TAOS - Art Overload, New Mexico
Long an acknowledged art center, Taos reputation for the arts started in 1898 with a visit by Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumneschein, who promptly fell in love with the place. Within a couple of years they were joined by Joseph Sharp, W. Herbert Dunton , Irving Couse and Oscar Birminghaus and these famous “original Taos 6” formed the Taos Society of Artists. Over 110 years later, Taos is home to well over 1,000 artists and stacks of art galleries.
It seems around every corner is another gallery, another sculpture or pottery exhibit. Keep it simple and select a few galleries, add a visit to a historic hotel and a museum and leave the others for another time. Perhaps start a couple of miles north of the main square at Logan Wannamaker’s pottery studio which is right next door to Taos Clay. Grouped within easy walking distance are four galleries on the Paseo de Pueblo Norte - Act I Gallery, Weaving SouthWest and Las Comadres offering an artistic smorgesbord.
Weaving SouthWest is a wonderland of all things fiber and yarn. Started by the doyenne of New Mexico’s weavers, Rachel Brown, back in 1987 and now run by her enthusiastic granddaughter, Teresa Loveless, it‘s breath-taking experience. Don't miss the small and unobtrusive Harwood Museum of Art.
Stay a couple of days to explore the laid-back, friendly town in the enchanting mountains of New Mexico. A good base is the historic La Fonda Hotel. While at the hotel check out the “Forbidden Art” of writer and artist, D.H. Lawrence of Lady Chatterley fame. His art was deemed scandalous back in the day, and would hardly raise an eyebrow now. The colorful Greek immigrant owner of the hotel bought the paintings from Lawrence and they still hang in a private room. The staff give you a detailed and fun fact tour of them on request.
http://taosclay.com
http://actonegallery.com
http://weavingsouthwest.com
http://harwoodmuseum.com
http://www.lascomadresgallery.com
http://www.lafondataos.com
It seems around every corner is another gallery, another sculpture or pottery exhibit. Keep it simple and select a few galleries, add a visit to a historic hotel and a museum and leave the others for another time. Perhaps start a couple of miles north of the main square at Logan Wannamaker’s pottery studio which is right next door to Taos Clay. Grouped within easy walking distance are four galleries on the Paseo de Pueblo Norte - Act I Gallery, Weaving SouthWest and Las Comadres offering an artistic smorgesbord.
Weaving SouthWest is a wonderland of all things fiber and yarn. Started by the doyenne of New Mexico’s weavers, Rachel Brown, back in 1987 and now run by her enthusiastic granddaughter, Teresa Loveless, it‘s breath-taking experience. Don't miss the small and unobtrusive Harwood Museum of Art.
Stay a couple of days to explore the laid-back, friendly town in the enchanting mountains of New Mexico. A good base is the historic La Fonda Hotel. While at the hotel check out the “Forbidden Art” of writer and artist, D.H. Lawrence of Lady Chatterley fame. His art was deemed scandalous back in the day, and would hardly raise an eyebrow now. The colorful Greek immigrant owner of the hotel bought the paintings from Lawrence and they still hang in a private room. The staff give you a detailed and fun fact tour of them on request.
http://taosclay.com
http://actonegallery.com
http://weavingsouthwest.com
http://harwoodmuseum.com
http://www.lascomadresgallery.com
http://www.lafondataos.com