70TH ANNUAL TRADITIONAL SPANISH MARKET

Spanish Colonial Arts Society is delighted, once again, to celebrate the Hispanic artistic legacy of New Mexico at this summer’s 70th annual Traditional Spanish Market on the historic Santa Fe Plaza.

Hispanic culture thrives during the market, when visitors have the chance to meet some of the most talented Hispanic artists in the country. These artists share their knowledge of the many traditional art forms represented. When you converse with Traditional Spanish Market artists and purchase their art, you are engaging in an increasingly rare exchange in this era: forming a personal relationship with an artist working in a traditional art form that has been developed and passed down over generations, oftentimes within the same family. You can be sure you are purchasing a one-of-a-kind piece of art with its own unique story to tell. As happens many times each year at the market, you may even commission a piece especially for yourself and form a deeply meaningful relationship that lasts a lifetime.

At this summer’s market, you may also run into artists you first met exhibiting at Youth Market and who now have been accepted into Traditional Spanish Market. This year and every year, Youth Market showcases dozens of fledgling artists who have been mentored by adult Traditional Spanish Market artists in their chosen art categories. These extremely talented and highly skilled youths offer their works for sale and will enthusiastically explain the inspiration behind and process of creating their extraordinary pieces. Many buyers take great pride in collections that include works spanning creators’ artistic careers, from Youth Market to Traditional Spanish Market.

Unlike last year’s necessarily scaled-back market, this year’s event has more of everything you have come to enjoy about this long-standing Santa Fe tradition — more artists, more live entertainment on the bandstand, more food vendors and a return of Traditional Spanish Market preview night on Friday, July 29, offering first views of award-winning pieces for 2022.

We also continue the tradition of Sunday mass, on July 31, hosted by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The archbishop blesses the artists’ works during mass, followed by a procession of artists and musicians to the Plaza. This is a favorite feature of the market for many, and we give thanks to the archdiocese for continuing this tradition. We hope you will join us during this special event. Of course, economics are a big part of summer market season in Santa Fe, and Traditional Spanish Market is glad to play a role in supporting our local economy through the millions of dollars in direct spending, as well as lodging and gross receipts taxes generated by the market. We expect close to pre-pandemic levels of people visiting Traditional Spanish Market this summer!

For those of you who would like to expand your Traditional Spanish Market experience, we invite you to participate in artist open studio tours in the week preceding the market during ¡Viva la Cultura! and to visit our exhibit Trails, Rails, and Highways: How Trade Transformed the Art of New Mexico at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, at 750 Camino Lejo on Museum Hill. Three galleries within this exhibit feature the work of market artists past and present. All the works on display belong to our permanent collection. We offer all New Mexico residents free admission during the weekend of Traditional Spanish Market, and Spanish Colonial Arts Society members can always visit our museum free of charge. Membership support plays a critical role in continuing our mission to preserve the cultural heritage of Hispanic New Mexico and its living traditions. Not a member? Visit our information booth at the Plaza during the market or visit spanishcolonial.org to sign up. Spanish Market would not be possible without the ongoing support and involvement of our artists, volunteers, sponsors and other supporters. And it would not be possible without you, our visitors, who in attending this beloved cultural event play your own important role in keeping this tradition alive. We give thanks to all of you and look forward to seeing you on the Plaza!

JENNIFER BERKLEY, Executive Director Spanish Colonial Arts Society

RON RIVERA, Chair

Spanish Colonial Arts Society Board of Directors