growing arts community. He became a member of Los Cinco Pintores ("The Five Painters").
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| "The Voice of the Earth," by Will Shuster |
This fresco (above) was painted in 1934 as part of the Public Works of Art Project, a New Deal program created during the Great Depression to employ artists.
It is one of six frescos which depict Native American traditions and daily activities.
This was my favorite painting at this museum:
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| "Cui Bono?" by Gerald Cassidy |
The title, "Cui Bono?" is a Latin phrase that translates to "Who benefits?" It depicts a life-sized figure of an unidentified Native American man from the Taos Pueblo. Cassidy painted the work around the time New Mexico became a state in 1912, and the title is thought to imply a political question about who would benefit from statehood.
The City of Santa Fe was founded in 1610. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S. it's not surprising to to find some of the oldest structures in the country here.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
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| Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi |
The original adobe church was built in 1610. It was replaced in 1630 by a larger one, which was destroyed by the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680. The expelled Spaniards returned in 1693, but were not able to rebuild the church until 1714. This new church was named in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Santa Fe.
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| Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi interor |
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| Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Altar screen |
The only part of this church still existing is the small adobe chapel dedicated to Our Lady La Conquistadora. Brought from Spain in 1625, the statue is the oldest representation of the Virgin Mary in the United States.
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| Our Lady La Conquistadora |
Outside of the Cathedral is this exquisite sculpture of the First Native American of North America to be Promoted to a Saint, Kateri Tekakwitha:
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| Kateri Tekakwitha |
This museum emphasizes the interpretation of historical and contemporary life of the Indigenous cultures of the Southwest. I particularly enjoyed the exhibition entitled "Here, Now and Always". It tells the stories handed down through generations and then reveals the powerful expression of the living, changing, creative nature of Native American art.
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| Untitled (circa 2000) by Tammy Garcia, Santa Clara Pueblo |
This sculpture incorporates ancient Puebloan motifs with modern influences, and is acknowledged for its unique Neo-Pueblo design.
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| "My Children" (1982) by Allan Houser, Chiricahua Apache |
This bronze sculpture (above), depicting a Native woman with two children wrapped in a blanket, celebrates the Chiricahua Apache identity and the role of women in Apache culture. Its abstract forms express the love and protection that Apache women provide for their families.
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| Dress. ACONAV Brand (2019-2023), designed by Loren Aragon, Acoma Pueblo |
ACONAV Brand is an Indigenous women's fashion line that creates bold and futuristic clothing inspired by the Acoma Pueblo and Navajo heritages of co-founders Loren and Valentina Aragon.
San Miguel Chapel:
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| San Miguel Chapel |
The San Miguel Chapel is the oldest Catholic Church in America. The original church was probably built shortly after the founding of Santa Fe in 1610 and was the first church in the new settlement. It is located at the crossroads of the Old Santa Fe Trail, El Camino Real, and the Old Spanish Trail. The chapel is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel and has served as a place of worship for indigenous Mexicans, Franciscan Missionaries, Spanish Conquistadores, and native Pueblo Indians.
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| San Miguel Chapel interor |
In addition to the lovely churches and incredible art, Santa Fe is famous for its New Mexican cuisine, with a focus on dishes incorporating chile. I tried a Red Chile Hot ♨️ Fudge Sundae -- yum yum! 😋
What a wonderful adventure we've had, but it's time to head home. Thanks for joining us on this journey.
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| Colorful columns in Santa Fe |
