Santa Fe
July is good for: folk art fans
Welcome to Santa Fe, home to a 400-year-old city of high-desert lore, art, and culture. Situated over 7,000 feet above sea level, the historic town is beloved for its low-slung, earthy adobe aesthetic and ever-shifting views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Art lovers and collectors flock to Santa Fe for its wildly diverse art scene.
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum may be the city’s best known museum, with the largest permanent collection of her work, but in July the reason to go is for the folk art. Perched atop Museum Hill, the Museum of International Folk Art shows over 100,000 objects from more than 100 countries, including Alexander Girard’s marvelous folk art collection. From July 12-14, the 16th annual International Folk Art Market will showcase goods by artisans from over 50 countries, including Iraq and Bulgaria. For even more traditional wares, at the end of the month Santa Fe welcomes the 68th traditional Spanish Market, where 250 artists (selected by jury) preserve craft techniques from the past 400 years.
And to purchase something by local artisans, head to the Palace of the Governors, where approximately 1,000 people set up shop every day under a shaded portal. You’ll be able to browse jewelry, sand art, pottery, and more. AFAR Editors
