SAVE THE DATES
Saturday, June 8
Celebrate Questa! festival event with guided Questa History Trail walk, Art Market vendor booths, delicious local food from Wendy and Casey, and live music—Arcane Ramblers and Arellano Brothers, all at the Village Center farmers market site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Weekend of August 10-11
9th annual Questa Art Tour! Each year sees more artists, more variety, and more visitors.
Join us on the tour, maps ready soon. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
ARTISTS: Applications are due NOW. (May 1 deadline extended, to avoid a late fee.)
The Questa Creative Council has been invited to collaborate with Red River during their new Memorial Day celebration, Mayfest in the Mountains, which is replacing its long-held motorcycle rally and copious street vendors with all-local participation instead—family-friendly games, workshops, exhibits, local music, and… a “quick-draw” painting event that the QCC has been invited to manage. It will be held all day Sunday, May 26, a great way to round out the weekend! All of you are invited.
Both of our villages remember our popular multi-day event, the Wild Rivers Plein Air Paint-Out, with artists visiting from around the state to paint in and around our national monument. A one-day “quick-draw,” where artists complete paintings in a short time frame, was part of the Paint-Out.
While that larger event is no more, the QCC did inaugurate a solo “Questa Quick-Draw” last June that drew artists from Taos, Red River, and Questa to paint our historic village, all of this within a 6-hour timeframe. The artists had a lot of fun (see photo). Artwork was sold, and cash prizes were won.
ARTISTS, youth and adults, you are invited to the Mayfest Quick-Draw! It is FREE and there will be cash prizes and an exhibit in the afternoon, with food, drinks and live music. No pre-registration is required, just arrive ready to paint with your materials. Kids and youth will be given painting supplies at no cost.
Here are the basics, and you can get all the details on our website. On Sunday, May 26:
- 8 to 9 a.m. – Artists, bring your art supplies and register at the gazebo in Brandenburg Park, get canvases stamped, then scatter to the scenic locales of your choice and paint. Buses will be running all day on the circuit between Red River’s three parks. Venture further into the mountains, or down Hwy 38, but be mindful of the return time of 3 p.m.
- 3 p.m. – Artists, bring completed canvases to The Vine (formerly TBucks on Main St.) by 3:30 at the latest.
- 4 to 6 p.m. – Public reception! Art works will be displayed, prizes will be awarded, including People’s Choice, and there will be drink, food, and live music.
Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, this will be a fabulous environment to look at some wonderful art of beloved local scenes. Or try your hand at painting! Purchases will reward our local artists, with a commission offered to support the QCC.
More details on the Red River’s Mayfest at RedRiver.org. For Quick-Draw details go to QuestaCreative.org, or leave a message with Martha at (575) 776-7579.
