state of the art
events for all
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visitcanyonroad.com
creativity on Canyon Road
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by Ben Ikenson
hen 17th-century Spanish settlers used burros to haul firewood from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to customers in Santa Fe, they could not have known that the little backwater would become a worldclass destination—thanks largely to the vibrant arts scene that would emerge here. Today the city is home to a large number of accomplished creative talents. Boasting the third largest art market in the nation, Santa Fe ranks among the globe’s major cultural metropolises. This is a remarkable comment on the soul of a town whose population hovers around just 70,000. It is especially evident on a half-mile stretch of road that winds into the shadowy folds of forested mountains, once the route of pioneering Spaniards and their loyal if not overburdened companions. Canyon Road, with its dense assemblage of more than 100 art galleries plus shops, restaurants, and original historic adobe homes, is a draw for locals, tourists, and art collectors from around the world. In this quaint enclave, visitors can enjoy a broad range of work—from contemporary glass, ceramic, and fiber arts to tinwork and Spanish Colonial–inspired wood carvings. They can see impressive works of contemporary abstract painting, sculpture, and photography created by artists from around the globe. Traditional Native American weavings and katsinas, a stunning array of Indian-produced jewelry, modern and historic Pueblo pottery, and other Native arts and antiquities grab everyone’s attention. Visitors can even check out original work by those people who helped solidify Santa Fe’s identity as an art mecca, many of whom lived and worked in the neighborhood. Around the turn of the 20th century, Santa Fe was home to a burgeoning arts scene that included William Penhallow Henderson, realist painters Robert Henri and John French Sloan, and Sheldon Parsons, who lived and painted in a home on Canyon Road until he died in 1943. During the high season from May to October, the Friday night gallery openings are not unlike Hollywood film premiere events. And this storied and picturesque road becomes the subject of its own art in October, when the Canyon Road Paint Out celebrates plein air painters who set up easels outdoors to paint all day. cr r
charles mann
Though Canyon Road is always bustling, the street’s legendary art community comes to life in a big way on certain days each year. Exhibition openings, often celebrated on Friday evenings, are a Canyon Road staple. Many establishments schedule them on the fourth Friday of each month—“Fourth Fridays”—making those nights particularly lively. Galleries open their doors to showcase their newest exhibitions, often with light refreshments and sometimes live entertainment. For a complete gallery opening schedule, visit santafeancalendar.com. During February, the annual ARTfeast festival presents the Edible Art Tour. Visitors and locals can stroll between galleries, enjoying food from local restaurants at each one. Here, guests have a chance to enjoy delicious cuisine while checking out cutting-edge art. Proceeds from this event support arts education programs for Santa Fe’s youth. (artfeast.com) When the weather warms up, head up the road for Passport to the Arts, slated for May 11. The celebration features a quick draw art competition and a live auction, and many galleries and shops host artist receptions, demonstrations, trunk shows, and live music. Passport to the Arts is a fundraiser for the Santa Fe Public Schools music program. (visitcanyonroad.com) Before the winter weather rolls in for the season, enjoy a day of plein air painting with more than 100 artists out on the street during the Canyon Road Paint Out. On October 18–19, the annual event once again includes live music, a parade, art shows, and refreshments along Canyon Road. (visitcanyonroad.com) And the most popular event of the year on Canyon Road might be the Christmas Eve Farolito Walk, held every year on December 24. On this night, the street is lined with glowing farolitos, and thousands of visitors stroll by candlelight. While galleries and shops serve cookies and hot beverages, carolers sing and bonfires are lit to celebrate the magic of this special season.