Santa Fe - An Art Lovers Paradise

Santa Fe - An Art Lovers Paradise

I want to tell you about Santa Fe and how it influenced me and my love of art.

For those of you that don't know Santa Fe is in New Mexico in the United States of America. It is the fourth largest city in New Mexico just under 90,000 inhabitants. It's a city that is renowned for its art galleries and installations and is recognised by UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

My wife and I actually visited Santa Fe for a conference some years ago and we were pleasantly surprised. To start with, the neat row of oxygen cylinders surprised me behind the hotel reception as well as the strategically placed signs warning residents not to drink alcohol excessively because of the altitude of the city. The sheer amount of art surprised me around the city. For sure, I knew Santa Fe and its long history of being a destination for its turquoise and silver jewellery, Western paintings, Native American Indian influences, and bronze sculptures which I freely admit I knew nothing about.

As my wife and I explored Santa Fe, especially the Canyon Road area, the abundance of galleries and exhibitions mesmerised us. I hear that there are over 250 galleries throughout the city where there is truly something for all tastes including traditional and contemporary paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture, textiles, and more. The sculptures of children playing in the gallery gardens specifically struck me. They appeared real and as if frozen in time. I loved the historic adobe buildings with their smooth edgings and alien shapes. And the people in those galleries conveyed such a love for the art surrounding them. They took time to explain details about their artists, their techniques, and a lot more. Nobody rushed us and we had unhindered time to take in all that was on offer.

As my wife and I explored Santa Fe, especially the Canyon Road area, the abundance of galleries and exhibitions mesmerised us. I hear that there are over 250 galleries throughout the city where there is truly something for all tastes including traditional and contemporary paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture, textiles, and more. The sculptures of children playing in the gallery gardens specifically struck me. They appeared real and as if frozen in time. I loved the historic adobe buildings with their smooth edgings and alien shapes. And the people in those galleries conveyed such a love for the art surrounding them. They took time to explain details about their artists, their techniques, and a lot more. Nobody rushed us and we had unhindered time to take in all that was on offer.

The scale of art is difficult to put into words. As we walked through the city, everywhere we turned there was turquoise and silver jewellery on offer in abundance or a gallery exhibiting paintings of horses, and another exhibiting paintings of cars, and another of people et cetera et cetera et cetera. These days I hear that there are also art parties go on well into the early hours.

Prior to my visit to Santa Fe I think I want to say that I liked and appreciated some art. When I left Santa Fe, I fell in love with and began to appreciate all art in all its forms. And that love continues to grow and blossom to this day.

If you are an art lover, I would highly recommend a visit to Santa Fe to feed your art hunger. I certainly plan on returning in the not-too-distant future to see what is on offer.

I'm also providing some links below so that you can see how Santa Fe is today:

The ART LOVER’S GUIDE TO SANTA FE

https://www.santafe.org/blog/post/the-art-lovers-guide-to-santa-fe/

The Georgia O’Keefe Museum

https://www.okeeffemuseum.org/

 Galleries and Studios

https://www.santafe.org/things-to-do/visual-arts/galleries-and-studios/

Enjoy,

Paul