One of the city’s most popular seasonal traditions, the Santa Fe Canyon Road Christmas Eve Walk features thousands of little lanterns, known as farolitos in Spanish, that turn the road itself into a virtual work of art. Crafted of paper bags, sand, and tea candles, the farolitos illuminate the courtyards, gardens and historic buildings located along Canyon Road, creating a unique celebration of the area’s art.
Among the businesses lining Canyon Road are diverse galleries that feature art ranging from traditional to contemporary to digital. Here are some galleries that are well worth visiting while strolling the Santa Fe Canyon Road Christmas Eve Walk.
Adobe Gallery
Established more than 40 years ago, Adobe Gallery is dedicated to help build quality Southwest art collections worldwide and educate historic Pueblo pottery collectors. Ranging from antique to contemporary Southwest fine art and Pueblo pottery, Adobe’s collection includes such specialty items as old silver and turquoise jewelry, Hopi kachina/katsina dolls, baskets and Mission oak furniture. The gallery also houses a large selection of books on Southwest Indian Pueblo arts and crafts.
Just a few years ago, Adobe featured mostly Pueblo pottery but by their 10th anniversary had added Hopi katsina dolls, Navajo rugs from the early 1900s, Southwest Indian baskets from the 1800s and pawn jewelry.
Canyon at Palace
Canyon at Palace features fine contemporary works by Santa Fe artists Chuck Volz and Cecelia Robertson. For over two decades, Volz has painted the western landscapes of California and the desert Southwest, focusing on both harmony and contrasts in nature. Also emphasizing nature in her work, Robertson has won awards for both her still life and landscape paintings.
Alan Kessler Gallery
For over three decades, the Alan Kessler Gallery has dealt in fine American Indian art from the Northwest Coast to the Woodlands. One of the gallery’s original founders, Kessler is the author of the work “Collecting Kachina Dolls 1880-1940.”
Canyon Road Contemporary Art
Located in the historic Rios home, Canyon Road Contemporary Art features the works of more than 25 artists. With 3,500 square feet of space, the gallery includes contemporary artwork such as acrylics, ink and pastels; along with fused glass, mixed media and bronze sculptures.
Freeman Gallery
The recently established Freeman Gallery was founded by Craig Freeman, also the founder of Northwest College of Art and Design in Washington. The gallery features Craig’s artwork, as well as that of his sons Matti and Mikko, among other artists.
Convergence Gallery
Established in 1985, Convergence Gallery was originally located in San Francisco. When owner-artists Bennie and San Merideth visited Santa Fe in 1993, however, they fell in love with the city and relocated there. Featuring a diverse collection of contemporary art, their present gallery is now housed in a historic adobe building.
Gallery 901
With their mission of putting “a piece of original art in every home in America,” Gallery 901 features traditional, modern and contemporary art, including sculpture.
The Matthews Gallery
For nearly 20 years, Matthews Gallery has exhibited American, European and Santa Fe/Taos fine art dating from the 19th to 21st centuries. The gallery’s diverse works range from traditional to modernist to contemporary and include paintings, sculptures and paper art. Forbes and Travel + Leisure are among the publications that have recommended The Matthews Gallery for serious art collectors.
Kat Livingood Photography
Dedicated to her passion for wild animals, Kat Livingood features her fine art photography in her studio located in an old adobe house on Canyon Road. Livingood donates a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of her photos to wildlife sanctuaries.
Manitou Galleries
Featuring contemporary representational paintings, prints, glass, sculptures and fine jewelry, Manitou is among the West’s premier galleries. Visitors who stroll the Santa Fe Canyon Road Christmas Eve Walk will have the privilege of enjoying Manitou’s upcoming Southwestern Synergy exhibition, which runs through December 31.
GiacobbeFritz Fine Art
Located in an 1880s adobe building, GiacobbeFritz is known for their eclectic artwork. Their current featured artist, Del Curfman, is a Native American whose semi-abstract paintings utilize loose brushwork to express the qualities of nature.
Hacho a Mano
Emphasizing handmade artwork in a highly automated world, Hacho a Mano’s goal is to preserve the tradition of craftsmanship. From historical to contemporary, the gallery features works that prove that craft is, indeed, a genuine art form.
Globe Fine Art
Located on a small oasis atop Canyon Road, Globe Fine Art is a secluded gallery that stresses originality. From established to emerging artists, Globe features powerful contemporary artwork, including paintings and glass and steel sculptures.
Hunter Squared Gallery
Featuring works by both national and international artists, Hunter Squared’s collection consists of diverse styles and media. The gallery’s contemporary artwork ranges from abstract to surrealist paintings and sculptures.
Morning Star Gallery
Established 35 years ago, Morning Star Gallery features crafts and artwork from more than 50 Native North American tribes. Morning Star’s diverse collection includes pottery, jewelry and textiles from the Southwest; baskets from California and the Great Basin; beadwork from the Plains and wooden sculptures from the Northeast and the Northwest Coast. The gallery recently added antique New Mexican furniture to their product line.
Modernist Frontier
Featuring works by painters Jono Tew and photographer Cody Brothers, Modernist Frontier displays both artists’ love of contemporary western subjects, especially America’s national parks.
Combining cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism, Tew’s unique abstract style dominates his paintings.
Brothers’ photography concentrates on what he describes as “the western abandon,” such as dilapidated homes, forgotten churches and abandoned farms.
Sara Novenson Gallery
Uniquely blending New Mexican with Israeli landscapes, contemporary Jewish artist Sara Novenson likens her paintings to prayer. Novenson’s limited editions are personally proofed, hand painted with pastels and gold pigments, signed and numbered.
Sage Creek Gallery
Featuring the works of more than 40 artists, Sage Creek offers their visitors an invitation to “experience the West” through an interactive gallery atmosphere. Ranging from paintings such as “Impending Storm” by Suzanne Baker to the bronze sculpture “Soft Spot” by Kim Kori, Sage Creek’s artwork is housed in a gallery that gives visitors the opportunity to emotionally connect to each piece.
If you’re on the walk, a lot of the stores are open! And we have your art shipping covered to help get your new Christmas present home safe and sound.