For roughly a week every year, usually around the third week of August, Santa Fe becomes the epicenter of art on a local, regional, national and international scale as thousands of Native American artists fill the streets, galleries and museums. The beating heart of the city is in the Santa Fe Plaza, which is surrounded with world-class art destinations.
George Alexander (Ofuskie) (Muskogee/Creek), TC Vibes, acrylic on canvas
One of those destinations is La Fonda on the Plaza, the famous hotel situated immediately southeast of the plaza. The hotel opened in 1922, but its history as a gathering place for visitors goes back even further as that corner was used as an inn starting in 1607. Today the hotel is known for its historic Southwest design, fine dining, luxurious rooms, its proximity to other Santa Fe destinations and its vast art collection, much of which is on view to the public.
The collection includes works by Tony Abeyta, Ira Lujan, Nocona Burgess, Marla Allison, Craig George, Diego Romero, Virgil Ortiz, Pat Pruitt, Del Curfman, Sheldon Harvey, Shonto Begay, Upton Ethelbah and many others. One recent acquisition is George Alexander’s painting TC Vibes, which calls out to T.C. Cannon.
Nocona Burgess (Comanche), Quanah Purple Warbonnet, acrylic stencil painting
Tony Abeyta (Navajo (Diné)), Painted Horses (diptych), acrylic on canvas
“I often use an astronaut helmet as a metaphor for humanity. When astronauts look at the earth, they do not see religions, races or borders, they just see the wholeness of the world,” the artist says in the art book on La Fonda, In Every Room: A Story of the Art. “Today it seems as if we look at people based on these labels, more now than ever, and we judge them because they might be something different than what we perceive. I believe that we should learn who the individual is first, based on their moral character and not what these cultural labels suggest. This is the only way we can defeat cultural stereotypes and gain a better humanity. For example, just because I am Native American does not mean I have to paint horses and headdresses. There is more to me than these Native motifs can suggest. I want you to know who ‘George Alexander’ is first, before you see me as Native or any other label.”
Marla Allison (Laguna Pueblo), Stardust, acrylic on canvas
Visitors to the hotel are treated to art in every hallway, lobby, meeting space, restaurant and common area. Guests to the hotel will also see original art in every room, including paintings, weavings, works on paper, carvings and much more. La Fonda not only has a curator on staff, as well as art experts, it also offers free art tours Monday through Saturday.
In addition to the art collection, La Fonda is tied into the art world with its close association with SWAIA’s Santa Fe Indian Market and other events, including Sovereign Santa Fe.
For information about the art tours, contact the hotel. Native American Art is a proud supporter of La Fonda on the Plaza and many of the shows that call the hotel home. —
Ongoing
La Fonda on the Plaza
100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-5511, www.lafondasantafe.com
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