Artists have long uprooted their lives for the rare and excellent light we enjoy every day in New Mexico. The art colony in Taos is well documented and celebrated.
But who knew that just the other side of the mountains, stretching all the way from Raton in the north to Las Vegas in the south, there are literally hundreds of artists creating their wares in relative anonymity?
But who knew that just the other side of the mountains, stretching all the way from Raton in the north to Las Vegas in the south, there are literally hundreds of artists creating their wares in relative anonymity?
That’s all changing, and fast, thanks in large part to a recently formed coalition, the Northeastern New Mexico Arts Alliance. The Alliance came together during a conference hosted by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The aim of the conference was to bring together New Mexico’s 24 arts councils in a seed-planting effort to encourage networking to spur “arts economic development” on the local level.
“It clearly worked! At least for us!” said an enthusiastic Katherine McDermott, president of the Moreno Valley Arts Council and now, the Northeastern NM Arts Alliance. Katherine and her counterparts, Brenda Ferri of the Raton Arts and Humanities Council, and Jackie Herrera of Las Vegas, “hit it off” at the conference. The three immediately began forming the idea that is now gaining fame throughout the region as they leveraged their cooperation into a coalition and formed a working board of directors.
The “3 Ts Trail” (Trails, Treasures and Trains) is developing quickly. It helps that the project has clear support at the state level. “The formation of this coalition to support development of a community based Arts Trail in Northeastern New Mexico is very exciting and is just the kind of grassroots effort we want to support,” said Loie Fecteau, executive director of New Mexico Arts. New Mexico Arts is the state arts agency, which is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. “I commend the Moreno Valley Arts Council and all their partners in this arts-based economic development and cultural tourism effort in our state.”
Trails, Treasure…and Trains? While clearly there is no train in Angel Fire, trains have an important connection in both Raton and Las Vegas, from both a historical perspective and a contemporary one. They’ve clearly had an impact. Consider this: the cornerstone gallery in Raton is actually located right at the old station!
At this writing, the trail is still under development, but the basic path has been identified since the beginning. There will be multiple entry points, but to keep it simple, the trail will run from Old Pass Gallery and the historic Shuler Theatre in Raton through Cimarron, Ute Park, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Black Lake, with a potential “spur” to Ocate, then back and down to Mora and on to the historic district and historical art spaces and places of Las Vegas.
It is a trail of living artists and galleries, and the historical buildings that now are home to many of them. The NENMAA understands that many artists, and even galleries, are greatly challenged to bring their work to the market. The “big idea” here is to bring the market to them. With that understood, some studios are just not “ready for company,” so cooperation is actively encouraged. As the trail develops and new artists and galleries open along the way, information will be kept current at “Anchor Galleries” in the communities and on the coalition website at www.nenmarts.org.
Three highlights and “anchors” of the trail are three galleries, one in each of the three cornerstone communities of the trail. In Raton, the Old Pass Gallery is an operation of the Raton Arts and Humanities Council. The Gallery, located on historic First Street in Raton, New Mexico, is the center of the arts community in northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. At the gallery, you can view the timeless works that make New Mexican art famous around the world. The gallery is housed in one of the few remaining Wells Fargo Express office buildings, constructed in 1910 in the graceful mission architectural style. Year round the gallery celebrates traditional Southwest styles, including popular Hispanic religious folk art. You will also find captivating modern interpretations in oil, watercolor, photography, glass, stone and wood. The council also operates the historic Shuler Theatre, another stop before you head down Highway 64 toward Cimarron.
In Angel Fire, you won’t want to miss the Angel Fire ArtSpace. Located in The Cove Arts Center (the big yellow building) the ArtSpace is home to some 30+ local and regional “emerging” artists. The ArtSpace Gallery is owned by artist — and vocal champion of the arts — Katherine McDermott. “This gallery is the active expression of my passion to promote the arts and artists. It has become a magnet for many of the best artists in the region. Artists are moving here all the time!” Katherine noted.
With so many artists represented, the gallery is extremely diverse. Pottery, jewelry, sculpture, and just about every style of 2-D work (oils, watercolor, pastel, acrylic and mixed media) await the art collector and home decorator.
Just down the road there are studio galleries from Black Lake to Mora. You won’t want to drive fast anyway, since the trail is as classically rural as the communities along the way! Once you make it to Las Vegas, be sure to visit the WarDancer Designs and Gallery, a southwest art gallery located in Old Town Las Vegas. The Gallery is on Bridge Street, just off the famous Plaza. The gallery also features unique Native American handcrafted jewelry by Navajo Brian Billie. Neita Fran Ward, owner and designer, opened the Gallery in Las Vegas four years ago. She and Brian Billie have worked together for seven years creating their very unusual pieces of southwest jewelry. WarDancer represents more than 35 local and area artists and artisans. Award-winning visual artists display original oils and giclees; other artists on display include watercolorists, weavers, potters, sculptors, santeros, photographers and welders.
With the trail developing quickly, keep apprised of additions online at www.nenmarts.org or by contacting any of the three “anchor” galleries.
“We are all so very excited about this. Partners are lining up to assist us and it’s going to be a very powerful economic development tool for all of the communities along the way,” said McDermott. Trails, Treasures and Trains will move “art tourism” to a new level in northeastern New Mexico!
—Story by Katherine McDermott
