I am long overdue for a blog update. We’ve been busy renovating our new studio and getting ready for Spring. I can’t believe it’s March already and I am just getting around to processing images from the holidays. We spent the Christmas holiday in Santa Fe with family. I love Santa Fe during this time of year. On Christmas Eve, we always walk the Farolito lined streets surrounding Canyon Road in the late evening, after the crowds have disbursed. It was a beautiful night, not as cold as years passed and just as quaint and picturesque as ever.

After the holiday, we ventured South to Marfa, Texas for New Years. We haven’t been to Marfa in over 7 years and was surprised to see how much it’s changed. No longer the obscure ranching town with the Judd Foundation, but now a destination spot for travelers, AUSTINITES, and big city movers and shakers. When we asked folks that we met if they were here to see Judd they’d look at us quizzically. It appears El Cosmico draws a bigger crowd than the late great Donald Judd! We toured the Chinati Foundation and the studios downtown run by the Judd Foundation out of NYC. I had been to Chinati but, had not yet seen the block studios located near Judd’s Bank building. It’s always a treat to revisit works of art, you bring a new perspective than in times previous. What captivated me this time, was the contrast between Judd’s living quarters and art collections, versus his minimal approach to art. His home was full of antique stoneware, rustic wood floors and cabinetry. As an avid collector of weavings, pottery, and basketry, his residence was filled with antiques and Native American artifacts. On the other hand, his personal work, especially during the latter part of his career, could not be less similar. His sculpture is overwhelmingly minimal, straight, perfect, cold and devoid of human touch. Yet, what struck me so profoundly, was that the two seemed to speak to each other in a way that I would not have anticipated.

We headed to Oklahoma this past Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with my family. I was born in Enid and most of my extended family still lives there. My mother and father moved to New Mexico when I was a young girl and even though I consider Santa Fe my hometown I still have a strong connection to Oklahoma. It was nice to return after a long absence and I enjoyed seeing my grandmother’s shop again. She runs a small interior design studio with an upholstry shop in the back. I was taught to sew at the shop every summer when I would visit. I’m a fifth generation sewer!

Driving home we took the quiet county roads up through Northern Oklahoma into Kansas and stopped mid-way for the night in Dodge City. Ben and I were amazed to see farm after farm left to die, totally abandoned. We listened to the Worst, Hard Time by Timothy Eagan on the radio and it seemed not much had changed since the Dirty Thirties. There is a beauty in the desolate land out there.  So much history permeates the ground and with every passing building that stood empty, our hearts would ache. Big Ag dominates the landscape and it is sad to think the iconic American farmer is vanishing. Every small town we drove through as well was only standing on two legs because of the gas station. The shops were boarded up and stood as relics of time past. We marveled at the character of the buildings and their original tin ceilings. We talked of moving there and buying one of the most dreamy two story brick things you ever did see……or making an offer on one of the numerous abandoned barns just for the wood.

It feels as though an entire section of the United States is being left behind. I would love to take a trip and document this part of the country……..We can just add that to the list of “personal projects” I would like to do.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.