SANTA FE, CIRCA 1900 

FROM SMALL VILLAGE TO MAJOR CULTURAL CENTER 

At the turn of the twentieth century, Santa Fe was long on history, but short on comfort and most modern amenities. It was a humble town, the capital of the U.S. Territory of New Mexico for fifty years, governing seat for Spain and Mexico's Nuevo Mexico for 240 years before that, and home to a thriving Native American population for untold prior centuries. By the early 1900s, with the advent of the new century and subsequent statehood in 1912,  Santa Fe again set off on a different course, one that would lead it to grow into one of the major art capitals of the United States.

Kenneth Chapman: "New Mexico Adobe," 1904

In a new book to be released this summer, Stacia Lewandowski, research associate at Zaplin Lampert Gallery, writes about the dramatic change and development that Santa Fe experienced over the first decades of the twentieth century. "Light, Landscape and the Creative Quest: Santa Fe's Early Artists" presents a wide-ranging discussion of Santa Fe's early artist community from 1900 to 1938, covering over 40 artists. The book explores what it was that first brought artists to this isolated Southwestern village and then how they affected the community once they arrived. In an accompanying booklet, "Walking in the Path of the Artists," a series of historically informed walking tours are detailed that guide the reader past many of the artists' homes.  

Ever since 1912, Santa Fe's city leaders have been engaged in a discussion of historic preservation. As a result, the core of the city maintains its historical ambience. With the influx of artists to Santa Fe in the teens, twenties and thirties, many of them found the adobe material and indigenous building designs aesthetically appealing. Eager to join in the movement that sought to perpetuate the local styles, the artists built their homes with the addition of personal touches to reflect their own creative ideas. The handmade quality of adobe construction, with its earthen plaster overlay, was a major attraction that was imaginatively discussed as "livable sculpture," . . . to continue, click here. 

NEW ACQUISITIONS

Gerald Cassidy (1879-1934) Santa Clara Woman, 1923 Oil on canvas 14 x 10 inches

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Ralph D. McLellan (1884-1977) Indian Pottery Vendor, 1921 Oil on canvas 33 x 47 inches

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Leon Gaspard (1882-1964) Mongols on Horseback, 1920 Oil on silk on board 10 1/4 x 13 inches

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Harold Joe Waldrum (1934-2003) Contrafuerte Perdido Acrylic on canvas 36 x 36 inches

To view all of our new acquisitions, click here.

New Mexico History Museum  and the Palace of the Governors.  

Opening Day for Ranch Women of New Mexico - Friday, April 15  

 "Ranch Women of New Mexico" features ten women who have "cowgirled" or owned ranches in New Mexico. The exhibit presents selections from work by photographer Ann Bromberg and writer Sharon Niederman. Through October 30.

Museum of International Folk Art

A Century of Masters: The NEA National Heritage Fellows - ongoing
Exhibit features the New Mexico recipients of this National Endowment for the Arts award, in recognition of their contributions to traditional arts and crafts.

American Buffalo, play by David Mamet

El Museo Cultural - April 14 to May 1

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. Sunday at 2. Ironweed Productions presents David Mamet's Obie Award-winning play, "American Buffalo." It has been called, "American Drama's funniest, most vicious attack on the ethos of Big Business and the price it exacts upon the human soul."

For more information or tickets, call 505-660-2379.

Lensic Gala: 10th Anniversary Celebration Performance, Saturday April 16, 5 p.m.

Gala performance and activities surrounding the 10th anniversary of the Lensic Performing Arts Center, featuring an orchestral performance followed by a dinner at La Fonda Hotel.

Proceeds will go to the Lensic Theatre.

Gary Burton and Chick Corea Duet at the Lensic, Sunday May 1, 7 p.m.

These two jazz masters perform at Lensic Performing Arts Center. For tickets and more information, call 

 For more upcoming local events,  click here.