The Questa Studio Art Tour: Join Us August 14-15

By Peggy Trigg

The Questa Studio Art Tour is set for August 14 and 15 from 10 am – 5 pm, with over 42 artists in 14 different hub locations! On the tour, you will find paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, weaving, quilting, carving, and more. Along with favorites from past tours, this year’s tour will have additional artists and hubs in Questa, El Rito, and the Sunshine Valley.

In Questa, Nick Ortega, famed stained-glass artist, will be opening his private studio. New hubs in El Rito include the studios of Bill and the late Nancy Brown, Ola Sun, Barrie Andrews, and the Takoja Institute, which will feature work from Winter Ross, Martha Shepp, and Allison Wonderland.

In Sunshine Valley we will have one new hub that will feature textiles, paintings, and local products: Virsylvia Farm, as well as a petting zoo for the kids.

Look for brochures in the community soon. More information can be found at northernnewmexicoartists.com or Peggy Trigg at questastudiotour@gmail.com. There will be a studio tour information station at the Questa Visitor Center, too.

Nuevo Americano Music Festival Is Back: July 31

By Chris Arellano

After a break last year due to the pandemic, the fourth annual Nuevo Americano Music Festival returns! It grew out of my experience teaching my Summer School of Rock program, which has been ongoing for the past nine years. I wanted the kids to have the experience of being part of a music festival. The first two years were held at the Costilla historic plaza. In 2019, we moved the venue to the Torres Ranch in Costilla, to have space for festival attendees to camp overnight. Featured artists include: Felix Gato & Eli Del Puerto, Gonzalo, Spiral Pilots, Alto, Carlos Medina, Lara Manzanares, and myself. There will be local food vendors, too. Come and enjoy!

WHERE: Torres Ranch,
4400 Hwy 522 Costilla NM

WHEN: Saturday, July 31,
noon to 11 pm

ADMISSION: $20/adult, $10/students, kids 12 and under free
Dry Camping spots available on the festival property $20 (first come, first serve)

Questa Chamber Music Series Partners with Questa Farmers Market

By Martha Shepp

How can we support performing artists when their audiences cannot attend in person? This was the question all live music concert planners faced all last year, during the pandemic.

The QCMS collaborated with Yoga Sala in Questa, and put on a hybrid poetry, dance, and live music concert last September (which was recorded; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv8zEtx3aQE), but as time went on, with public gatherings still not allowed, none of the usual classical musicians I draw upon for concerts had been working on any new music or events.

So when the opportunity to support live local music at the Questa Farmers Market arose, we jumped on it. We’re proud and happy to support half of the lineup of live music you’ll hear every Sunday through mid-October at the market. We are grateful for the support provided by Taos Community Foundation, in their funding and for Market Coordinator Gaea McGahee. Go to QuestaFarmersMarket.org to see the music line-up.

The Questa History Trail Grand Opening

By Martha Shepp

The Questa History Trail’s grand opening on Saturday, June 5 was a great success, with over 50 guests. After last year’s cancellations, and despite a detour across the church parking lot, Questa historian Flavio Cisneros came out to lead us, along with others: Mayor Mark Gallegos, musician Michael Rael, and other team contributors. If you missed this event, the trail is self-guided! Find maps at the Welcome kiosk or the Questa Visitor Center, or just start at the corner and follow the red wooden arrows. It’s an informative story of Questa and a microcosm of northern New Mexcio’s history! (Please be respectful of parishioners and residents as you walk the trail.)