Galisteo Artist Studios

We started our tour of Galisteo artist studios with breakfast at the San Marcos Restaurant, locally known as the feed store, because it is attached to a large feed store.

Doesn't look much like a restaurant.

Peacocks, chickens, pheasants, turkeys, dogs, are part of the atmosphere.

I waited for two weeks to have breakfast there, and wasn't disappointed, had my usual huevos rancheros with red chili, mummmm good.  After breakfast, we drove on down the road about three miles an picked up county road CR 42 to Galisteo.

The first three miles are paved, then, its dirt the rest of the way. A mile and a half or so from town center, we stopped at the studio of Edward Fleming; he draws, does stone and bronze sculpture, and collects junk. The junk is turned into sculpture or left laying around, awaiting inspiration I suppose.

Some whimsical pieces by  Edward Fleming.

What, or who, could ride this tricycle?

Wind vane I suppose.

Start of a marble sculpture.

I called this the sausage vendors cart, with piles of junk in the background.

He's known for his marble sculptures, but his creations made from collected stuff are interesting as well.

Visit his website: http://www.stonehand.org/

The only other studio that caught my attention was the photographer Sam Sloan. He works in black and white and still uses a film camera. His photographs are mostly scenic shots of the south west and are really quite well done. He says he spends a lot of time in the dark room getting just the right image.

There are about a dozen studios on the West side of town. We didn't stop at all of them but had a good time driving around the countryside.

 

Johnna pets a couple of nice old horses. The paint is 26.

The first thing we did when we reached the town of Galisteo, was to visit the old church, take some pictures and buy a couple of bags of cookies from the fund raisers.

Church front.

Interior.

I don't know what the churches name is and I can't find any references to a church in Galisteo on the  internet. Anyway, its a nice old church and the residents volunteer a lot of time and money for its maintenance.

 

Everywhere we go in northern New Mexico we run onto communities of artists, some very talented, but the majority are busy trying to make a living turning out commercial pieces. Indian jewelry, for instance, is massed produced and from vendor to vendor is just about the same. Its impossible for the average buyer to know what kind of torques or semi precious stone is used in the jewelry. To be sure of the quality it's necessary to buy from the larger jewelry stores, but then, you probably pay more than you should. Of course you could always try the pawn shops. Again, if you're not knowledgeable, the quality is in question.

Not much has changed in the two years since we took the studio tour. The same artists are doing just about the same kinds of work. But it's a pleasant way to spend the day and if we're ever back in this area at this time of year, we'll probably do it all again.

Typical home style in this area.

Lots of old fences like this.