Here we are in May, a time in previous years we’d normally be gearing up for outdoor summer events. In 2020, we were unable to hold them in person, but this year, we are pushing forward with the Studio Tour and an opening celebration for the HIstory Trail, all with COVID-safe practices in place. The year 2021 finds the Questa Creative Council honing and expanding our programming. NeoRio is evolving. We’re exploring local music traditions, offering live chamber music with yoga gatherings, showcasing local artists, and building collaborations to benefit local youth. Online and live features of the Northern New Mexico Music: Past & Present is making 2021 better than ever!
Northern New Mexico Music:
Past & Present – A CONCERT, May 21
Project director and musician Chris Arellano has completed his final interviews and recordings, and is looking forward to sharing with you in the final phase of his research—with plenty of music! Tune in to the Questa Creative Council Facebook page: @QuestaCreativeCouncil at 7 pm on Friday, May 21 for a Facebook Live concert. There will be special guests, too.
Bernie Torres and Michael Rael are the most recent interviews. Bernie provided information on the northern New Mexico/ southern Colorado tradition of Los Dias New Year Celebration, which dates back hundreds of years. Michael’s prowess as a performing musician, steeped in local tradition and history, offers many invaluable jewels he has shared.
This project is a collaboration with the Manitos Community Memory project and Questa Stories. Both entities gather and share voices, stories, images, and traditions of the communities of northern Taos County and southern Colorado villages. The work Chris is doing will become part of these archives. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, and Taos Community Foundation.
Learn more at QuestaStories.org and Manitos.net. Donate to support this project at QuestaCreative.org.
Questa Studio Arts Tour
The artists of the Questa Studio Arts Tour are coming together to make the 2021 tour memorable and exciting. With our past pandemic shutdowns, there has been a lot of shuffling of artists and locations. New artists and new locations continue to pop up. With artists having an extra year to create new and exciting work, this tour will be one to remember! Over 35 artists are planning to participate. Come to the QSAT, August 14-15, from 10-5 starting in Questa and running east and north to Sunshine Valley. COVID-safe practices will be in place. More information can be found at northernnewmexicoartists.com or contact Peggy Trigg at pegtrigg@gmail.com
