Rosh Hashanah began last night, with the new moon.

Translated from the Hebrew to “head of the year,” the  biblical name for the Jewish New Year is Yom Teruah, literally “day of shouting or blasting”. It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, given by Moses in the book of Leviticus, that occur in the early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere. For an autumnal festival it is; replete with all the bounty of the Harvest. But it is much more than that.

Jews around the world, of every creed, gather at family dinners to celebrate the good things they have experienced in the previous year, and also to reflect on hopes and dreams for the coming year. But Rosh Hashanah is not only a  festive holiday; it is also a sobering and solemn time, a prelude to Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment, and the Holiest day of the Jewish Year.

One a year, on that day, only a Kohen (a Jewish High Priest descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses), could enter the Holy of Holies, the Sanctuary in the Temple in Jerusalem, to light incense and attend to other rituals surrounding the mysterious Ark of the Covenant. 

Rosh Hashanah inaugurates these Days of Awe, ten days during which Jews reflect on their conduct, make amends for past wrongs, and set intentions to do better in the coming year.

In a world where instant reflection comes in the form of tweets, Facebook or Instagram posts, the idea of carving out time to think about your life and plan for the future is not topping the list for most people. Lives move so fast, we barely have time to catch our breath, let alone reflect and contemplate.

This morning I received an email from Marianne Williamson’s Campaign. In it she writes: Religious holidays reflect universal themes found in all the great spiritual traditions. The Days of Awe are a meaningful concept for everyone. They are especially powerful and resonant for Americans now, reminding us to reflect on the deepest truths about our country, reconcile with the God of our understanding, and prepare ourselves for new beginnings.

Americans need to reflect deeply these days, about who we are as a nation and the larger purpose of a free society. We need to think about how we were created, where we’ve gotten it right as a country, where we’ve gotten it wrong, and our responsibility to right what is wrong and pave the way to a better future. We need a spirit of national atonement, in which we reconcile with our deepest principles.

I could not have said it better.  And so I decided to write today about the symbols of Rosh Hashanah — shofar, apples and honey, round challah with raisins, fish heads and pomegranates — and reflect on how these relate to the different layers of these Days of Awe.

On Rosh Hashanah, Jews blow a shofar, a ram’s horn, to announce the new year. Although the shofar is blown at other times (including at the end of the fast on Yom Kippur), and was blown much more regularly in antiquity, the image is now closely tied to Rosh Hashanah. The shofar is blown in the synagogue during the holiday.

Ashkenazi Jews  dip apples in honey on Rosh Hashanah as they wish for a sweet New Year. The practice probably dates to medieval France, as this was a time when the apples in that region were particularly sweet. Apples and honey are also one of the most universally recognizable symbols of Rosh Hashanah. Traditionally, European Jews bake their challahs (braided bread),  for Rosh Hashanah in a round shape to represent the circularity of the calendar. They are studded with raisins for a sweet new year.

Pomegranates are also universally associated with Rosh Hashanah. There is a custom of eating a new fruit (or, at least, a fruit one has not tasted in a long time) on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, and often that fruit is pomegranate, which has a short season. The pomegranate is also a symbol of Rosh Hashanah because the abundance of seeds can represent prosperity or a desire to perform many mitzvahs (good deeds) in the coming year.

Jews of Mizrahi and Sephardic descent often hold Rosh Hashanah seders and eat a large array of symbolic foods, including pumpkins, leeks, beets, and a fish head. In fact, when it comes to Rosh Hashanah, families of Sephardic and Mizrahi origin — like some of mine— have a secret to share with the rest of the Ashkenazi Jewish world: a New Year far beyond apples dipped in honey! Of special interest I suspect for the Crypto Jews among us. 

On the first night of the holiday, a special ceremony is held at home during which blessings are recited over a variety of foods that symbolize wishes for the year ahead. The blessings in this ritual all ask for divine gifts of bounty, strength, and peace. The ritual has come to be known as a seder (order) because the blessings are recited in a specific order, but Ironically, and typical of Jewish nature, that order varies according to custom and community.

The origins of the ritual dates back to the Babylonian Talmud  where the scholar, Abaye discusses omens that carry significance, and suggests that at the beginning of each new year, people should make a habit of eating the following foods that grew in profusion (around the Mediterranean), and so symbolize prosperity: pumpkin, a bean-like vegetable called rubia, leeks, beets, and dates.

Although it’s difficult to trace how the ceremony evolved from that Talmudic mention to its current form, it is told that when another Babylonian scholar Hai Gaon (939-1039) left the synagogue on Rosh Hashanah , his students would bring him a basket filled with different fruits over which he recited various blessings and biblical verses.  The Baghdadi rabbi Hakham Yosef Hayyim (1832-1909) mentions the ceremony in his compilation of Jewish law and practice.

The dining table has long served as the altar of Jewish life. After the destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem, where the Al Aqsa Mosque now stands, Jews were forbidden (by the rabbis in the Galilee and at the Babylonian academies), to make sacrifices “until the Messiah came and returned them to Zion,” and  food remained part of religious ritual, albeit at the dining table.

Like the Passover seder, where foods like bitter herbs and matzoh symbolize suffering and freedom, at the Rosh Hashanah seder the foods we eat also become vessels for deeper meaning; each food symbolizes a wish for the coming year, and before each food is eaten, there is a special blessing to recite. With each blessing, the mundane aspect of food is elevated with a sense of holiness, nostalgia and a good measure of humor.

Like other Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jews, my shopping list for this season resembles Abaye’s list in the Talmud; juicy, red-skinned pomegranates, sticky-sweet dates, pumpkins, leeks, scallions or chives, green beans, spinach; and crisp apples and beets of course with the greens. Carrots too. If you are a North African/ Moroccan or Yemenite Jew, carrot salad will be on the menu.

The seder traditionally begins with a series of biblical verses invoking physical and spiritual blessings. They are repeated a prescribed number of times for mystical reasons. In Sephardic tradition the verses are followed by a piyyut, a religious poem, written by Abraham Hazzan Girondi in 13th-century Spain. Each verse of the poem has a chorus that declares, Tikhleh shanah ve-killeloteha! Let the year end with all its curses! The last line reflects a change in tone: Tahel shanah u-virkhoteha! Let the new year begin with all its blessings!

Then, after breaking bread, come the blessings over the other food. The seder originally called for a fish or sheep’s head to symbolize our wish to be heads, not tails; leaders, not followers. The sheep’s head (the brains were removed and cooked) also served as a reminder of the ram that saved Isaac’s life; we recite the story of the binding of Isaac on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. 

The seder ends with the Grace After Meals, with its acknowledgment of God as the source of all food.

My ancestors left Sepharad (Spain and Portugal), and Babylonia centuries ago, but Sepharad and the lands of the Levant never left them. Our lives were infused with their sumptuous tastes and smells, with the music, culture, social norms and  memory of its glorious golden age. It was simultaneously remote and intimately close, both exotic and familiar.

Who could have anticipated that the lands from which my ancestors came would become known around the world as places of utter misery and fear? From Babylon to Gaza and beyond, decades of relentless violence, of terrorism and war, have created a humanitarian nightmare and the single largest refugee crisis in the world. Smuggled in boats, hidden in the boots of cars, or even walking hundreds of miles to safety, more people than ever before are desperately seeking to rebuild a life somewhere, anywhere their children will have a future.

For Jews everywhere the images of refugees hit painfully close to home. They are haunting reminders of the hardships that many of our own families endured while seeking freedom from tyranny. Here in America, Jews have in a few short generations, risen to the very top of society but most remember the stories of how they got here. But it is more than just human determination and resilience that defines our journeys through two Diasporas; it is also the opportunities available in the country or countries along the way. 

If the United States had not welcomed them, where would our families be today? The opportunity to live free from religious persecution enabled them to not simply survive, but to flourish and become part of the remarkable diversity of this country. The Jewish experience bears witness to the importance of nations keeping their doors open to refugees. Just a few generations after my own family was welcomed into this country, America is  busy building walls and bolting the doors to those who seek safety, asylum and the opportunity for a new life.

As this new year progresses, will we remember the plight of contemporary refugees desperately knocking at the door as we ask God to open the heavenly gates to our prayers? 

The wish for God’s good will and favor extends into the Sephardic High Holiday poem (piyyut), by Judah Samuel Abbas (13th-century Spain) called Et Sha’arei Ratzon (Gates of Favor.) This poem is a dramatic and emotional re-telling of the story of the binding of Isaac. May this beautiful  poem awaken in us a resolve to take action on the behalf of refugees fleeing war torn countries everywhere. The need for global leadership is dire, but with winter fast approaching and with far too many refugees stranded in precarious situations, we can’t wait for leaders to affect change, it’s up to each of us to do more.

So after we light our candles, as we gather around the table with family and friends, raising our glasses (the wine, I almost forgot the wine!) and toasting to a sweet New Year, let us reflect on the flickering candlelight, and remember that just one candle banishes the darkness.

As Marianne Williamson notes in her missive today: Americans need to reflect deeply these days, about who we are as a nation and the larger purpose of a free society.

Tahel shanah u’virkhoteha! L’ Shana Tova! Let the new year begin with all its blessings

You can listen to Et Sha’arei Ratzon” (“As the Gates of Favor Open”) if you visit Congregation Shearith Israel’s (America’s first Sephardic congregation), site linked below.

et shaarei ratzon

For more information (and for the specific blessings), on the Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Seder visit Chabad.org linked below

Seder

All images Stock Files

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The October issue is on the stands!

With a brand new format – a convenient keeper size – but still filled cover to cover with all you need to know about what’s going on up here in Northern New Mexico this month.

Editor Cullen Curtiss invites us to “ take our advice on autumn road trip ideas, hikes to new tasty heights and lines to tasty food trucks, and take renowned photographer Charles Mann’s advice about how to successfully capture Balloon Fiesta. Plus, welcome changes to neighborhoods Nob Hill in ABQ and the Railyard in Santa Fe.”

Not to mention a couple of seriously cool things to do aqui en Taos! Including the Stakeout’s fab events and Anais Rumfelt’s upcoming show at MoMo!

THE ART OF SEEING through the lens with noted photographer Charles Mann at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

FLYING STAR CAFE COMES FULL CIRCLE. The Bernsteins of Flying Star Cafe once again lead the way on Nob Hill in Albuquerque.

STILL HUNGRY FOR FOOD TRUCKS. Fabulous food trucks changing the landscape of ABQ’s food scene, including The Supper Truck, Oni Noodles, and Punchy’s Wood Fired Pizza.

TAKE THE PATH LESS TRAVELED TO TEN 3. The Abruzzo family reaches breathtaking heights at Ten 3.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. The New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) comes to the Santa Fe Railyard, and co-founder (with Cindy Montoya) Catherine Oppenheimer says, “Now with this physical plant, this will be New Mexico’s school.”

A WONDROUS WETLAND. Spend an afternoon at the marvelous marsh in Las Golondrinas off of I-25 named after naturalist Leonora Curtin.

MANZANO MOUNTAIN RETREAT & APPLE RANCH. Make it your new fall pilgrimage to gather astonishingly delicious apples at Manzano’s Apple Ranch.

THE ROAD TO DIXON. Writer and longtime Dixon inhabitant Stanley Crawford gathers tales about fellow townspeople’s meandering paths to Dixon, as the community celebrates its 38th annual Dixon Studio Tour.

TOP TIX. What would we do without Top Tix columnist Stephanie Hainsfurther’s tips on the hottest performing arts tix in town, including vocal percussionist Nicole Paris with Sweet Potato Kicks the Sun: An Opera for All Voices.

ON THE ROAD. Author of Exploring New Mexico, Sharon Niederman is back this month with more road trip recommendations for your summer adventures, including a visit to Wagner Farms and the 6th Annual Apple & Pumpkin Fest, Oct. 12 and 13.

ART BEAT. Writer Mia Rose Poris’ picks for your October gallery-hopping, including a trip to MoMo Taos, where you can meet artist Anaïs Rumfelt, whose piece above is called The Depths.

CHEF’S BUZZ. Writer Lynn Cline delivers her monthly round-up of foodie highlights, including the great news that the Stakeout is back with Chef Antoine Balourdet in the kitchen.

Pick up a copy of the new issue of Local Flavor at more than 500 locations statewide, including Cid’s here in Taos, and do visit their great online site linked below!

localflavor

All images thanks to Local Flavor

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Lawrence J. Herrera was born and raised in Oakland, California.

One of six boys, he grew up with resourceful and creative parents; immigrants from Spain and Portugal. He recalls a happy childhood, filled with family and friends.

“And then my parents took in two more boys (who lost their parents), ” he told me when we met at the Stables last week, where three of his prints hang in the current show. “They thought, we already have six, what’s two more?” 

He began drawing as a small boy and his talent was recognized early by a teacher who proved to be a true angel in his life. The day we met, Herrera was enjoying a visit by three old friends and their wives. The men had all known one another since they were boys, growing up in the same Oakland neighborhood, where they had met in that same teacher’s art class.

Through his teaching skill, mentorship and encouragement, Herrera and his friends went on to study with him at the College of Arts & Crafts, and later he was awarded the William Rice Scholarship for Summer Study 1957-59 (via the same teacher), and continued on to the Academy of Art in San Francisco where he was awarded a full scholarship from 1962-64. In an almost implausible twist of fate, the teacher followed suit!

The unlikely luck of having the ongoing guidance of a mentor throughout one’s youth is extraordinary, and Herrera doesn’t take it lightly. He remembers growing up in the Bay Area during the 60’s hippie heyday of love ins and sit ins and bad trips. Seeing all that spinning around him, with his teacher’s constant presence, urging him to see more, to look at things differently, enabled him to keep his head down and focused on his art.

After marrying and divorcing, and living all around the Bay Area, the Southwest beckoned.

“I read Frank Waters’ Book of the Hopi,” he smiles at the memory, “and began travelling to Hopi land.” I asked him which Mesa? “Second,” he responded before telling me a story.

“When I first went, I noticed a man walking along the side of the road and asked if I could give him a lift.” He laughed, “ he said yes and told me I could drop him off at his son’s house.”

“Forty miles later we were still driving.” He said. “But he and his wife remained close to me until they died.” He paused. “I would go there often, and eventually I found my way here.”

Since 1991, Herrera has lived and worked in Taos. “I got here and bought a house sight unseen!” He said laughing. “I loved it here right away.”

Since then Herrera has been an important member of the Taos Art community; he was  involved in The Taos Society of Portrait Artists from its inception after being founded in 2000 by Seamus Berkeley. The TSPA  met every Saturday for three-hour sessions in various studios and museums from The Millicent Rogers to Nicolai Fechin’s house. Outdoors in private gardens and public places, the venue never mattered.

“We’d hire a model and go to work.” He told me. “Or we’d just paint one another.”

Their illustrious list of past and present participants — “some of us still meet,” — include (but are not limited to), the talented and renowned Taos artists Seamus Berkeley, Tom Rogers, Kristine McAllister, George Chacon,, Ron Barsano, Nancy Delpero, Dwarka Bonner (Herrera’s long time partner), and Randall LaGro. The artists often took turns as models and the portraits in Herrera’s upcoming show at Magpie, opening this weekend, feature several familiar faces.

The diverse array of characters in this group makes one wonder why they needed models at all?

“I still participate in figure drawing groups,” Herrera explained as we sat talking. I wondered out loud what drew him to continue making figurative work at a time when it seems to have waned in popularity? I had noted that even within the abstractions in the prints he was showing at the Stables, the human figure emerged; one of the pieces is a portrait, in profile, almost iconic surrounded by a halo.

“A happy accident,” Herrera smiled. “ That’s the magic of printing, but yes “I love the human figure,” he said. “I love people!” He laughed. “So I always make figurative work.” Herrera, who taught Figure Drawing at UNM from 2002 – 2005, still uses their presses to make his work, although he does have a small press at home. “It’s much easier to use that space,” he explained, “ I can make more (and bigger) work.”

After a scary bout with cancer, Herrera is in complete remission, and looked great that day and seemed to have more energy than most people half his age. He appears much younger than his years, and when we were joined by two of the three boyhood friends as our conversation drew to a close, I noticed how young they all seemed and looked. All of them have lived full and meaningful, creative lives, yet none but Herrera threw themselves into the life of an artist.

One is in advertising, another is a cabinetry maker (“extraordinary work”, Herrera told me), and they love visiting their old friend “Larry”, in Taos. “He was always the best artist among us,” one said. “You weren’t so bad yourself!” Herrera retorted. They walked over to have a last look at his prints hanging in the show. “He was definitely the best,” I heard one comment quietly.

Herrera has long participated in group shows including Taos Invites Taos, Taos Fall Arts, Artes Descartes, UNM Taos shows and Pressing On since their inception. Other notable exhibits in the past 20 years include a show of large paintings at UNM’s Harwood offices, a retrospective solo exhibit at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, exhibits at Fremont Gallery in Pasadena, Rod Hubble Gallery in Santa Fe, Sage Fine Art, and Hensley Gallery Southwest. 

He is delighted to be having a one man show here in Taos. His artist’s statement for the show is such a perfect conveyance of his decidedly, painterly approach to his work, I thought it well worth including: Detailed observation is required to convey not only the visage but also the character of the subject of a portrait. The ability to analyze the very subtle variations that define a face, as well as the translation of those features onto a canvas and subsequent need for corrections, adjustments, is a gift which is developed through practice and repetition. Decades of figure drawing and portrait painting have provided me the opportunity to hone these skills, a challenge which I love.

Lawrence J. Herrera at Magpie is the final show of the gallery’s season, and opens this Saturday October 5th, with a reception for the artist from 5-7pm. 

For more information please visit the sites linked below.

magpietaos

magpie/facebook

Photographs of Lawrence J. Herrera thanks to Dwarka Bonner (who also made all the arrangements for our meeting and interview.)

Other images thanks to Georgia Gersh.

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Happy Birthday to Taos Blue and Sue Westbrook!

This month they both celebrate birthdays and 30 years on the corner of Bent Street. Since first opening her doors in just a tiny corner of what once was Taos Society of Artist’s founder, Bert Phillips’ home and studio, Sue has steadily acquired more and more space, while establishing her gallery as a must visit, destination spot in Taos.

Filled with American made treasures, Sue sources the very best artists and artisans from the region and beyond. And Jarret West is no exception. “I’m delighted to add Jarrett West to the artists I show at Taos Blue,” Sue told me. “I just bought two stunning outdoor sculptures for our garden,” she continued, “ as well as some fabulous ceramics for the gallery.”

Jarrett West was born in Santa Fe but his childhood years were spent on a cattle ranch in Eastern Wyoming and on a farm in Teton Vally, Idaho. After discovering an interest in ceramics during high school, he moved back to Santa Fe and began a series of apprenticeships with renowned ceramicists Mary Ann Gerber, Peter Dougan, and Robert Brodsky that would span a decade.

During this period of study and apprenticeship, he began to design and build numerous homes and studios working in adobe, straw-bale and stone, hence the desire to combine the knowledge of ceramics with the practice of building structure, which has led to his interest in large sculpture with some pieces soaring to ten feet in height. Sue’s purchase of two of these intriguing and abstracted forms are sure to add a whole new energy to the little courtyard garden in front of Taos Blue.

The (small) and practical pieces shown here, are created with a stoneware clay body fired to 2,192° F., and the glazes, formulated in the studio, are both food and microwave safe. All West’s work is one-of-a-kind with the original maker’s mark stamped into the clay. His sculpture will hopefully be installed in time for Sue’s Taos Blue 30 Year Anniversary Celebration in the garden this weekend.

On Friday there will be an Artist Reception for painter Bruce Barnes from 4-6pm. Barnes began painting very late in life, and his charming, whimsical and naive works, are much sought after by collectors these days.

On Friday too, Sue will host a Trunk Show at the gallery (get a head start on your Holiday shopping), with Art in the garden, running through  Sat. Oct. 5 with Callie Long and Karen Wilkinson in the garden. The Trunk Show will happen from 10-5.

There’s something wonderful on the corner of Bent street and the Paseo,  just look for the (Taos) blue door with Corn Maiden beside it.

For more information on Taos Blue and all of the above, please visit the site linked below.

taosblue

For more on Taos Blue Doors go here: bluedoors

All images thanks to Taos Blue

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The Taos Wool Festival Celebrates its 36th year!

A destination spot for weavers, knitters and all wooly lovers from near and far, who know that it is one of the best kept Autumnal secret for miles around. 

After the San Geronimo Feast Day at Taos Pueblo, we can always count on the season to change. The trees turned color seemingly overnight and the air is filled during the early mornings, with the scent of pinon and cedar.

Think gorgeous Indian Summer days – though it can be rainy so bring rain gear –  the scenic, driving routes into town from all directions, will dazzle you with spectacular fall color – just a great time of year to be here, and with everything else going on around town, and just across the street, all weekend, it promises to be a lot of fun!

Sheep, alpacas, goats, llamas, yaks and even baby bison and rabbits along with any other creature that produces the wools are often on display at the Taos Wool Festival. In fact anything that produces fiber essentially fits the bill, and with the animals at the event, basically you get to see who wore it first.

You will also see the best in hand spinning, wool and fleece, and many finished products, from hats and gloves to shawls, sweaters and even coats, featuring some of the best artisans in the region.

This year’s festival includes:

• A regional wool market featuring Juried Artists, Crafters and Vendors offering their wool, fiber, yarns,fiber arts-related tools and equipment as well as finished items and other artistic, fiber creations.
• Fiber Critter Corner that includes live sheep, alpacas, goats, angora rabbits, and more.
• Demonstrations of spinning, dyeing, shearing sheep and many other fiber related skills.
• Juried Shows for handspun yarn, hand dyeing, fleeces (wool and alpaca), and finished garments and home accessories.
• Silent Auction Saturday Oct. 5th, featuring many unique donated items.
• Hands-On Activities for kids of all ages.

And, of course, there’s the food. Vendors will feature  a variety of beverages, snacks, lunch items and other delicious choices including goat cheeses and regional lamb. Top it all off with a festive, musical atmosphere that is fun for the whole family.

The Wool Festival will be in Kit Carson Park in Taos on Saturday and Sunday, October 5th & 6th

9:00-5:00 on Saturday

9:00-4:00 on Sunday

And did I mention it’s free?

For more information and the full schedule, please visit their site below

taoswoolfestival

All images stock files

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“Let’s make media that matters!”

Peter Walker likes to say. The current Chair of UNM-Taos’ Digital Media Arts Program, Peter has brought this Department up front and center at UNM-Taos’ Campus. 

The program leads to an Associate Degree here in Taos, and its curriculum certainly prepares students for their Bachelor Degrees and beyond! The Department’s relationship with Media giant, Canon, certainly doesn’t hurt either. In fact just a week or so ago, Canon’s Matthew Carman was back in Taos teaching a weekend workshop to Peter’s students.

If you have been following my DMA posts, you are aware of the ambitious project Peter and his students are currently engaged in. Rio Grande Serenade has taken the better part of a year to complete, but their goal – to enter it at Film Festivals including Telluride – is in sight!

I’ve been meeting with Peter along the way, getting updated by him on the documentary’s progress, so i was quite unprepared when I popped by UNM-Taos DMA in-town Hub and studio recently, to find Blaise Basara there.

Another incredibly talented person in the field of film making, Blaise is a highly accomplished editor – with a long history in Taos, and after my initial surprise at finding him there, it made perfect sense that Peter had pulled him in to work on editing the footage that he and his students had shot.

Having worked with Blaise in the past on a project of my own (Finding Kinky, a documentary about Kinky Friedman’s run for Governor of Texas), and aware of his expertise, I was inspired to do a post on both of them, and instead of writing a long-winded back story, I figured I’d cut straight to the chase, and dive right in with a few questions for each.

Q) So you two unusual characters have spent more time here than most – are jet setting world travelers, adventurers, explorers – a couple of exceedingly accomplished gentlemen – what (besides the obvious – kids, families), keeps you coming back to Taos?

Peter Walker: Taos is my home. I was born here and the cool mornings, deep blue skies, rivers and mountains are like my baby blanket. My family lives here. My friends live here.  I also am super grateful to be a life-long student of a Japanese Martial Art called Aikido and my dedicated Sensei, Craig Dunn has been running the Taos Kihon Dojo here since the 1980’s. Over the years, I’ve realized that as long as I can get one good international trip per year, Taos is the place that sings to my heart and soul. 

Blaise Basara: I don’t really have a good answer for this question since I still wonder myself why I keep coming back? But overall it’s the healthy environment, away from the stress and negative impact that all of these metropoli have on our psyche and well-being. I find that silence and serenity is crucial in my life; I still marvel, each morning when I first open my eyes, at the complete lack of noise pollution and delicious stillness, and I am thankful for each day in this appeasing atmosphere that helps me be appreciative of the privilege existence that I lead.

Taos’s great variety of converging artistic and creative energies continue to fuel the unique cultural fabric that has animated this community for decades and continues to do so today; it inspires innovation and motivates artists to push the envelope in their respective disciplines. We have a great freedom of expression that so few have around the world; Taos cultivates this liberty and gives a voice to whomever wants to speak.

The mostly progressive nature and “tempered” social codes of this community is also a heaven in a world that continues to polarize and push people to ideological extremes, furthering the divide between castes, gender, color, economics, politics etc… Taos provides shelter from the capitalistic, greed driven, mercantilist main stream America that is so repulsive to so many of us. 

Q) Can you each briefly tell my readers a bit about your backgrounds in film. video and editing?

PW:When I was a young boy in Arroyo Hondo and later near Arroyo Seco my Dad used to set up his 35 millimeter slide projector and cast his images on our wall. It was like magic to me. He showed us black and white images from his time in the Army in Germany. On Saturday nights we would pile into the back of the pickup truck with blankets and head to the drive up movie theater where the Walmart is today. We saw Watership Down, Star Wars and Bladerunner. Pure magic! Me and my friends would be electrified by the images, sounds from the metal speakers and the super intense stories on the massive screen in front of us. Stars overhead. 

Fast forward to high school and my Spanish teacher assigned us a group project. My friends and I decided to make a Spanish Horror movie. 

Our Spanish was pretty bad and so was the short film but I was hooked! Hooked on the creative process of coming up with ideas and the adrenaline of creating your own images and story. Later in College at the University of Oregon I got a video camera and filmed every trip I went on. Snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor, a Y2K trip with an RV full of friends to Mexico, and would then stay up all night editing something ridiculous using two VCR’s. Eventually I realized that it was possible to edit on a computer! Mind-blown. Buying ram after ram and a 80 gig hard drive I was able to troubleshoot my way through the production of a silly independent film called the Evil Phone Company. Keeping my love for drive-up-movies alive me and my friends hosted a backyard screening party. I was hooked again. 

My first paid project was at the tail end of a 6,000 mile motorcycle ride to the Yucatan of Mexico with my partner at the time and I got hired to shoot a promo video for a Eco-Resort in the Sian-Kaan Peninsula. 

Years later I decided I wanted a more formal education in filmmaking so I bought a one way ticket to the Asian Academy of Film and Television in New Delhi India. https://aaft.com The Bollywood movies blew my mind with their song and dance sequences and cooled me down for those three hours of air-conditioned bliss. I made a short action film called “the Great Rickshaw Race” for my final student project and was grateful nobody crashed during the filming of it. 

I met some fellow student filmmakers who worked for the Bhutan Broadcasting Service and after our Directors course they invited me up to the Himalayas. It was a much-needed reprieve from the stinky heat of New Delhi. They picked me up from the airport in their 1972 Toyota Landcruiser and said, “We’re heading into the mountains to do a documentary about Bhutan’s transition to Democracy”. Gear on horses, up the mountain trail we went. Leeches and all.

Again I was hooked. Storytelling was dirty, sweaty, full of challenges but way too fun!

After this trip, I flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I managed to get hired by a wealthy Malaysian who wanted to shoot pilots for television shows starting with his wife’s cooking show. After that idea totally bombed, I somehow was in the right place at the right time to get hired for two years of behind the scenes for the Arabic World Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur where they brought pop stars from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon to spread peace through music This led to work on a video series covering the finalists for a Responsible Tourism award by Wild Asia where we travelled to Bali, the Palawan Islands, the Indian Himalayas, and the Andaman Sea of Thailand. We covered the story of a small Muslim fishing village that was totally crushed by the Tsunami of 2004. Most of the men were killed by huge waves while out fishing and the waves decimated the school that was yards from the beach. The stories of resilience and courageous villagers amidst such hardship had a profound impact on my life outlook. The power of filmmaking and storytelling in culturally rich places had hooked me again!

After three years doing freelance media projects in South East Asia I was ready to get back to the mountains, the change of seasons and my friends and family. 

BB: I started my career in Paris, France in TV and Documentary production in the mid 90’s. I then started my editorial career in Los Angeles California while under contract for two major post production advertising houses for which I cut trailers and promotional material for marketing of feature films; I worked on such acclaimed productions as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Godzilla”, “Once Upon a Time in China”, “Lock, Stock and “Two Smoking Barrels” and many other high-profile productions. 

My interests have always resided in documentary film making and was able to land my first feature documentary as an editor during my first stint in L.A., “Operation Thunderbolt” which told the story of the 1976 hijacking of an Air France jet liner from Jerusalem and diverted to the Ugandan city of Entebbe. Notable interviews from Benjamin Netanyahu(current Israeli Prime Minister, hopefully not for long), Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon. I am also credited as an editor on the feature documentary “Let the Record Show” which dwelled into the emergence of the A.I.D.S epidemic in the 80’s on the American East Coast and the ensuing artistic movement to bring awareness to the masses about the ravages that the disease had on the gay and straight communities.

My career has led me to work on a plethora of different types of productions, such as short films, EPK’s, Sizzles, TV spots, scripted/unscripted narrative and digital marketing campaigns for commercial branded content. I’m also an on set still photographer to shoot behind the scenes material of productions crews and actors for Hollywood productions

Q)I’ve worked with you both separately, and in both cases have been inspired by the exchange, so you can imagine my surprise finding you together at (UNM-Taos) DMA’s headquarters when I stopped by recently. Please tell us what you have up your sleeves?

PW: For the past 8 years I’ve been teaching media classes for UNM-Taos and for the last three years I’ve been the chair of the Digital Media Arts Department. It’s been a blast and we’re turning Taos into a college town. One student at a time! http://taos.unm.edu/home/dma/

BB: Our long-standing friendship (with Peter), has been invigorating and galvanizing for both of us since we continue to challenge ourselves in different ways, pushing each other to get better at our craft and trying new creative avenues. The unique backdrop, space and “playground” available to us in our backyard is an ideal focal plane for us to perpetuate our love of nature and being emerged in nature. We regularly take on new adventures whether here in NM or CO, and push ourselves physically, mentally, spiritually while incorporating our love of imagery. Whether shooting traditional still photography, drone photography or Cinematography, we relish the opportunity to reproduce the endless spectacular vistas that surround us each day. Our relationship has continued to develop and our respective personal work experience have been beneficial for both us in our creative journey.

We have been shooting for the last couple of years and will continue through fall 2019 for our feature-length documentary “River Serenade“. It’s been my pleasure to contribute my time in developing the project to shape the right narrative in telling the story, finding the core essence of the primal role that the Rio Grande plays in communities across New Mexico and to bring my technical knowledge to further enhance the production value. Post production has started and our goal is to submit the show to the Telluride Film Festival(end of year). The unique nature of our collaboration (with Peter), the expansion of the partnership between UNM and Canon, and the compelling story of the Rio Grande should make for great storytelling and hopefully will have a positive impact on raising awareness about the ongoing need for the preservation of our environment.

Q)You’ve both been heads down, knee-deep in high water recently – literally and figuratively – can you each talk about these experiences – Blaise you were in the Caribbean helping with Hurricane disasters – Peter you have been filming up and down the Rio Grande Valley – how will these experiences impact the documentary (Rio Grande Serenade), you are working on together?

PW:Currently with our Advanced students we are producing a feature-length documentary called “Rio Grande Serenade” a gravity fed film. I’ve had the pleasure of working with John Biscello and Blaise Basara on this project along with some super creative, talented students. We are hustling to get it finished by January to submit to the Telluride Mountain Film Festival. 

BB: In February 2018 after the Maria and Irma hurricanes, I travelled to the Caribbean to help with the relief effort. I found the non-profit Puerto Rico Rises that would coordinate missions on the island to provide first necessities to the communities hit the hardest. Five months after the catastrophe I was extremely surprised to see the poor state of the island. I resided on the west side, in Rincon, but travelled across the island to the east side to provide relief to small communities. Puerto Rico has always struggled with poverty, the aging of its infrastructure, lack of support from current and previous administrations and the growing erratic weather patterns have only deepened the uncertainties of the sustainability of the Puerto Rican people. At the time, these communities had no power or running water. We provided solar lanterns, battery packs to recharge cell phones, clothing, diapers, insulin, water etc… so as to ease the burden on families and local population. Part of my role was to photograph the missions so that Puerto Rico Rises could communicate about the crisis and bring in donations to continue their good work(all of the supplies came from foreign donations and mostly from the US). Here are some of the stills: https://blaisebasara.com/humanitarian-puertorico

After two separate tours in Puerto Rico, I moved on to Guadeloupe, Marie Galante and Cuba. 

The relevance with the River Serenade project is fundamentally very simple; we are made of 70% water and the future of our existence on this planet is contingent on having access to fresh water. With the world-wide climate change, temperatures are hotter, the polar caps are melting, waters are rising and the very first nations and communities impacted by this shift are the coastal communities that are already seeing their existing habitable land shrinking. The American southwest has a long history of struggling with inadequate water supplies and desertification, phenomenons which are only getting worse with the gluttonous American overconsumption of this precious resource. The Rio Grande is the backbone of the state of New Mexico and insures the sustenance of our way of life in this part of the world and if we continue to ignore the deep ramifications that our disastrous industrial, economical and environmental policies have had on our home, we will suffer the tragic consequences to our communities and on a much broader sense, humanity as a whole. 

Q) What’s next?

PW: I’m still hooked on storytelling and after this film about our culturally rich and diverse watershed..hmm.. maybe a romantic comedy? 

BB: I fell in love with Japan when going there for the first time in April 2019 (https://www.blaisebasara.com/japan2019) and I want to continue to explore the myriad of wonders that the Japanese people have to offer. I have always been fascinated with Japanese civilization, just like many of us, but it’s not until you have a first hand experience that you can truly start to grasp the richness and depth of these wonderful people. I want to be able to go back each year for my photography and continue to immerse myself in this utopian way of life which is so soothing on the mind and soul. We have many short comings as a race and are deeply flawed, but somehow while in Japan, you are transported in a realm that has cultivated such sophistication in every facet of society, that you start to realize how primitive are connection and understanding is of humanity and spirituality in Western Europe, North America, or the so-called “Civilized Nations”. 

My other goals for these coming years are to continue to produce documentary stories that educate, bringing a deeper awareness and understanding to people on societal topics that impact us all; I want to finally show my photographic work, get better at playing the jazz language and vocabulary that I love so much and continue watching my daughter grow, flourish and achieve her dreams and aspirations.

Thanks gentleman! For more on UNM-Taos Digital Media Arts Program,  Peter Walker and Blaise Basara, please visit the sites linked below.

taos.unm.dma

Peter Walker

UNM Taos Digital Media Arts (DMA)

Media Instructor / Department Chair

575-779-6146

http://blaisebasara.com and Instagram: @blaisebasara

Photographs of Peter Walker and his students, including the capture of students at the recent Canon Workshop, thanks to Peter Walker and UNM-Taos DMA

Photograph of Taos Ski Valley, a Caribbean sunset (because all rivers eventually meet the sea), and Blaise Basara’s headshot, thanks to Blaise Basara

The post Peter Walker & Blaise Basara: Media That Matters appeared first on taoStyle.

There’s a worldwide annual campaign taking place this October.

It involves thousands of organisations, coming together on Pink Ribbon Day, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education and research as well as to show their support for the one in nine women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85.

The wearing of the pink ribbon as a symbol of solidarity with all women stricken by the disease, was started by one woman, whom I covered here on the blog a few years ago, but pink has come to mean so much more to women everywhere.

When millions of women around the world stormed the streets of big cities and small towns in January 2017, to make their views known – women’s rights are human rights – many wore on their heads what became the de-facto symbol of feminism in our era; the pink “pussyhat,” which had ears like a cat and also referenced the infamous quote by President Donald Trump.

The Women’s March worked to mobilise and register more women to vote, and to elect more women and progressive candidates to public office. We are seeing the result of their influence now, as proceedings to bring articles of impeachment against this POTUS have begun. Women are capable of anything, including finding a cure for Breast Cancer and other cancers that are the plague of our times. Each one of us can help by donating time, resources and money to the cause. 

When I talked to Susan strong at Taos Cancer Support Services last week, she told me that she has seen a terrific outpouring of support from the community and it hopeful that this year’s events will raise more awareness and money!

“There are so many who need our services,” she told me, “ we need all the donations and help we can get!” This Breast Cancer Awareness Month do something great – make life-saving research happen by supporting Pink October here in Taos. From High School Soccer games to Zumba and dining out in style, there are plenty of options for you to get involved. And wear pink!

The events are ongoing and listed below:

OCT. 16TH

8AM-3PM

Dining Out for the Cause – Gutiz

Dine at Gutiz on October 16th from 8AM to 3PM and a percentage of the profits will be donated to CSS.

OCT. 17TH

1-3PM

Look Good – Feel Great

A special session for women experiencing cancer at the CSS office (413 Sipapu St).

OCT. 18TH

7PM

Paint Taos Pink Football game

Join us at Taos High School Anaya Field. Wear pink and come support the Tigers and CSS!

OCT. 23RD

11AM-9PM

Dining Out for the Cause – Trading Post Cafe

Dine at the Trading Post on October 23rd from 11AM to 9PM and a percentage of the profits will be donated to CSS.

OCT. 24TH

ALL DAY

Official Town of Taos Pink Day & Auction

Show your support by wearing pink! A silent auction will take place at the Bareiss Gallery from 5-8pm.

OCT. 26TH

11AM-1PM

Zumba Pink Party

Join us at the Guadalupe Church Gym for Zumba with your favorite local instructors.

OCT. 30TH

8AM-4PM

Dining Out for the Cause – Bent Street Deli

Dine at the Bent Street Deli on October 30th from 8AM to 4PM and a percentage of the profits will be donated to CSS.

Every dollar raised stays in the greater Taos area to support families fighting cancer.

For more information on Taos Cancer Support Services and all they do, please visit the site linked below.

Holy Cross Cancer Support Services

For more on Breast Cancer Awareness please visit their site also.

nationalbreastcancerawareness.org

All images stock files

The post Painting The Town Pink appeared first on taoStyle.

The theme for October is Quietude.   

Liz Fox, Shree Yoga Taos’ Studio Manager told me as we sat in the Indian Summer sun, outside El Gamal.

Liz had just come from teaching a class and I was on my way from, and to, another meeting.

“The last few weeks in Taos have been so intense.” Liz said as we waited for our order to arrive. “Two massively impactful deaths threw everyone into a tailspin…” She paused. “Even someone like me was affected,” she explained, “I did not know ether person,  just know folks who did know them both, not to mention just the shock of both situations.”

“Because Shree is a community Yoga Studio, and our community effects how we do things,” she continued, “we hope to bring a positive and healing message out to the greater community, because Yoga is not just a physical practice, but also includes all realms of our selves, emotional, spiritual, etc., working in harmony.“

“A good practice can help us to adapt to changes, to find our own balance and center amongst the winds of change in our lives “

I met Liz in 2016, soon after being diagnosed with late stage lymphoma. She together with Jason Pfiefer ran the Holy Cross Cancer Support Group and Services at the time. Their encouragement and incredible support, along with resources they were able to provide, enabled me to get on with the business of healing without added anxiety. 

“You should try yoga.” She’d suggested to me back then during a support group meeting,  after I reported that my doctor had banned me from swimming in public pools. It would be two years before I did. She was right.

Although the CSS continue to be run smoothly by Susan Strong, the Support Group has split into two; one still held at their Sipapu office, another located elsewhere in town, and still home to long time survivors who preferred the style of Jason’s group to the current one.

“The more the merrier.” Susan said when I brought up the subject with her a few days ago. “Change is inevitable.”

And that seems to be the sentiment at Shree as well.

“This month, we are focusing on restorative and regenerative practices, to help us ground, not only with changes at the studio, but in the seasons, and the community.” Said Liz.

“There are restorative classes Wednesday and Sunday evenings, and in particular, Slow Jams is a class designed to move energy through the body, and finishes with a half hour of restorative practice, to help that energy move out.  A great way to work through stress, grief and disappointment!”

“Change is a constant.” Liz smiled.  “ And that said, there are usually changes at Shree each quarter, as our schedule adjusts on the Equinoxes and the Solstices.” Which also happens to be when Suki, Genevieve and I do our seasonal Feng Shui purifying of the space and puja!

Changes at Shree thankfully seem to take on a more positive note: The Chair Yoga class is now amusingly renamed Not Over the Hill.  This is a class for older students and/or people dealing with chronic injury who want a smaller, more intimate class, perhaps working up  to a bigger class or simply for the slower pace. The class begins on the mat, moves to a chair, includes some standing poses, using a chair for support as needed, and then goes back to seated, and finishes on the floor again.  

Working on maintaining skills as we age, including balance, flexibility, and strength. Thursdays 1:30-2:30. The class is taught by Liz.

Some changes are afoot in the teaching department too! Adding to Shree’s great roster of Yoga Instructors including Liz and Sonya Luz, are two new faces and one familiar, returning face

Liz Passman is back at Shree! Liz has been practicing yoga since 2003 and teaching since 2010. Liz first studied children’s yoga and began teaching preschoolers in 2009. Then she went on to complete a 230-hour teacher training with Stephanie Keach at the Asheville Yoga Center in 2010. In 2012, Liz completed another 100 hours of training in the Anusara method with Bea Doyle at Bhava in Albuquerque. Liz taught varying styles of yoga at Shree from 2010-2015 including vinyasa, gentle-restorative, kid’s yoga, and prenatal. She returns to the studio after taking some time off to go to graduate school and start a family. 

Claire Galactica is teaching Morning Yoga, Yoga Hour. Claire began her yoga practice 10 years ago in Los Angeles with Bryan Kest at Santa Monica Power Yoga. At the time she was studying dance in San Francisco, where she eventually graduated with her BA in Performing Arts & Social Justice from the University of San Francisco. Over the last decade, she taught in various communities on the west coast, including dance studios, elementary schools, and county jails. Eventually her practice led her to the teachings of Bhakti Yoga. She completed her 200 hour teacher training with Govindas at Bhakti Yoga Shala in Santa Monica, CA. She  completed a 50-hour kirtan training with Govindas, which deepened her understanding of the Bhakti lineage through the art of sacred song & mantra. As a result, she shares a soul-centered Bhakti practice which along with her background in dance gives her a deep understanding of physical alignment that she brings into her classes. You can read more about Claire in the Shree Yoga link below this post.

Phoebe Elliot (Level I/II, Level II), says she is blessed to not remember a time when yoga was not a part of her life.

Like Shree co-founder Suki Dalury, Phoebe’s mother was a yogi.

Phoebe became a serious practitioner in her late teens as she sought relief from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and GI issues. She attributes not only the physical practice, but also the emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga in helping her heal. While studying at CU Boulder, she frequented the Yoga Workshop taking classes with Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor. After graduation, she traveled to Thailand to complete an Ashtanga Yoga teacher training in 2009 with Paul Dallaghan. From there she spent time in India studying at the Ashtanga Yoga Bali Research Center. Phoebe completed an Anusara Yoga Immersion and teacher training during 2012-2013 with Robyn Smith and Patrick Harestad. Working with the subtle energies and meditation led her to complete a teacher training in Kundalini Yoga. She enjoys teaching a range of styles and abilities. Her light-hearted teaching style emphasizes moving with the breath, raising your vibration, cultivating feelings of self-love and acceptance, and above all healing. 

Phoebe splits her time between Taos, New Mexico and Mt. Desert Island, Maine. She teaches yoga retreats internationally.  She is also a certified herbalist. To discover more about the very accomplished Phoebe, please visit her site phoebeelliottyoga.com

Clearly Shree Yoga Taos continues to uphold its tradition of being the “only dedicated Yoga Studio in Taos,” as my daughter Genevieve (co-founder of Shree with Suki Dalury), likes to say.

Speaking of Genevieve, she’s on a temporary hiatus from teaching, while she gets her new business, Clean, up and running! Meanwhile you can check the schedule below to see who is teaching her classes for now, or for a change of pace, try someone and something, new!

Here are the changes you can look forward to:  

Monday: no changes!

Tuesday: 5:30 Level 2, Sonya

Wednesday: 7:30 Morning Yoga, Hollie

                   9:30 Level 1/2 Phoebe

                   Noon Yoga Hour, Claire

Thursday: Noon Yoga Hour, Suki

Friday: 7:30 Morning Yoga, Adi

Saturday: 9:30 Level 2, Phoebe

                   Noon Level 1, Liz P

Sunday: 9:30 Level 1/2, Liz Fox

                 Noon Yoga Hour, Roxy

Detailed schedule of ALL classes, linked below.

For much more on Shree Yoga Taos and their fabulous instructors, old and new, please visit their site linked below.

shreeschedule

shreeteachers

All photos thanks to Shree Yoga Taos and Bill Curry

curryimages

The post Shree Yoga Embraces The Change Of Season appeared first on taoStyle.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

So says Marcellus in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, referring to the corruption in the political hierarchy.

The Bard’s words resonate through the centuries. Especially now as corrupt winds blow gales through the corridors of the nation’s capital. But today, even in D.C., there is reason to be hopeful.

In D.C. Maryland, Columbus Day, a Federal Holiday (since 1937), no longer exists. The D.C. Council voted to replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day in a temporary move that it hopes to make permanent. Several other places across the United States have also made the switch in a growing movement to end the celebration of the Italian explorer (commissioned by the Spanish Crown), in favor of honoring Indigenous communities and their endurance, forbearance  and commitment to their ancient Heritage and Culture, in the face of decimation by so-called discoverers.

In 2019 three more states including New Mexico (the others were Vermont and Maine), voted in the name change as well. By challenging and changing an old, painful paradigm, the shift in awareness accompanied by the name change, has been a long time coming, and is about celebrating people instead of the Conquest labeled “Discovery” that was actually the harbinger of a large-scale genocide of entire populations across the Americas.

Renaming the holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, shines a light on the Native population’s right to demand that we do not honor Columbus and his fellow “discoverers”, nor do we lionize and glorify them as heroes, when History clearly tells us, they are not.

There’s no comprehensive list of places available that have switched (I did a search last night),  but at least ten states now celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday in October, including  Hawaii (Discoverers’ Day) and South Dakota ( Native Americans’ Day.) Several college campuses have exchanged Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples’ Day as have more than a hundred cities, towns and counties across America. Clearly this is a growing movement as more Native People become empowered and have their voices heard.

For Native Americans, Columbus Day has long been a reminder of the violent history of 500 years of Colonial oppression and subjugation at the hands of European “discoverers” and those who followed and settled here on what were essentially stolen lands. While we collectively point fingers at others, we too, live in a continued “occupation” of those lands.

When I worked with the late AIM co-founder, Dennis Banks during the early 90’s, he educated me in  (untaught), American History. He was graphic in his telling of pillage, rape and plunder; the ultimate genocide of the people, as if to convince themselves (the Conquistadors and Colonizers who would follow), they didn’t exist in the first place.

“That’s not something we want to celebrate.” He told me. “That’s not something anyone with a heart or conscience wants to celebrate.”

As Marianne Williamson notes, this is a time for accountability, “atonement and reparations.”

If we want to move forward and create a new paradigm for a healthy, sustainable future for the next seven generations, we must be prepared to heal the wounds.

And those wounds go deep, and for many of us, have personal ramifications: some of my ancestors left Spain after the Edict of Expulsion was issued by the Crown in April of 1492, just a few months before Columbus set sail on a journey financed by donated and stolen Jewish money. Our money financed a genocide. From the killing fields of Andalusia to Manifest Destiny in Mexico – the cycle of violence began, and continues unabated.

“Celebrating Columbus not only whitewashes a violent history but also discounts the Indigenous people who lived here for millenia in harmony with the earth.” Says musician and film-maker Robby Romero, U.N. Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples and long time Environmental Activist. Robby introduced me to Dennis Banks.

Indigenous Peoples first proposed the day during a 1977 United Nations conference on discrimination against them, but it wasn’t until 1989 that South Dakota became the first state to switch Columbus Day to Native Americans’ Day, celebrating it for the first time in 1990. And then Berkeley became the first U.S. city to switch to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  As I noted earlier in this post, at least ten states now celebrate a version of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The “discovery” of America is an opportunity to get our history right, but in order to fully understand it, we have to be clear about who was here first and we need to reflect deeply on what really happened here after that initial displacement of Peoples, and massive genocide occurred.

How might that have affected the rewriting of the history of other minorities who immigrated or were forcibly brought here as slaves? It’s time, methinks to take responsibility for our history and our actions. If we are to have a future at all, we must “be the change we wish to see…”

For more information on Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the Americas and world wide, please visit the sites linked below.

robbyromero.com

un.org/indigenouspeoples

Top image stock files, three Edward Curtis images and Ansel Adams’ Taos Pueblo.

The post Goodbye Columbus appeared first on taoStyle.

Traveling with children can be challenging.

Especially if your destination is somewhere you’ve never been, so I thought a few easy suggestions might be in order; things to do with the children that won’t exhaust you! After all, presumably, you are on vacation!

Time passes slower in Taos,  and it’s not just your imagination. The locals operate on what is known as “Taos Time,” meaning that no one’s in a hurry to get anywhere.  The Big Sky and horizon for miles further adds to the vibe that you have arrived somewhere “faraway from the everyday.” The lazy pace of Taos is an invitation to slow down and allow yourself to relax. This somewhat sleepy little town, is just a two-hour drive from Santa Fe, so if your plan is to visit the City Different, I’d encourage you to add Taos to your itinerary. 

Whether you’re on a road trip or flying in, Taos has plenty to offer a family traveling together, including breathtaking scenery in every direction, seasonal festivals and much, much more, here are five places you won’t want to miss while visiting the area this time of year, with children.

Taos Pueblo, 

The Red Willow People have lived in the region for more than 1,000 years, and Taos Pueblo is the oldest extant dwelling, continuously occupied in North America. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors of all ages can tour the historic  Pueblo, which is located at the base of Taos Mountain, deemed sacred by the Tribe. Children under 10 are admitted free, and the Pueblo is open to visitors seven days a week, unless there are Tribal “doings” or “Quiet Time” is underway. A tour of the Pueblo is an opportunity for visiting families to learn all about the ancient adobe structures, as well as experiencing the traditional culture of the Red Willow People, who have tenaciously held on to their ancient ways through Conquest, conversion and colonization. They have led historical uprisings and have had lands returned to them by the Federal Government in an unprecedented manner. In 2020 the Tribe celebrates 50 years since President Richard Nixon gave back the area surrounding, and including, Blue Lake. Several annual events are held at Taos Pueblo, including the Bonfires on Christmas Eve. Check their site linked below for more information.

taospueblo.com

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, 

A rest area may seem like an unlikely site for hiking and checking out awesome panoramic views, but this Taos County rest area delivers. From downtown Taos, head north on Paseo del Pueblo (the town’s main drag) and turn left on Highway 64. Less than 10 minutes later, you’ll reach the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and its attached rest area. Built in 1965, the massive bridge spans 1,280 feet and is the fifth highest bridge in the U.S. There is a hiking trail next to the rest area where Big Horned Sheep can often be sighted roaming the cliffs, along with several viewing platforms on the bridge itself. Local vendors flank both sides of the “Gorge Bridge,” as it’s known in these parts, selling locally made items, including dried chiles, sage smudge sticks and the like. Pick up one of each to take home with you; The ristras are made from chile peppers that are dried in the sun and can be ground to be used as a spicy seasoning, or simply hang it in your kitchen – or outside your front door as locals do – as a decorative reminder of your visit. The smudge stick will keep the unique scent of Taos with you as you travel home.

Taos Ski Valley.

Taos is nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos, which happen to be home to a world-class ski resort. Taos Ski Valley opened in 1955, founded by Ernie Blake and run by his family until it was sold to conservationist, philanthropist and hedge fund Manager Louis Bacon. Boasting more than 1,200 skiable acres, TSV is now also home to the highest triple chairlift in North America. The Kachina lift has a peak elevation of 12,481 feet. If you’re visiting during the warmer months, the Village of Taos Ski Valley still has plenty to offer the road-tripping family. Mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding are just some of the activities offered in the Village of TSV. But as we head into winter, the resort kicks into full gear. You’ll not want to miss some time on the “mountain”.  Taos Air has service to here from Austin and Dallas all winter, making it super easy to get to TSV and the town of Taos itself! Check the sites below for details.

taosskivalley.com

skitaos.com

La Hacienda de los Martinez

One of the few remaining, northern New Mexico style, late Spanish Colonial “Great Houses” in the Southwest. Built in 1804, this fortress-like building with massive adobe walls became an important trade center for the northern boundary of the Spanish Empire, at the end of the Camino Real trade route. Severino Martinez and his wife Maria raised six children in the Hacienda. Their eldest son was the famous Padre Antonio Martinez whose ongoing debate with the French Bishop Lamy in Santa Fe was the subject for  Willa Cather’s 1927 novel Death Comes for the Archbishop, which documents the attempts of a Catholic bishop and a local priest to establish a diocese in New Mexico Territory. Martinez’ attempts .to preserve the Hispanic character of the Catholic Church in the region, earned him a somewhat mixed reputation, but he was in fact a powerful social reformer who founded the first coeducational school in New Mexico and brought the first printing press to Taos. Today the Hacienda’s twenty-one rooms surrounding two courtyards provide  visitors with a glimpse of the rugged frontier life and times of the early 1800s, during the days when the West was still wild. The step back in time will delight the kids and give you plenty to discuss for the rest of your trip! Information about ongoing events, including demonstrations of the traditional arts and crafts of the region, can be found by visiting their site linked below.

taoshistoricmuseums

Twirl 

Located on Teresina Lane, an alley just off  historic Taos Plaza, Twirl is housed in a century plus adobe building in the heart of historical downtown Taos. Both Dennis Hopper and Agnes Martin were one time occupants of the space which was first renovated by Hopper’s brother David and Chuck Banner during the early 80’s. Following renovations added to the this unique property including a fish pond, wishing well, secret dragon staircase and Ali Baba fireplace. Still, Twirl is much more than the magical toy store it appears to be upon entering. This beloved local non-profit that does so much work in our community schools, is also a play and discovery space that serves as a gathering place for families who live here as well as those visiting. There is a beautiful well stocked playroom upstairs where music and dance classes, field trips and craft activities take place, and kids of all ages can get creative, while the outside boasts two enclosed courtyards with a myriad of play facilities. Twirl will give new meaning to the Land of Enchantment for your kids, who can let their imaginations run wild, while burning off tons of energy, ensuring you’ll have a relaxing evening before hitting the road in the morning!

For more on Twirl, please visit their site below.

twirltaos

For more on Taos and how to plan your trip, please visit Taos.org linked below

taos.org

All images stock files except Twirl by Bill Curry

The post Five Kid-Friendly Things To Do In Taos appeared first on taoStyle.

Figurative art has existed for thousands of years in cultures all around the world. 

With a history as long as the history of representation itself, the earliest example is the carved mammoth ivory, sculptural figure (about 35,000 years old) of a woman discovered in a cave in southern Germany, while the cave paintings of Lascaux, France, depicting a variety of animals native to the region, date back 16,000 years. 

Figurative art not only reflects the cultural values of the time in which it was made, it has the unique capability of alluding to intellectual concepts as well. Ancient Greek statuary depicted gods and goddesses in a way that also celebrated geometric precision, while portraiture of the 19th century, exemplified by Ingres, portrayed the likeness of the subject, but subtle stylization also conveyed the standards of beauty of the time.

Picasso’s distorted cubist figures, the elongated, surrealist sculptures of Giacometti, as well as the pop art Warhol made, are all examples of the genre, which possibly reached its pinnacle during the Italian Renaissance. A time when art was also a craft, with all levels of skill so well honed that the technical achievement of a Botticelli or Da Vinci, are from our vantage point, almost impossible to comprehend.

There is a profound difference between art rooted in craft, and art that has no interest in it. In this era art has left craft far behind, a process that began when Marcel Duchamp insisted that art should appeal only to the brain. These days painters who still know how to render and paint in a classical manner are relics from another world and sculpture no longer seems the right word for the objects many artists make.

Can the clock be turned back? Of course not. And yet there are many artists today who would claim their art is based in craft and the study of nature, and look at the conceptual art movement disdainfully, proclaiming the greatest art ever made is that of a Michelangelo or a Titian. If in fact that is true, how does the art they make, measure up?

A lot of figurative art being made today is both derivative and shallow and often the skills are just not up to par. For the death of craft is a reality; a consequence of the Industrial Revolution – and to restore the craftsmanship of the Renaissance giants, you’d have to put young artists into apprenticeships as children, with the greatest artists around. That’s how artists learned once upon a time.

Even that process is now seen as archaic, and interestingly, the fate of art appears to mirror the fate of industrial society itself;  we are now on the verge of destroying the very nature the great artists painted so well. Art has always existed to tell the truth, but the truth of our time is more likely to be caught by a camera. A digital one at that. But shockingly, more recently, the art world has begun, once again, to focus on paintings of people, begging the question, why this sudden shift away from conceptualism? 

Because the art world has a short memory, and what’s ‘new” and in “fashion” gets old fast, and as we collectively arrive at the conclusion that the only future, is a sustainable one, returning to the concept of “timelessness” begins to make more sense; Problem being, contemporary artists who can render without gimmicks and tricks like projection, are few and far between. But Anais Rumfelt is one of them.

Anais Rumfelt makes no apologies for her work, which is both figurative with a clear nod to her love and attention to craft; her drawings are the foundation of her extraordinary, representational paintings.

Layers of paint are meticulously applied in delicate washes of color, but the strong underlying line, gives form to her complex inner vision which addresses the disappearing natural world in subtle and nuanced ways; her painting of a woman covered in a swarm of bees, conveyed plenty of wordless meaning when it hung in a group show at Studio 107b. The crows that flew across Manzanita’s doorway, the Harwood’s wall (and a town lamp post), were almost like cries for help from unseen spirits. Caw Caw, their hollow call could eerily almost be heard, just looking at them soaring across the flat sheets of paper that contained their images.

Anais grew up in a family of artists. Her apprenticeship began in utero; her mother Katie Woodall is a painter, as is her Uncle, Pat. It was inevitable she would follow in their footsteps. When I met her, she was a complex, pensive and moody teenager with a gift for expressing herself both in poetry and conversation. She clearly had something to say. It would be years before I discovered she painted as well. And during those years, her output was sporadic at best. She was raising her son Jackson, with his father, her partner at the time. 

“I couldn’t really find the time to make art in earnest while he was still young,” she told me, “I don’t know how some women artists who are also mothers, do it?” She shook her head. Jackson now 17, lives with his father in L.A. and Anais has turned her home into a live-in studio.

“I go home to work some more!” She noted wryly as we talked one day over lunch. “I don’t exactly relax at home. Especially since I’ve been painting for this show.” The show at MoMo, her first solo outing since the birds hung at the Harwood, was a long time coming.

“When I suggested it to Moriah, she reminded me that she had invited me to show there when she first opened.” She recalled. “But now it’s the right time, and I’ve had the time to make the work.” Showing at MoMo makes sense to her in more ways than one. “I think Moriah is really great at promoting the artists she shows,” she said. “And besides that she has really exceptional taste.”

It was a win win for them both. When I talked to Moriah recently at her gallery, she was excited about the opportunity to show Anais’ work in the space that once was Rebecca Strand’s studio. “I think her paintings will look beautiful in here.” She said.

Beauty loves beauty and so once the date had been set, Anais, who works full-time doing all the marketing for Twirl, got busy producing a new body of work. Working on several pieces at once was new for her, but she’s enjoyed the process and the way the pieces have evolved. “It certainly gives a cohesive feeling to the paintings as a whole,” she explained.

The paintings celebrate the human body in mythical and archetypal ways; at a time when humanity is possibly at its most vulnerable in its history on this planet, Anais has captured that fragility with these poignant paintings that in a sense, are celebrations of Life itself.

What’s next for this woman making unabashedly feminine and feminist work? She’s not telling, but you can be certain it will be both provocative and beautiful, with exquisite execution of tools and technique.

Anais Rumfelt will be at MoMo for the opening of her show of new work, this Saturday, October 19th from 5-7 pm.

For more information, please visit the site linked below

momotaos

All images thanks to Anais Rumfelt

Photograph of Anais by Zoe Zimmerman

zoezimmerman

The post Anais Rumfelt: The Art Of Figurative Art appeared first on taoStyle.

I’ve been covering Chocolate & Cashmere since the inception of this blog.

Haleigh Palmer was born and raised in New Mexico, and founded her business on a cashmere hat she sold through an ad placed in the New Yorker.  Two stores later (one here and one in Santa Fe), and a booming online presence, Haleigh’s Golightly cashmere line is now world famous, and more importantly, provides job opportunities locally, boosting our economy beyond tourism.

Her flagship store on the corner of Bent Street, where the road winds down to the other end, is a major destination spot for visitors to Taos, and when I was working on the Bent Street Series for the blog recently, I ran into Haleigh at Cids and mentioned it. 

“Let’s wait and do a Holiday post instead,” she suggested. And whispered that she had something up her sleeve.

Then Joan came to town during Paseo weekend to house sit for photographer Bill Curry, who was back East for a week or two. While we ran around the streets together looking at the Art, she mentioned she and Billy were doing a shoot for Chocolate & Cashmere.

“But shhh, it’s a secret.” She said.

Joan and Billy go back to the 80’s when they were both at the top of their modelling game. Billy was the top male model in the world at the time, and it has been said that Joan Severance was the first “Supermodel.”

I lived in the city then as well, albeit hanging out in a different scene – Downtown music underground – but through Andy Warhol, music and fashion met and became mates! The two scenes often overlapped so we have a bit in common. Besides Joan and I share a birthday, and all three of us are Capricorns. Much alike, we also share an unspoken affinity and the ability to keep secrets.

So when she told me about the big secret, although I was extremely curious to say the least, I waited until the cat was out the proverbial bag, (Billy informed me of the shoot date), before I shot an email off to Haleigh.  On the day of the shoot, Bill sent a series of behind the scenes images via Text Messaging. They were fabulous!

“We’re having such a great time,” he wrote. “ Haleigh will be in touch,” he added, accompanied by this picture you see of her snuggling up with Joan; both wrapped in layers of utter luxury! Apparently, I was now in on the secret!

In the following days, the answers to my questions and these fantastic shots arrived. I am sure you will love them as much as I do; from Billy and Joan looking positively Beatnik, to the most elegant couple in the room. Joan riffing on Audrey’s “Holly” Golightly – and both proving they still have what it takes to hold their own on the ‘Gram – both of course went on to other things. Joan is an author and actress and Bill is a world class photographer and sometime actor as well. But these gorgeous shots of this timeless duo, celebrate the Holiday Season with a nod to luxury and what that truly means.

For luxury goods have always been about sustainability. One bought an Hermes bag or a cashmere sweater made in Scotland, to last a lifetime. Bespoke goods were never cheap, but in earlier times they were valued. Hopefully with movements afoot challenging Fashion’s wasteful and harmful effects, we will return to those values and turn away from the somewhat vulgar, “more is more” mindset currently in vogue. 

That said, the mouth-watering hues of Golightly cashmere make it hard to stop at just one of each! But they will, with love and care, last a lifetime, and make perfect gifts for all your favourite people, large and small.

And speaking of mouth-watering, what are the Holidays without chocolate?

1) Hi Haleigh, you have been super busy since last we spoke – two stores, more cashmere and a little bird tells me, more chocolate! Please do tell!

Yes, We have been working for the past six months on making our own line of chocolates. Recently, we hired Ana Ramos as our Head Chocolatier. Our flavors are exciting, original, and delicious. Examples include: Grapefruit Green Chile, Coconut Cardamom, Oatmeal Stout, Local Apricot, Lemon Milk. Our mission with the chocolate company is to use chocolate as a voice for our New Mexican community and our give back program will support the community as well– 10% of all profits will go back to Northern New Mexico in need. We hope to have all of our chocolates in the stores by December 1st.

2) Can you talk a bit about your great social media/Instagram video posts? They are super cool – covering artists who live in the Land of Enchantment and wear your cashmere!

We know that we are a part of an incredible community and we wanted to enter the dialog with the artist and makers who share the love for this place. We have been using interviews and local color to say who we are and what we value. Our you tube channel is a place that helps us drive the conversations while also organically improving our SEO stats. We are super proud of the fact that we make everything here in New Mexico; we want to share that.

3) You have shops here and in Santa Fe and go back and forth a lot – please tell us what keeps you coming back to Taos?

Taos is our home. IT is our community and where the business was born. It is true that Santa Fe has so many more people and exposure and it plays its own special role in the make up of what makes New Mexico so enchanting, but Taos is so unlike any place. In fact, 80% of our employees came from Taos to Santa FE with us. Our connection there is palpable. Plus, it’s colder, we are skiers, and we need to test our products in the elements.

4)  It’s the season for cashmere – what’s new in your line?

Our product line is fairly stable and designed to be classic and last a lifetime. A whole lot doesn’t change each season except color. This year, we are featuring a color called Iris which is a deep and dark but warm purple. It reads like eggplant and goes so well with every Navy, Brown or Black. It is unisex too. We released our women’s turtleneck this year which is a fantastic piece, as well as a cashmere garter belt and leg warmer combo.. muy sexy!

5) Tell us a little about this shoot with Billy and Joan.

Billy and Joan were a total treat to work with. Amazing how generous they were with themselves and their experience. Working with Pros like them meant the whole thing was elevated; it was a blast, a treat.. and the images show we think….

Lastly, I’ll direct you to an article written by The New Mexican recently. Click on the link to read.

Also, we are planning to expand our knitwear capacities and were awarded a TEAM fund award through the Regional Development Corporation for $20,000 to help us to buy a knitting machine to bring us in to the 20th century. Excited about that!

Thanks Haleigh! And Bill and Joan for this stunning collaboration. Timelessness is clearly the new Trendy.

For much more on Chocolate & Cashmere, please visit their site below and do follow them on Instagram!

chocolatecashmere.com

All photographs by Bill Curry

curryimages

The post Golightly; Chocolate & Cashmere For The Holidays appeared first on taoStyle.

Taos is home to a lot of hairdressers.

Not too surprising, hair stylists are creative types and we know this place is a magnet for them. But in a small town like Taos, the sheer number of stylists is surprising, not to mention confusing to visitors and newcomers.

How does one choose the ‘right’ hairdresser without tumbling down a rabbit hole of disaster? Believe me when I tell you. I’ve been there. But for the past several years, except for one or two forays out of my comfort zone, to test the waters (hence the disasters), I keep coming back to  Delta at Salon X. In fact, these days I keep out of those waters, and stay safely in Delta’s consistent chair.  

Smart hair is hair that has fewer bad hair days, and smart hair requires a smart stylist; one who understands that each head of hair is unique and calls for a personal (not cookie cutter) approach, which means the ability to listen.

Creative types can often be incredibly self involved and listening is not a strong point (after all they are creatives precisely because they dance to the tune of their own beat), but for a hair stylist in particular, the rare ability to not only be able to quickly evaluate the job confronting them, but to really hear their clients hopes, wishes and fears, elevates them above the pack.

Delta listens. She asks questions and follows through. You will leave her chair with what you asked for. If she doesn’t think it will work with your hair, she’ll tell you. And if you need to grow your hair in order to get the cut you want, she’ll tell you that too and not just hack it all off in the meanwhile. Yes that happens.

She’s clearly smarter than most because she sat for the grueling exam that bestowed upon her the honor of being the only member of the American Board of Certified Colorists in Taos. But she’s even smarter because she practices what she preaches, and Salon X is an eco-friendly salon that recycles everything, and literally focuses their spending into responsible brands and services that support a healthy planet!

Green Circle Salons provides the world’s first, and North America’s only, sustainable salon solution to recover and repurpose beauty waste and Salon X has been a member since May, and has a tiny bag of trash at each week’s end, to prove it works.

All these assets combined with sheer talent and her Parisian training at Jacques Dessange, doesn’t hurt either. Nor does her hip, hidden and very low key space. 

Hair is a very personal and intimate affair for many women and the feeling of exclusivity (Delta’s chair  is notoriously difficult to get into – she’s booked out weeks, even a month in advance), and privacy make Salon X special.

And if you can’t get on Delta’s books, rest assured the other two stylists at Salon X, Brooke (Garver) and Tianna (Bolchunos) are stellar! “They are both so talented,” Delta commented on her co-workers when we talked about the changes in the salon.

Not only has she downsized even more, closing the facial room, she’s  zeroed in on what works and what doesn’t. If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you know she’s gone from a full service salon in a large loft like space, to renovating the back room she once used for storage, and moving in lock, stock and barrel.

The large space morphed into a spice shop she helped her mother open, but after a couple of years, Eliza decided to relocate to Albuquerque. The big space she occupied is currently undergoing renovation as well, and will soon house another, very cool business. More on that to come! In fact the entire block is undergoing some changes, but thankfully Brodsky’s Books, remains a mainstay.

Delta loves being in the back of the building in the just right size (not too big or too small) Goldilocks space,  hidden from the street, either you know or you don’t; Salon X has found its sweet spot.

“It’s easy with the three of us in here,” she told me. “We are all busy, but we don’t get in one another’s hair.” Pun I think, intended. “And we all have different strengths so we offer something for everyone,”

“I think for classic cuts and updoes, there is no one better than Brooke in town, and Tianna turns out some of the most creative cuts around.” If you are planning a destination wedding in Taos, Brooke is your girl. Salon X offers makeup for weddings and events as well.

When I asked her if she thought there was enough business in Taos to support all the hairdressers working here, she didn’t hesitate. “Oh sure,” she responded. “Look everyone wants something different and there are a lot of talented stylists here. For example if you want precision you don’t come to me.” She laughed. “There are hairdressers here who do that – I’m all about slightly undone, a little bit messy hair.” That’s that Parisian flair that keeps me in her chair!

“For me it’s all about working with the hair’s texture and growth patterns to create movement and volume.” She explained. “I use color to enhance the looks I create in both subtle and bold ways.”

“That’s my thing.” She exclaimed. “And I like to do it all.” And she’s great at it. Balayage, ombre, shocking pink (or blue) accents to plain old highlights and lowlights, you name it, she’s as good as it gets.

Right now it’s getting super busy at the salon. “It’s that time of year,” Delta noted. “The Holidays are coming up and so is party season. People like to refresh their look as the seasons change, and a new cut and color is an easy way to up your style game.”

“And a lot cheaper and environmentally friendly than going out and buying a bunch of new clothes.” She added thoughtfully. 

“Oh and we do use low ammonia color too.” She reminded me.

Creative and smart. That’s the stylist I want. Don’t you?

For more on Salon X and all the services they offer, please visit their site linked below.

salonxtaos

All images thanks to Delta Bayer

The post Smart Style At Salon X  appeared first on taoStyle.

The Stakeout on Outlaw Hill has reinvented itself.

With a facelift and a new approach to events and dining, the old beloved local haunt now promotes itself as “New Mexico’s premier venue, a reprieve from modern life, and an iconic location for ceremonies and celebrations.”

Outlaw Hill, where the legendary old eatery is located, has a long reputation as a stop over for Outlaws headed South, including the James Gang and Billy the Kid, who it is said not only camped here, but buried looted goods, including gold coins, in these hills. 

During the ‘70’s Dennis Hopper and his friends spent many evenings here, adding to the “Outlaw” mystique of the rambling house turned restaurant.

 At 7,200 ft., the Stakeout overlooks the Rio Grande Gorge  with sweeping vistas that are breathtaking at any time of day, but most especially when the sun is setting. From the Stakeout one can see the Pedernal, made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as Tres Orejas and Taos Mountain. Gazing out at the horizon, one understands why Outlaw Hill not only was a pit-stop for desperados on the run but also provided them with the ideal lookout for approaching lawmen coming from any direction. 

Five or so, years ago, an old friend of mine who had visited me here a few times, arrived with the intention to buy property to build “something sustainable.”

Well as we know the best laid plans are often waylaid and instead, Janie Romer and her husband Mark Barker found themselves buying and renovating a building that had stood empty and abandoned for almost a decade. After I made the introduction, the late realtor, Pedro Gonzalez had taken Janie to see the place on a whim and all the dreams of a quiet spot beside a stream evaporated.

Janie, who is an artist and musician with a background in design, worked at Vogue in NYC back in the ‘80’s when we first met. The Stakeout’s new look is all due to her singular vision along with the collaboration of her two extremely talented sons, Oscar and CJ Burnett.

The dark warren of rooms were gutted and the entire building was opened up to bring the extraordinary views into the interior. Without damaging the integrity of the space and with a nod to its Wild West, site specific history, the love and care that went into the restoration shows in every well considered detail.

In fact, CJ is still a force to be reckoned with behind the Stakeout scenes; it was he who suggested the stellar team now managing the venue and events, An event at the Stakeout provides both a romantic and historic private setting with world class support staff lead by Cecilia Cuff and chef, Antoine Balourdet. 

Cecilia Cuff started out event planning  at Oprah Winfrey Studios in Chicago, before going on to help launch several brands with spectacular opening events at high end venues before moving to Taos to work at Taos Ski Valley as the Food & Beverage Director as well as curation of VIP experiences for several multi-day music festivals.

Cecilia’s client list includes celebrities from Sheryl Crow and  Snoop Dog to Rihanna, Kanye West, Seal, Brad Pitt & Angela Jolie. Her experience managing 100+ person teams for companies including giant corporations like Frito Lay and Pepsi with multimillion-dollar annual budgets or hosting intimate VIP groups of 25 as well as  producing galas for a guest list of over 3,000, led Cecilia to open her own firm, The Nascent Group. She is now a managing, operating partner at the Stakeout.

With the support of “local farmers, ranchers, chefs, distillers, winemakers, hoteliers and her richly diverse and respected staff,” she notes that “the future of the Stakeout on Outlaw Hill is undeniable.”  One member of her crew, Chef Antoine Balourdet came to Taos from Provence, and is known for his fusion of classic French cuisine with Nouvelle American and local flavors. His inclusion in this venture adds a certain cache’. Balourdet, besides being a talented chef, is an accomplished equestrian who can often be seen around town in his well-worn boots and Cowboy hats: an anomaly with his thick Provencal accent!  At this point he qualifies as a true Taos character.

The Stakeout opens its doors for a carefully curated ticketed dinner series each month to invite locals to share the space with visitors to the area, when the venue is not being used for larger events such as weddings and other Gala occasions. The private dinners go on sale at the beginning of each month and are a collaboration between unique partnerships Cecilia forges with local winemakers, farmers, brewers and distillers. 

Each Stakeout dinner series is paired with local art, live music and the sunsets over the valley which as you can see from these images, are spectacular at any time of year. The pop-ups’ inclusion of carefully crafted cocktails, perfectly paired wines and beer is inspired by the historical period when cocktails grew out of locally sourced herbs, seasonal tinctures, medicine and home remedies.  “Our mixology crew are world traveled, competition veterans and ready to serve up libations that your guests will tell stories of forever more. “ Says Cecilia,

When I attended one of these dinners with a few friends recently, it was a sold out event, but other than Mark and Janie, the photographer Jim Cox and the Stakeout staff, we didn’t know a soul there. Mostly an older demographic had gathered on Outlaw Hill, drawn apparently by online promotion from Colorado, Texas as well as Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Few, if any, locals attended. 

We went out onto the terrace to enjoy the view before dinner, and although hors oeuvres were being passed around on trays, none were offered to us. The service at dinner was fine so I figured it was early on in the game and they needed to get the kinks out.

Though the service at the table was friendly and efficient, the food however was also a bit inconsistent that night: The first course, a delicious soup served family style at long tables set the tone for the Spanish themed dinner paired with suggested wines from the Cellar. It was followed by a salad of plain greens, lightly dressed. The main course, Paella, was also delicious but lacked the traditional inclusion of chorizo and chicken, which was served separately as another course. 

It seemed almost an afterthought, and was still pink on the inside, and a bit soggy as if parboiled. The potatoes which accompanied it were its equivalent The desert on the other hand, a cobbler made with local fruits and served with locally made ice cream was perfection. 

Hopefully, this inconsistency was due to an unfamiliar kitchen/oven and such, knowing how talented the chef can be, but for the price of these dinners, they had better be about more than interesting drink pairings! In a town where people are notorious foodies with the restaurants to prove it, mediocre food and service just isn’t good enough.

That said, the Salsa band from ‘Burque was fab (although a bit hip for the crowd, very few of whom took to the dance “floor”), and being in the beautiful space was a total treat. That alone, along with the sun setting over the Gorge with the Pedernal silhouetted in the distance, was well worth the price of admission.

There’s an event this weekend (Saturday October 26th) in collaboration with  popular local distillery, Rolling Still, which includes a safe ride shuttle offered before and after the conclusion of the dinner to and from, their parking lot in town. The menu, which you can see on the site linked below, looks amazing! And I’m sure by now all kinks are ironed out. Each dinner series does sell out quickly so advance ticket purchase is recommended.

For more information on this upcoming dinner event and others over the season, as well as to book the venue for weddings and private events, please visit the Stakeout’s site.

rollingstilldinner

stakeouttaos.com

All images thanks to the Stakeout

The post Stakeout Revival appeared first on taoStyle.

A cliffhanger is a literary narrative or plot device.

Where the ending is sudden and abrupt, with the characters in the story left in an impossible situation, seemingly  without any way out.

Michael McCormick’s recent situation, put him at the very edge of a precipice he imagined was the end of the line for his eponymously named gallery in the old JC Penney building on the corner where the  Plaza meets the Paseo; one of the oldest galleries in Taos, open now for more than a quarter of a century. 

Michael, who has been a Sponsor on taoStyle since the very beginning, has long supported and raised money for those in need, as well as for the Arts in Taos. I’ve covered MIchael’s background prior to his arrival, and his time in Taos, extensively here, so I won’t rehash in this post, but suffice it to say, when I saw Michael reach out to the community with a plea for assistance facing his own troubles, I felt obliged to help in any way that I could. 

A few days after he launched a Go Fund Me campaign, I called him to let him know I had shared the page on all my social media. I was surprised by how upbeat he sounded but put it down to the community’s immediate and generous response; people were giving what they could to enable him to pay back rent  owed to the landlord threatening to evict him.

“Are you sitting down?” He asked me,

“Why?” I responded. It’s my favorite word. “Are you okay?” I added.

“Oh yeah,” he replied, sounding quite cheerful for someone on the brink of disaster or at the edge of a cliff!

“I see people are responding to the fundraiser.” I noted.

“People have been amazing,” he said appreciatively.” So generous, I’m a bit overwhelmed. But there’s more, a  guy came into the gallery over the weekend and bought all Bill Baker’s paintings.”

One of the reasons I’d called that morning was because during a lunch meeting the Friday prior, one of my companions had mentioned the large back room at Michael’s gallery had been cleared out. “I think Baker took all his paintings.” He said. 

Well Baker did in fact take all his paintings, all the way to his new collector’s home in Ft Worth, Texas! I emailed Bill when I got off the phone with Michael. He let me know he was still on the road but would check in when he got back to Albuquerque where he lives.

Born in Bronxville, New York, Bill Baker arrived at the conclusion that he was an artist,  while working as a carpenter in the city. After a year of taking art classes at Duchess County Community College in Poughkeepsie, Baker decided that travel and  experience would be far more rewarding than continuing with a formal education in the Arts.

Now a multi-award winning artist who has lived in Albuquerque for the past three decades, he is world-renowned for his oil pastel depictions of the worlds vanishing tribes. He found inspiration early on in the Thrahumara Indians of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, whom he began spending time with in 1985, photographing and sketching them; documenting  their culture and traditional ways.

Baker essentially lives with the people he paints, so that he can have direct experience of every aspect of their culture, which he sees as being now, on the edge of extinction. Since those early forays into remote regions, his travels have also included much of Asia, and in fact he’s soon headed to an out-of-the-way region in  India with his teenage son for an annual festival, adding to the cornucopia of cultures he has witnessed and documented. His subjects include the Guatemalan Maya Quicha Indians, the hill tribes of East Asia, and several tribes in the endangered Amazon of South America.

When we talked, he was excited to share his latest inspiration, which found him working closer to home. 

“This past summer I had visited Mesa Verde.” He told me,  “And while walking the cliff dwellings, my imagination was sparked by the thought of the natives’ way of life one thousand years ago; especially how they would get to their dwellings by climbing the cliffs carrying such things as water, corn, small game etc.”

“It occurred to me to do a series of paintings of the cliff climbers bringing these goods to their dwellings.” He continued, “so now I have embarked on this venture,” he chuckled. “A six painting series called  The Cliff Climbers of Mesa Verde “.

Being the perfectionist he is, with an eagle eye for details most miss, from the embroidery on a woman’s shawl to the way the light touches a dancer’s moccasin, Bill misses nothing, and as authenticity is critical to his work, I wondered how he was approaching these paintings, being that the cliff climbers no longer live in Mesa Verde!

“I contacted professional cliff climbers,” he told me, “ dressed them in native garb and accessories such as baskets, bows and arrows and various tools such as the stone axe, and  I photographed these climbers in various areas of New Mexico that are similar to the surroundings of Mesa Verde.”

I asked how he was able to get some of the shots he had emailed me.

“ I have even gone to such lengths as to photograph these climbers with the use of harnesses down the side of a cliff.” He responded.

“The paintings depict the actual photographs that I shot, except for the faces which I chose from my Tarahumara photograph archives.”

He says he very carefully chose the most indigenous  faces “ as I had imagined them to be.”

I thought it was magically synchronistic how he had chosen to make this series while his work in Taos hung in a precarious balance at Michael’s gallery.

“The guy told me he was “His” helper.” Michael said when I popped in to see him the next day. “I want to help you, is what he told me when he began pointing out the paintings he intended to buy. He began with thirteen and then left to have lunch after we put red dots on them all.” Michael recalled. “When he came back, he said he’d take all! Twenty-seven  paintings!” Michael shook his head. “That’s Art History.” He said.

“Now I can pay for the trip to India” Had been Bill’s response to me asking how he felt about the sale. “I was wondering where I was going to find the money for it.” Bill was simply being practical, while Michael was still high on the surreal sequence of events.

I told him I’d talked to Bill. “He’s working on a new series of cliff climbers.” I laughed. “He sent an image entitled “Cliffhanger,” I think I’ll use that for the blog.”

“Apropos.” Michael didn’t miss a beat. His literary bent caught the metaphor in an instant.

Bill Baker has since filled several empty spots in the gallery’s back room. “It’s a big space,” he mused, “I’m going to have to get back to work.”

The work you see here is a series still in progress, but these images capture the spirits who roam this land, whose ancient footsteps echo through history in places like Mesa Verde, Bandelier and Chaco Canyon. The steep cliffs are powerful reminders of our current environmental planetary crisis, where we collectively stand at the very edge of a symbolic precipice,

For much more on Bill Baker and his extraordinary work, please visit the Michael McCormick Gallery’s site linked below.

mccormickgallery/billbaker

Editors Note: An interesting aside. Two very large and quite spectacular Bill Baker paintings hang at the newly re-opened Stakeout. The owners acquired them for the building even before renovations began. They were part of the series purchased by the aforementioned collector from Ft. Worth.

All images thanks to Bill Baker

The post  Cliffhanger appeared first on taoStyle.

Yesterday,

The Guardian newspaper noted that “La Calavera Catrina, the elegant female skeleton once used to mock the rich Mexicans who aspired to be Europeans ( is), increasingly seen as the personification of the Day of the Dead – and a symbol of Mexican cool.”

Día de Muertos (October 31 to November 2) was traditionally the time of year when the living communed with the spirits of the dead and families remembered their loved ones at graveyard vigils and with elaborate altars decorated with offerings of food, drink and flowers.

In more recent years  the festival has moved out of homes and cemeteries and into the streets. These days annual Day of the Dead parades and parties are part and parcel of mainstream culture in the West.

Just a couple of weeks ago, our neighbor to the South, elevated themselves to yet another level of coolness and very soon around 128 million or so people will gain access to legal marijuana. Legislators in Mexico are finalizing regulations to make marijuana legal. The legislative effort came after the country’s Supreme Court ruled last year that Mexico’s ban on recreational pot was unconstitutional. On Oct. 17, 2019, a number of (Mexican) Senate committees unveiled draft legislation that would make Mexico the third country worldwide, after Uruguay and Canada, to legalize recreational marijuana. 

Right now, around 41 million people have access to recreational marijuana that’s legal at a federal level. Two countries have legalized recreational pot — Canada and Uruguay. We can’t include the millions of Americans who live in the 11 states that have legalized recreational marijuana in our total since marijuana remains illegal at the federal level in the United States, but Mexico’s groundbreaking cannabis bill, which seems to be very close to becoming law, will certainly fuel the impetus to legalize it here. 

In case you haven’t noticed, the cannabis industry has been all the buzz on Wall Street for the past couple of years. And it’s not hard to understand why if you dig into the economic potential of legal cannabis. According to the State of the Legal Cannabis Markets report, worldwide legal weed sales in licensed stores more than tripled between 2014 and 2018 to nearly $11 billion. But over the next decade, Wall Street has chimed in and is projecting anywhere from $50 billion on the low-end to as much as $200 billion in annual sales.

If this estimate is correct, that’s growth Wall Street and investors cannot ignore.The question that remains, is where to put your money? Perhaps the one near-constant with Wall Street’s projections and various independent reports on the industry has been the expectation that recreational marijuana will dominate the marketplace. State of the Legal Cannabis Markets forecasts that worldwide recreational marijuana sales will be nearly double that of medical marijuana sales by 2024: $26.7 billion to $13.9 billion.

This is backed by the idea that new markets (e.g., Mexico) will legalize adult-use cannabis in the years to come, and that in fully legalized markets we often see the medical industry destroyed by the adult-use industry. After all, why would patients pay more or take the extra step of seeing a doctor for a card, when they could simply go to a dispensary and buy it themselves

That may however be a mistake. Although all eyes appear to be on the potential of the recreational weed industry to thrive, investors would be smart not to dismiss medical marijuana, because medical cannabis could turn out to be the smarter option, even for investors.

To begin with, medical marijuana patients tend to be much more attractive consumers for pot stocks. Based on initial surveys in Canada during the fourth quarter of 2018, medical weed patients tend to buy cannabis products more often, as well as use the product more frequently. Plus medical marijuana users generally yield much higher margins for cannabis stocks than recreational consumers, because research tells us patients are far more willing to purchase derivatives, such as edibles, beverages, oils, topicals, concentrates, or vapes (more on that next post.) Compared to dried cannabis flower, derivatives yield stronger margins and have virtually no supply or pricing concerns at the moment.

Investors should also consider the fact that the global market may be more conducive to medical marijuana sales over the next decade. Even as Mexico  legalizes recreational marijuana there would still only be three adult-use legal markets worldwide. By comparison, more than 40 countries have waved the green flag on medical cannabis.  For the foreseeable future, medical cannabis is the only global opportunity in the pot industry. And that is certainly true here in New Mexico.

But most importantly, the medical marijuana industry is where investors are going to get their greatest degree of exposure to the rise of cannabidiol (CBD), the non- psychotropic cannabinoid best known for its proven medical benefits. One estimate suggests  the U.S. CBD market alone could be worth $23.7 billion by 2023. 

Though all marijuana stocks do have some sort of medical marijuana exposure, a handful have made it clear that medical pot patients, and the high margins they typically generate, are a priority. For instance, Aurora Cannabis (NYSE:ACB), the largest marijuana producer in the world, has made no secret that it intends to be a medical marijuana company. 

Likewise, Cronos Group (NASDAQ:CRON) continues to tout itself not as a marijuana business but a cannabinoid company. Some experts think this could be the key to profiting off the coming marijuana boom. And make no mistake – it is coming. Cannabis legalization is sweeping  North America – 10 states plus Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the last few years, and full legalization came to Canada in October 2018. Now Mexico.

Meanwhile in New Mexico a battle is being waged about the use of Medical Marijuana (by patients who are minors), in our schools. Certainly this will be one of the issues Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will focus on during the next legislature. Cannabis will no doubt be a major topic during the upcoming 30-day session.  If all this just gives you a headache simply thinking about it, and with Halloween around the corner, you’re ready to climb under the covers and ignore the army of Trick or Treaters headed your way, I’ve got the perfect remedio for you!

And Southwest Wellness has you nicely covered (no need for the comforter), this Halloween!

 – ALL Flower is $10/Gram TAX INCLUDED

 – 20% off All Candy (Lollipops, Candies, Gummies, Chocolate)

 – 20% off All Drinks (Lemonades, Tiki Juice)

The gummies include the new Southwest Wellness brand, with a perfect  Passion Fruit flavor, made in-house! This is just a taste of more goodies to come. Flower and candy special Thursday only, the drink special through Sunday.

So as you prepare for the Masked Marauders headed your way, make yourself one (or both) of these refreshing and soothing Day of the Dead themed libations, ensuring you’ll glide through the night in good spirits.

Pink Sugar-skull Lemonade Punch

2 bottles pink lemonade 

2 bottles plain lemonade

1 cup cranberry juice

1 bottle sparkling water

Combine and serve over ice. Garnish with fresh raspberries, sliced lemon and lime

Mexican Mango Madness

2 mangoes (ripe)

2 bottles of Mango Tiki Juice

1/4 cup lime juice (or juice of 1/2 lime)

Pinch salt

1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or 1 to 3 teaspoons sugar to taste)

1 large bottle sparkling  water 

Slice mangoes and throw in a blender with other ingredients and serve over ice, garnished with wedges of citrus.

These are non-alcoholic versions but you could add 1 cup of vodka or tequila to both, and substitute a bottle of white wine for the sparkling water in the Mango Madness. Be careful however as many studies show that both Mango and Citrus can amplify the effects of the cannabis.

For more on Southwest Wellness and all the services they provide here in Taos, please visit their site linked below.

Southwest Wellness in Taos is located at 1023 Salazar Rd.

In Albuquerque, the 9132 Montgomery Blvd location is now be joined by two more: 2325 San Pedro Dr NE and 101 98th St NW.

southwestwellness

Images of lemonade, gummies and flower thanks to Will Hooper at Southwest Wellness, all other images Stock Files

The post Ghostly Ganja & Mango Madness at SWWellness appeared first on taoStyle.

Until quite recently, shopping for organic foods required a special trip to a natural foods store or farmers market. 

Today, you can find an extensive selection of organic products in thousands of natural food stores and three out of four conventional grocery stores. Americans have developed a healthy appetite for organics, with fresh produce being in the lead.

In the summer of 1924 Rudolf Steiner presented what has been called the first organic agriculture course to a group of over one hundred farmers. Steiner’s Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture, published in 1924, led to the popularization of biodynamic agriculture, probably the first comprehensive organic farming system, based on his teachings.

But the first use of the term “organic farming”  was coined by the English Lord Northbourne, who derived the idea of  “the farm as organism”, which he expounded in his book, Look to the Land (1940), in which he described a holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming.

By the 1950s, sustainable agriculture was a research topic of some interest, mainly focused on the new chemical approaches then being developed. Here in the States, J.I. Rodale began to popularize  methods of organic growing, promoting organic gardening to the general public, then in 1962, Rachel Carson, a prominent scientist and naturalist, published Silent Spring, chronicling the effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment.  A bestseller, and widely read around the world, Silent Spring was instrumental in the US government’s 1972 banning of DDT. The book and its author are often credited with launching the environmental movement.

In 1968, widely remembered as the Summer of Love, Stewart Brand published the Whole Earth Catalog, creating a marketplace for consumers and suppliers interested in sustainability and ecology, while Tom and Kate Chappell decided to create Tom’s of Maine to make and sell their own natural and personal care products that would not harm the environment.

Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) in the U.S. on April 22, 1970  as a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Throughout the 1970s, worldwide movements concerned with environmental pollution, brought  further attention to organic farming. One goal of the early organic movement was to promote consumption of locally grown food, which was promoted through slogans such as “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food”.  A group of farmers formed California Certified Organic Farmers, becoming the first organization to certify organic farms in North America.

In 1972, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), was founded in Versailles, outside of Paris, France. IFOAM was dedicated to the diffusion of information on the principles and practices of organic agriculture across national and linguistic boundaries. That same year, John Battendieri founded Santa Cruz Organics, which marketed some of the first packaged organic products in the United States.

By the 1980s, various farming and consumer groups began lobbying  for government regulation of organic production to ensure standards of production. This led to various legislation and certification standards being enacted through the 1990s and up to this time. By the time the new millennium rolled around, the worldwide market for organic products had exploded. 

Way ahead of the curve, Cid and Betty Backer have been involved with the Natural Food Industry since the ‘70’s when both of them arrived in New Mexico as “young hippies,” as they describe themselves, albeit rather industrious young hippies!

Cid and Betty Backer opened Cid’s Food Market in 1986. Cid had come from New York to go to college, while Betty, having grown up West of Amarillo on a Cattle Ranch/Wheat farm arrived in Santa Fe after deciding very quickly, that college “was not my thing,”  and promptly bought a vegetarian “hippie restaurant”. Cid was in Taos by then, having started a whole grain “hippie” bakery with a few other like-minded souls. The Bakery, Working Man’s Bread, eventually sold and became Mainstreet Bakery.

Once Cid began delivering bread to Betty’s restaurant the two fell in love which led to Betty selling her restaurant. But soon after making the big move to Taos, she went off to San Diego to study the Bates Method of Vision Training to become a Vision Trainer. The People’s Food Co-Op in Ocean Beach, one of the first in the Nation, made a big impression on her, she recalls.  She returned to Taos where they lived together in a cabin on Hondo Mesa. After their oldest son Lee was born, Cid sold his share of the Bakery and they spent a good part of that Winter in Mexico.

When they came back to Taos, Cid got a job at the Amigos Food Co-Op. After several years of unofficially managing the Co-Op, he applied for the formal Managerial Position but when the Board hired someone else, the couple decided to open their own store instead on the North Side of Taos. They opened Cid’s in 1986 in the space the Northside Guadalajara Grill now occupies. Cid’s was a small, modest family run grocery store back then and because they offered gourmet items along with natural and organic products, they set themselves apart from the somewhat funky Co-Op. Evidently they caught a rising tidal wave, and now three decades later, although Cid’s remains a family owned and run business, it’s hard to imagine its humble origins driving into its always crowded parking lot any day of the week. Not bad for a couple of hippies!

Their two sons, Lee and Kellen, grew up working in the grocery store. Lee is now at the helm of the family business, while Kellen, an Academic, now lives on the East Coast with his wife and daughter. Under Lee’s watch, Cid’s has expanded to include prepared food along with a salad bar. It’s become one of the most popular lunch spots in town! Their great kitchen also caters events along with the food served at Cid’s daily. A few years ago, Lee and his wife Angelica (my daughter), opened the Cellar, a specialty wine, beer and spirits store, behind Cid’s, growing the business in a new direction.

But Cid’s remains the family run business it started out as, with their kids now growing up in the store, and helping out during school holidays and breaks, learning the ropes and the value of hard work. The company is renowned in Taos for its above average pay scale, benefits and work environment; in fact the staff are truly like a big family – not to mention that practically everyone in Taos has a family member who’s worked there at one time or another – and although Betty no longer works at the store, Cid is there most days, when the couple aren’t travelling or back East to see Kellen and his family.

As interest in organics grew, organic foods and other products have become widely available in conventional supermarkets, but until recently high prices meant only more affluent shoppers could afford them. Studies tell us that conventional retailers now outpace natural retailers for share of organic food sales. Their flourishing presence at “big box” retailers that cater to price-conscious consumers including Walmart, are a clear indication that things have changed, along with the term “farm to table” bandied about from Bangor to Bakersfield!

Initial interest in organics and natural products might have started with more educated consumers who took the time to research products, but their popularity has become more democratized across all demographics. Clearly Cid and Betty’s vision of including gourmet and other specialty items on their shelves, was farsighted, and remains the reason why people – both locals and visitors – make it hard to find a parking place in their lot, no matter the time of day!

This weekend, Cid’s celebrates 33 years aqui in Taos, and as always, they use this occasion to give back to the community in gratitude for the on – going support (and the packed parking lot!) Friday and Saturday, Nov 1st and 2nd, from 9-6, there’ll be a DJ, “lots of fabulous food tastings along with tons of giveaways!” Cid’s Marketing Director (my son – yeah, I told you it’s a family affair), Joshua Cunningham told me. “Be there!” 

Local favorites, Nurturessence, Taos Honey CBD, Bison Star Naturals, and Gosar Ranch will all be featured over the weekend with specials and demos, along with many other vendors and brands. As usual it’s a party – get there early. The early bird finds the worm. And in this case, a parking spot!

For more on Cid’s Anniversary Weekend Bash, please visit their site linked below.

cidsfoodmarket

All images thanks to Cid’s.

The post Cid’s Anniversary Weekend appeared first on taoStyle.

“It’s my last show as President of the Board.” Margo Beutler-Gins noted.

The New Masters of Taos series, which she spearheaded at the Blumenschein Museum, continues with a show of photography that celebrates the South West with a nod to the great photographers who first captured the region. Apropos of these early November days – when it is said, the spirits of the departed,once again,  walk the land.

“I look forward to continuing working to preserve and reinvigorate the heritage of the Taos Historic Museums, in a new capacity.” She told me when we talked recently. “Mainly raising money via grants and philanthropic donations.” In her time as President of the museums, Margo (who happens to be the great-granddaughter of Taos Society of Artists co-founder, Bert Phillips), has poured the funds she has raised into the buildings themselves; fixing foundations destroyed by prairie dogs, mudding the walls in the traditional style, restoring furnishings – the list goes on. But she has also spent considerable energy on making certain the cultural history of Taos, continues beyond the present.

Art is the arena she has chosen to focus on, because like myself (and the reason I started this blog, five years ago this month), she knows that Taos’ international reputation as an Art Colony is what sets it apart from other outdoorsy, mountain towns with ski resorts. To see Taos through the narrow lens of a tourist destination, not only perpetuates a false and unsustainable economy, but it ignores the hundreds of artists who choose to live and work here, decade after decade, gifting us with not only the fruits of their labour, but also their vision and voice. Always swimming ahead of the current, artists traverse unknown territory long before the rest of us.

Their farsighted vision is why Taos is unique and not just another place to go see a concert. Art on lamp posts doesn’t count. There needs to be far more energy directed at making certain our galleries and museums are front and foremost in promoting Taos as a place worth coming to, so we don’t see long-established businesses like the Michael McCormick Gallery, struggle to keep their doors open. Thanks to (conservationist, philanthropist  and hedge fund manager), Louis Bacon’s continuing investment in Taos Ski Valley since purchasing it, Taos Air has made it easier to get here, and because of his personal reputation, Taos is finally getting some love! Instead of trying to ride on the coat tails of other resorts, Taos needs to use this opportunity to continue to set itself apart. With Art.

Steven Bundy’s work is a paean to the place  we live in; this Land of Enchantment like no other. This borderland between us and “them”. This region that is more a part of Latin America than not, with Meso- American roots that stretch way back, before the Conquest, before the influx of Outlaws, fortune hunters, and modern artists. Because people have always made art here. The light itself demands it, and in that regard too, Steven Bundy’s inclusion in this series is right. Of all the arts, photography perhaps relies on light, the most.

Steven Bundy’s photographs take on disparate subject matter – from rodeos to the Santuario in Chimayo – but all of it unique to the region.

1) Hi Steve, please tell my readers a little about yourself and how you came to be here in Taos?

SB: Born in Indiana in 1954. My parents moved the family to the San Diego area in 1963 where I lived until I retired from my civil engineering business in 2012. My interest in photography started in 1973 when my girlfriend at the time (and soon to become my wife) Christie started a college class in photography. I tagged along for some of her assignments. Her interest waned but mine grew to the point of where photography eventually became my second career.

Our coming to Taos story is a lot like many people here in town. In 2006 we were driving through town from Chama on the way to Santa Fe for our first time in the area. We had breakfast at Michael’s Kitchen. Went to the Pueblo and drove around town exploring the area. We were in town for maybe 4-5 hours before we headed south to Santa Fe. This was a day in late July of that year. About a month later, I asked my wife what she thought of Taos. She said she felt at home there, as I explained I did too. By November of that year we had purchased a brand new condo as out vacation home. As the years passed we were spending all of our vacation time in Taos. At both of our jobs we listened to KTAO radio every day on our work computers. In doing so we both had a sense of disappointment at the end of each work day of going outside to find that we were still in California. When I finally retired from my business, we packed up the belongings and moved to Taos permanently.  

2)How did this show at the Blumenschein – being included in Margo’s New Masters of Taos series – come about?

SB: In 2017, Margo asked my wife Christie to be the first artist in her “New Masters of Taos” series to present her work in oil and watercolor painting to Taos. Her exhibition titled “Oil and Water” at the museum in December of 2017 was a great success. After that showing, Margo asked if I would be interested in doing an exhibit of my photography eventually. I agreed. We started the planning for it in 2018 and finally nailed down the dates for a showing this November. Interestingly, I will be the last artist in her series since she is stepping down at the end of the year from her president’s title with the museum association. I believe I am the only photographer that was included in the series. So I am very honored to be part of this very talented group of Taos artists.

3)Talk a little about your process; what inspires and motivates you?

SB:I wake each morning inspired, with my eye trained for the first image of the day. Sometimes I actually have dream of certain images and then head out later that day to try to physically capture that image. What I am saying is…. I live for photography. Our move from California was meant to give us both the inspiration to expand on our arts and to reinvent ourselves from our past lives into the artist lives we had always wanted. We both have succeeded. 

As the images in the exhibit show, my subject matter to photograph is varied. I don’t label myself a particular type of photographer (ie: landscape, portrait, wedding, etc and I will NEVER do wedding photography). My images are inspired by the feeling I have at the time of shutter click and then again in my post process of the image. I am my own worst critic. If I am not pleased by the final product, no one will ever see that image. As for my process, I state in my bio: 

“Photographer Steven Bundy attempts to blend his 36-year background in civil engineering and its associated “Left-Brain” analytical thinking with his 18 years of Fine Art Photography experience and its “Right-Brain” creativity into all of his photographic images. His civil engineering background has influenced his sense of composition as he finds his eye naturally drawn to the geometric designs that exist in nature and the manmade forms all around us”. 

4)Please tell us a little about the images in this exhibition of your work.

SB: Even though I photograph all of my images in color, I am primarily known as a black & white photographer. Most of my collected images and what are in my two galleries are black & white images. I converted all of this exhibition’s images in post process to the gray tones you see. I included these images from many separate locations and times from the last 10 years. They are varied in subject matter for a reason, to not bore the viewers with just a different view of a similar scene in every image. The only central theme to the show is my attempt to control the light and contract in each image the same in an attempt to adhere to the Ansel Adams & Fred Archer “Zone System” method for standardizing exposure in an image. The method is where the title of the exhibit was derived.

Most of these images were spontaneous with few of them actually planned ahead of time. I rarely choose a subject to shoot myself……they kind of just find me. My best images are often the ones that just present themselves and are a more spontaneous representation of that very quick moment in time. I do plan a few images such as my “Moonrise Black Mesa” image which is an homage’ to the Ansel Adams “Moonrise Hernandez” image. That one was planned almost a month in advance knowing when and where the full moonrise would be in relation to the San Ildefonso chapel, south of Espanola.  I do love old architecture, especially old adobe churches and abandoned relics. I can usually get a good moody shot from them.

Another example is my image titled “Tiwa Pride”. That was photographed during one of my photo tours with a client from Columbia. He was posing the pueblo models in front of a bright orange screen even though we had the beautiful pueblo landscape and mountains all around us. I snapped away during the shoot anyway not knowing what all would become of any of the images. Once I turned my color images into black & white, they came to life for me. So much so, I included it in this show.

10 Degrees of Gray opens tomorrow November 2nd at the Blumenschein Museum with a reception for the artist from 5-7pm. For more information please visit the site linked below.

taoshistoricmuseums

All images thanks to Steven Bundy

The post Steven Bundy Captures The Spirit Of The West appeared first on taoStyle.

With Local Flavor 

Local Flavor’s  Editor Cullen Curtiss, writes in her foreword to this month’s preview of the magazine, about being thankful.

In this month of gratitude, we take to heart with Gandhi’s words “be the change you wish to see in the world” and offer stories on the Taos Ski Valley’s B Corp, the Wildlife Corridors Act, the Santa Fe Watershed Association’s young river stewards, the investigative journalists of Searchlight NM, and finally, our cover man Chef/Co-owner Patrick Lambert, who generously shares his recipe for moving through the world with grace. Thank you all.

YOUNG STEWARDS OF THE RIVER. They pick up your trash. They build tree wells, plant cottonwoods and willows. They see our City’s homelessness problems. They are children in pre-school to 18 years old, and they are cleaning up our river through Santa Fe Watershed Association’s Adopt-a-River/Arroyo programs. 

HOME AT THE COWGIRL. Chef/Co-owner of The Cowgirl, Patrick Lambert says in his interview, “We are a place that one can come and feel like family. I’m committed to carrying that into the future.” 

SAFE PASSAGE. Achieving the vision of the [Wildlife Corridors Act] is not only about reconnecting our land and wildlife to one another, but about reconnecting our people–who depend on both–to a deeper sense of place, where wildlife has safer passage on land with fewer boundaries,” writes Michael Dax. 

BE THE CHANGE. “I’m obviously very passionate about this mountain and about this community and only want the best for it and being a Certified B [Benefit] Corp allows us to do the very best for this place and this mountain,” says Taos Ski Valley’s Chief Administrative Office, Dawn Boulware. 

THE TRUTH TELLERS. “Changing the world through journalism is everything I believe in,” says Sara Solovitch, editor of Searchlight New Mexico. Read about how one story, chronicling the experiences of the boy on the right, reported on for 10 months, brought about an unprecedented forum for parents, school administrators, elected officials, and psychologists.

BREAK BREAD. GIVE THANKS. The six bread bakers writer Ashley M. Biggers highlighted in this cozy story are seemingly all prophets. You do not want to miss their reflections on their work, including those of Sage Bakehouse’s owner and baker Andrée Falls, “It’s part of our mission to make a handcrafted product. There’s no place to hide. It’s a very unadorned, traditional product.”

RADISH & RYE. Camille Bremer, Co-owner of radish & rye says, “For years at Geronimo I had a piece of paper with radish and rust written on it that I’d keep in my pocket while I was bartending. I wanted it that bad.”

TALKING TURKEY. You still have plenty of time to purchase a natural, pasture-raised bird for your Thanksgiving table. In our Still Hungry column, you’ll find tips and tricks from the pros at Keller’s Farm Stores, Pollo Real and Embudo Valley Organics.

CHEF’S BUZZ. Writer Lynn Cline delivers her monthly round-up of foodie highlights, including the news that Chef/Owner Liam Kimball has opened an inventive sandwich shop called tuerta in ABQ!

TOP TIX. What would we do without Top Tix columnist Stephanie Hainsfurther’s tips on the hottest performing arts tix in town, including the indie/rock-chamber/pop collective San Fermin.

ON THE ROAD. Author of Exploring New Mexico, Sharon Niederman is back this month with more road trip recommendations for your late fall adventures, including a visit to the fourth annual HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market, where the writer herself will be signing books, Nov 18.

ART BEAT. Writer Mia Rose Poris’ picks for your November gallery-hopping, including a trip to LewAllen Galleries, where you can see painter Linda Stojak’s work.

For more on Local Flavor’s November issue, please visit their online site linked below.

Local Flavor (the print edition), is available at more than 500 locations statewide, including Cid’s aqui en Taos! If you are planning to pop by today for the store’s big annual Anniversary bash, do pick up a copy of Local Flavor on your way out!

LocalFlavorMagazine

All photographs thanks to Local Flavor Magazine

The post Change Makers, Culinary Crushes And Talking Turkey appeared first on taoStyle.

Fast fashion is fast.

It is also disposable and cheap –  a toxic combination that exploits our environment along with workers and we, the consumers. The undeniable weight it burdens our planet with, is astronomical and unsustainable. As we become more aware of the disastrous effects fast fashion has on our planet, there’s an urgency to adopt more earth-friendly habits. This includes the brands we support and the clothes we buy.

Creating a sustainable wardrobe doesn’t have to be a daunting task, neither does it have to be expensive. And you don’t need to clear out your entire wardrobe because you just learned about sustainable style! A few sessions with Marie Kondo on Netflix and you suddenly feel inspired to live with less? Don’t give in to the urge to chuck everything out. Because in fact, it’s not the most sustainable choice.

The most sustainable wardrobe is a versatile and enduring wardrobe. Because retailers are desperate to cut costs in an attempt to make as much as possible for as low a cost as possible, it becomes all about supply and demand. So if you start throwing everything away and replacing it with more ethical options, you are still increasing the demand for more, which is what drives the fashion industry to begin with. If you transfer your fast fashion consumption habits over to second hand stores, only to get rid of those pieces after a few wears, that’s still sustaining a culture of overconsumption and disposability. This does nothing to help, but compounds the problem.

That’s not to say never go shopping again, but our climate disaster and human rights violations aren’t going away if we keep demanding more. Constant consumption and disposal is a vicious cycle in itself, especially considering most of our donated clothes won’t be bought by someone else, rather, they’ll just become another piece of waste in the landfills.

This is the first of a series of posts, Sponsored by Clean Taos, on how to create a stress free, sustainable wardrobe, helping you make considered choices so that you begin to shop differently. Clean Taos, coincidentally owned by my daughter Genevieve (also co-owner of Shree Yoga with Suki Dalury), is part of the new Fashion Revolution. 

“I really want to see people dress nicely again,” says Genevieve, who bemoans the rise of athleisure. She grew up in a family of sartorialists; Style matters. How one presents oneself to the world, matters. Rules are relaxed; it’s more about being appropriate for the occasion than anything else, and having the clothes for all those occasions, already in your possession. And those clothes need care and maintenance in order to last, a service she decided to provide. Both my daughters love to do the laundry, and quite rightly; it should not be a tedious job.

In following posts I’ll talk more about shopping with intention, storing clothes seasonally, creating wardrobe capsules for the various aspects of your life, how to hone in on your personal style, enabling you to save big bucks, and much more. Over my adult life, beginning during my years in NYC, where clothes storage was at a minimum, I learned to curate a carefully considered wardrobe; one that takes me everywhere with very little shopping involved. And even then, usually only to replace something too worn, or if I can see myself wearing it a hundred times.

I’m not a label snob; frankly I don’t care where my clothes come from; if the material is good, the seams are straight and the hems aren’t wonky, and it makes me feel good (comfortable), it’s mine. And as I already noted, if it’s in your closet, give it some love. Don’t throw it away just yet. Play dress up, reimagine it, wear it in an unexpected way. That tulle skirt you bought on a whim, wore once and now it languishes, forgotten in a pile somewhere in the depths of the closet? Try it perhaps, with a cardigan worn backwards as a top, Instead of stilettos, choose ballet slippers. Easier on your back and always chic. You get the idea.

First things first; empty your drawers and closets. Clean and vacuum. Go through your garments and try them on. Do they still fit? Are they too worn to wear? Do you hate it? Make piles. One for keepers, two for not sure yet, three to sell, four to donate, five to Clean. Put them all aside except for the keepers and dirty clothes. Put the clean garments back in the wardrobe. Store away the maybes, dispose of the rest carefully. Old tshirts can be recycled into rags. Your closet should already be smiling, not taunting you with so many clothes but nothing to wear.

1) Shop your closet.

An ethical wardrobe is one that is loved, cared for and worn. So basically it’s about loving what you’ve already got and taking care of it. It doesn’t matter if it comes from H&M or Gucci. You already own it and bought it for a reason, Most of us only wear 20% of our wardrobe on a regular basis, so instead of shopping for new clothes, shop your closet. Use what you have and wear what you own.

Mix and match old faves with newer, out of favour pieces, to create interesting ensembles.  A challenge like Project 333 or the 10×10 wardrobe can help refresh your style and make you feel excited about your existing wardrobe again. They help you to create seasonal capsule wardrobes using what you already own, to refine your personal style with a wardrobe you’ll wear year after year. 

Make it a habit to go through your wardrobe regularly, particularly when  considering making a new purchase, to try out new outfit combinations with that piece in mind. It helps to see old pieces in a new light and will help you avoid impulse purchases.

2) Shop Less

And mindfully. Considering we don’t wear most of what’s in our wardrobes, it’s safe to say we don’t need more clothes.  Some recent studies tell us that we discard around 90% of our purchases within six months. That’s mind boggling. Changing our shopping habits is the number one priority when creating a sustainable wardrobe.

When clothes are cheap, it’s easy to buy a lot of them without thinking about the long term costs. 

Fast fashion has seduced us into an endless buying cycle. Clothing is produced in high volumes, quickly and cheaply, using methods that threaten natural resources, not to mention the  damage to the social and ecological environment. Clothes are poorly made and trend-driven, rendering them easily disposable, creating more and more trash; fast fashion is clearly unsustainable; we buy too much and discard too quickly.  For our wardrobes to be truly sustainable we need to make fewer purchases of higher quality, shop second-hand and avoid fast fashion brands if possible. 

When we break the fast fashion habit by shopping less and investing in higher quality clothing we not only find ourselves with a more satisfying wardrobe, but also, a timeless one. And you can accomplish this on any budget. 

3) Shop with intention

Making considered choices based on your lifestyle and budget is key. Figure out your priorities. So whether you’re  a minimalist taking the capsule approach to your style or an environmentalist and vegan, who has the planet and the creatures in mind, or you are just trying to reduce your waste with low impact habits –  whatever your values are – use them to guide your purchases.

If you’re struggling to change old shopping habits, begin by unsubscribing from fast fashion mailing lists, keep a wishlist and give yourself at least 24 hours before making a purchase, and learn where to shop for sustainable and eco-friendly clothing. 

Creating a sustainable wardrobe long term requires us to permanently change our approach to fashion.  Learning to buy with intention, and avoid fast fashion is about creating new habits. If you’re someone who shops regularly and buys a lot of clothes, it might help to try a shopping ban to break the habit. If you own a lot of clothes already, a style challenge as I mentioned earlier, can help you to appreciate what’s already in your wardrobe. 

Consider setting a tighter budget and begin by looking for items you need second-hand before buying new.  By thrifting for clothing you can also focus on buying eco-friendly natural fibers and better made garments and labels you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. There are so many different ways we can adjust our shopping habits to enable us to maintain a sustainable wardrobe without sacrificing style or our bank accounts.

And finally, keep your clothes clean. Some things require less cleaning than others. Denim for example, but we know for sure that moths don’t feast on cashmere and fine wool. They gorge themselves on the salt crystals left behind by your perspiration. And if you are thrifting, it’s definitely a good idea to make sure you remove any moth larvae or other insects and pests before wearing. 

Clean Taos offers a few laundering options to suit your specific needs For more information, please visit their site linked below.

cleantaos.com

Join the Fashion Revolution. Get involved, see how you can help by checking out their site.

fashionrevolution

Photo of Genevieve in her Boiler Room (“his” name is Verne), taken on my iphone.

Other images, Stock Files

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