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Santa Fe’s Spanish Market: An Art Hub

If you got a chance to go to Spain, then while walking through the Plaza in Santa Fe in the season of July Spanish market you will be amongst some lucky ones. The initial greeting of the people there is warm enough to make you feel of the as you are amongst one of them. Small children greet you with a “Hi” filled with enthusiasm coming from an early age. The only shock came with the pleasant 80 degrees.

The very next thing that will capture your senses is the bird carvings. From the entire range the one that caught my attention was a specific one. One fact that will make you spell bound is the fact that all of these sculptures are made by a ten year old and she has been carving since she was only three years of age.

The east coast is the place generally perceived as the heart of the nation in case of the traditional historic from its farm houses from the 1700s but the New Mexico was colonized by Spain in 1598. The 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.

The Square in Santa Fe is all equipped with booths and teeming with visitors and locals. But the art fair inventory will be missing, instead of the inventory you will be able to find the religious iconography going to a different level of the 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. The month of December witness the market returns with a fresh lineup of indoor excitement.

You will find Santos, images of saints, either bultos, carved sculptures painted or unpainted, and retablos, colorful wooden panels representing Christian iconography as the major work of art in there. All these forms are inspired by European culture. On the other hand the New Mexican art form has taken on a distinctive character of its own over the last couple centuries. The other major attractions there are hide paintings, tinwork, furniture, intricate silver jewelry, straw appliqué, pottery and other uniquely regional characterized art forms.

This event is like abliss for any serious art lover. 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.”