|
Ten months ago Mike and I made a big move from northern
New England to northwestern New Mexico, right on old US Route 66. We bought a
2 1/2 acre parcel that includes fruit and walnut trees, a house, several outbuildings and two extra dogs.
The greatest thing about the place was it also had a 100-year-old, 2000
square-foot adobe building up front on the 66 with a pressed tin ceiling
11 feet tall that at one time belonged to a Lebanese man named Fidel, whose son became a
US senator. The building was a grocery store, bar, shoe repair and tack shop, a church, cabinet shop and who knows what else.
There's lots of history in those thick adobe walls. The wide front porch is great for sitting to watch the
Solar Race go by, the Great American Road Race, and a host of other events specific to this road.
It's smack in the middle of Indian reservations, state parks and a
Spanish land grant.
We have been working steadily to fix the place up and have plans to rebuild two adobe cottages as artist's retreats.
The gallery itself is open now and houses the work of over 30 artists from across the country, as well as
Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Our commission is extremely low for a gallery, but we see it as a service to artists working in
mosaic, to show and sell their art. We're looking to make this into a vibrant
retreat, with workshops by guest artists, special shows and events in the future.
The first thing we did after cleaning up the place was get the gallery open.
Now we're working on the grounds. Fencing is up; the hardscape is mostly done.
I am a mosaic artist and have been doing it for over 15 years. I'm
mostly self-taught. When I saw this place located on Route 66, I knew I had found "it".
Route 66 has been designated a historic highway, and there is a big resurgence of interest in this
country as well as abroad. Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" took place almost entirely on this road.
I got off the Interstate on every one of my roadtrips to cruise the
66....It's got a funky cache all it's own. We've got 4 years and 2 months to go on the original 5-year plan to get this place the way we want it, and we're only a wee bit behind.
We have all styles and price ranges of mosaic art with more coming in every week, it seems.
Everything from small picture frames and plant pots to garden pieces and wall art.
We've also opened it to local artists and carry the pottery of a wonderful
Acoma woman by the name of Velma Chino as well as a children's book she wrote, stories this 80-year-old heard on her
Acoma grandfather's knee. Eventually, I see various artists working under the fruit trees using the breathtaking scenery of the area as inspiration, or just to relax.
So if you're cruising Route 66 and happen on the small town of San Fidel be sure to stop in and see what we're doing.
If you are on Interstate 40, slow down, get off the road at the San
Fidel exit, and come visit. It's just 52 miles west of Albuquerque, about a mile past the
Sky City Casino.
If you are a mosaic artist and want to be included in this gallery...drop me a line.
There are two gallery rooms and plenty of room for more works. Next year when the gardens are completed, there will be lots of outdoor space ideal for garden art.
I do not critique work, and you price your own. We simply have the space, and had an idea.
We're cruising with it! |
