Spanish Art Market - Santa Fe

Santa Fe is well known for its homage to the arts with its museums, studios, opera, theatre and concerts. One of the main Santa Fe art attractions every summer is the Spanish Colonial Art Market, which was held on the last weekend of July 2013. The Spanish Art Market is held at the Santa Fe Plaza, one block west of Saint Francis Cathedral, and along the adjoining streets. It is the largest art sale of its kind in North America. It features over 300 vendors of traditional Spanish colonial art, with an emphasis on Catholic religious iconography. It is an art form that traces its roots back to the Spanish settlers of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado some 300 years ago. Separated by geography, climate and hostile Native American tribes from their Catholic friars and neighbors, the Spanish settlers developed their own, unique religious art to help sustain their Christian faith. The original art was used to decorate their churches and moradas, and was displayed in community processions on particular Catholic religious feast days. Many of these feast days were in honor of Catholic saints, so much of the art work then as well as today falls under the category of santos, images of saints, either bultos, carved sculptures painted or unpainted or retablos, colorful wooden panels of saints. Artisans who do these art pieces are called santeros. Many contemporary santeros were taught their craft by older family members who in turn learned from their santero ancestors. In some families the santero art tradition dates back to the original settlers of the New Mexico territory. In addition to bultos and retablos, other notable art forms that have descended from the Spanish settlers of the New Mexico territory include paintings on buffalo or deer hide, colcha embroidery, straw applique, copper engraved panels, tin carvings, bone carvings, ironwork, hand made furniture and weaving. All of these art forms are on display by vendors at the Spanish Art Market. Indeed at the recent 2013 Spanish Art Market, the Blue Ribbon Best of Show selection was a painting on buffalo hide by Ramon Jose Lopez, entitled "In Un Sueno de Santa Fe, Agosto 1680".  Ramon Lopez's painting painstakingly depicts the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680 which drove the Spanish Conquistadors and Franciscan Friars back to Mexico. The tapestry reveals all the cruelty of war. Upon questioning, Mr. Lopez stated that he wanted to make a piece that would educate people as to what actually happened during the revolt - namely that a real war broke out between the Pueblo tribes and the first Spanish inhabitants of Santa Fe. The  tapestry is made of 4 buffalo hides stitched together with sinew and measures 8 by 16 feet. The paints are all derived from traditional New Mexico pigments. I thought the painting would best be displayed in the Historical Museum of New Mexico or at the Smithsonian but Mr. Lopez suggested that it may find its place hung in a New Mexico Catholic Mission Church. Ramon Jose Lopez's buffalo hide painting was just one of many art works at the Spanish Art Market that captured my attention. It was a delight discussing the art first hand with the various artists. I was impressed that many of the artists felt that their art had enriched their Catholic faith - had increased their reverence of Jesus Christ, Our Lady of Guadalupe and the saints. Catholic pilgrims interested in the rich Catholic culture of New Mexico should plan to visit the Spanish Colonial Art Market on the Plaza in Santa Fe during the last weekend in July each summer. Come and learn about our Southwestern Catholic heritage.