Celebration of Pueblo Art and Culture: Daily Schedule

Since we are finalizing details for our SchoolArts/CRIZMAC Celebration of Pueblo Art and Culture in Santa Fe in July, I thought I would share an overview of what we will be doing (we still have two spaces left, I believe). We seek to provide meaningful experiences and interactions that would be difficult to find or do just as a casual visitor.

We begin on Wednesday, July 3, with a welcome meal and introduction to the seminar and Santa Fe. Participants will stay and work at the lovely Inn of the Governors, located just a few blocks from the Plaza. They have a fantastic full breakfast and tea with sherry and cookies every day; also a beautiful pool.

Thursday, our first full day will be spent with Taos artist Dawning Pollen Shorty, who will bring clay she has prepared from the Pueblo for us to work with all day. (She will have gathered the natural materials from her Pueblo to mix the clay she will bring.)

The next day, Friday, John Reyna, an anthropologist, guide, and teacher, also from Taos Pueblo, will join us to provide an introduction to Pueblo history and culture. We'll also visit the Museum of Contemporary Native Art and the Andrea Fisher Gallery before starting another hands-on project.

On Saturday, we will travel to Santo Domingo Pueblo to visit the artists Raymond and Gabby Tenerio, learn about Pueblo jewelry and share a meal in their home. (It is a great honor to be invited to a Pueblo home.)

On Sunday, we'll visit the Museum of American Indian Art and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, both on Museum Hill.
On Monday we go to Taos to fire our clay pieces with Dawning Pollen at her grandmother's home, and visit Taos Pueblo while the work is firing. On the way back to Santa Fe, we'll visit the Poeh Center and Roxanne Swentzell's Tower Gallery in Pojaque.

During the week we will also have walking tours, several meals, visit the galleries on Canyon Road, hear live music at the Plaza bandstand, and more (and you will have some free time, as well). Hands-on studio time will be interspersed throughout. Travel during the seminar will be provided so you do not need a car (You just have to get yourself to Santa Fe!).
I know I can't wait! Even though I have been to Santa Fe many times, there is always something new and I love to revisit old friends and favored places. Many of our participants have returned to our seminars so we do change them every year. It is not necessary to be a teacher or an art teacher - only an interest is needed! If you are a teacher, we can offer you continuing education credit.

To learn more about this and our other offering this summer, Folk Art Extravaganza, check out CRIZMAC's website.

The photo above shows tools used to shape and smooth Pueblo pottery.