The Questa Art Tour is always one of the earliest studio tours in New Mexico, and the 2024 tour is no exception! Hosted and organized by the Questa Creative Council, the tour will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Over 40 artists will open their doors to visitors who come from several states away, and also welcome plenty of local art lovers. You’re invited to come meet your artistic neighbors and support their creativity by visiting them and perhaps even purchasing artwork.
The tour route’s 18 designated hubs or studios are located from the south side of our historic village, to Cerro, throughout El Rito and Sunshine Valley and on northward to Costilla and Garcia, Colorado, all buffered by the Carson National Forest and the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
Art and crafts were developed in this isolated area not only from inspiration but from a basic need for goods. This all could not be more evident than in the community-restored San Antonio de Padua church, where everything from the new stained glass to the re-created sconces and woodwork was handmade locally, often by members of the same families who built this historic, adobe church in the mid-1800s. The church is an exhibition stop, #7, on our community’s truly unique art tour.
Look for multiple artists at Art Questa Gallery (stop 2), the Questa Public Library (stop 9), and at the Oasis of Lorien (stop 14) in the El Rito neighborhood, north of Questa.
A stop you must not miss is the unique home studio of Jill Kamas, architect, painter, silversmith and hat-maker (stop17). Her studio also serves as an artist-in-residence for upcoming artists. On Saturday evening, a dance party and food truck will be on-site; stop by!
Local potter Sandra Harrington, co-owner of Art Questa, says, “I love having my gallery open for the Art Tour. This is also where I work, and this chance to talk to folks about my methods and inspirations is something I welcome.”
In addition to pottery, sculptures, housewares, and inspired paintings, you’ll also find quilts and santos, unique furniture, leatherwork, photography, and jewelry from the intricately beaded to fused glass, to contemporary welded designs, and more. As you survey the offerings, you’ll feel and appreciate the work of a new generation of artists that is adding to local artistic traditions.
Many northern New Mexican artists have gallery representation from Taos to Santa Fe to Denver, and beyond, but many do not. Much of the fun of exploring art tours is finding that diamond in the rough, or the well-priced art not marked up to pay commercial rents and advertising.
We hope to see you all on the tour! We will have plenty of paper map-guides at each stop and at the information booth (stop 5) at the Questa Visitor Center. You can also get a snack there, water up, see which local restaurants are open, and make note of the local businesses who sponsor the tour with their support. Or download the map at QuestaCreative.org.
Learn more about each artist on the Questa Art Tour at QuestaCreative.org. More info call (575) 586-5658.
