by Karon -

Santa Fe Had Been Waiting for Me

Santa Fe had been waiting for me.

Well, not literally. But ever since my first visit a few years ago, I had been wanting to go back and give this fascinating little city more than a quick visit. There was too much I hadn’t seen and too many streets I hadn’t wandered.

So when I found myself spending several weeks in Albuquerque, I knew Santa Fe was finally getting its second chance. Just an hour up the road, it was close enough for a few day trips—and I took full advantage.

Over several visits, I wandered around the historic plaza, stepped inside the famous Loretto Chapel, spent hours exploring the galleries along Canyon Road, and discovered a few local favorites along the way. And after several trips to Santa Fe, I still wasn’t sure I’d seen enough.

The Plaza de Santa Fe was one of the places I found myself returning to. For more than four centuries, it has been at the heart of the city. Surrounded by historic buildings, shops, galleries, restaurants, and plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by, it was easy to spend hours simply wandering.

Just off the Plaza is one of Santa Fe’s most famous landmarks: Loretto Chapel. On one of my visits, I stopped inside to see the mysterious spiral staircase that has fascinated visitors for generations. According to legend, the staircase was built by a mysterious carpenter who appeared after the Sisters of Loretto prayed for a way to reach the choir loft. The staircase’s unusual construction—and the mystery surrounding its builder—has led to its reputation as a miraculous one.

Canyon Road was another stop I made more than once. It’s an art lover’s paradise, with gallery after gallery to explore. I enjoyed chatting with gallery owners and managers, many of whom had fascinating stories about the art, the artists, and how they had personally ended up in Santa Fe. They were also happy to share recommendations for favorite local restaurants and must-do experiences around the city.

By the end of each visit, I was exhausted and maybe a little overstimulated by the abundance of art, artists, and styles. Then again, I may have felt that way every time I left Santa Fe. It’s a city overflowing with culture, history, and art—and apparently, I needed a little time to process it all.

If I visit again, I would like to return in the fall, when the leaves are changing color and the air is cooler. Santa Fe cloaked in amber hues would be a whole different experience. And I could build my trip around a painting workshop, with plenty of time to create, connect with other creative people, and maybe even make a few new friends along the way.

by Karon -

My July Project: Finding My Way Back to Myself

My July project started out very simply – bring more creativity into my life. I thought I was going to spend July doing creative things, but somewhere along the way, creativity reminded me who I was.

I started by going to several art galleries each week. This wasn’t difficult with areas like Santa Fe, Madrid, and Old Town Albuquerque all less than an hour away. I’ve always loved eclectic art galleries, and I found plenty of them in this area.

Many of the galleries were small, independently owned spaces and I was able to meet and visit with the artist. It was so interesting to chat with them about their inspirations or how they got started in art. One watercolor artist I met had been an engineer for 30+ years and then started his second career as an artist. His work was so peaceful, with such a wonderful use of light.

One of my favorite art experiences by far was discovering “Origami in the Garden at Box Studios” on the Santa Fe end of the Turquoise Trail. It turned out that the artist, Kevin Box, was the same artist whose work had captivated me in Boulder, Colorado. I had first discovered his sculptures at a lovely gallery on a sunny afternoon at Pearl Street Mall, and I immediately felt a connection to his work—a permanent representation of the ephemeral art of paper folding. During my years in Japan, I had developed a deep appreciation for the delicate art of origami and absolutely fell in love with Kevin Box’s sculptures. So, to happen upon his work again after traveling all the way to New Mexico felt like such a serendipitous moment.

Besides wandering through art galleries, I began to sketch in my watercolor journal even if only for ten or fifteen minutes a day. It became such a fun little addition to my daily habits. I would sketch everything from flowers to adobe dwellings. I gave myself permission to just play and have fun with the paint without any expectations. I did for myself what I used to do for my art students – encouraged myself to just be okay with imperfection.

I also started reading The War of Art, a book recommended by an artist I met during my stay in Rockport, Texas, back in January. I had actually attended her workshop the previous fall, and when I visited her gallery during my time in Rockport, we talked about the creative process and her own leap of faith into pursuing art. I tucked her book recommendation away in my bin of books traveling with me, and July seemed like the perfect time to finally read it. Her story, along with the book’s exploration of the internal conflicts we face when we try to create, gave me even more to think about during those hot Albuquerque afternoons.

Somewhere along the way, I noticed something happening. The more time I spent wandering through art galleries, talking to artists, practicing art, or reading about creating, the more I wanted to create. I felt like I had found my way back to myself.