Another event to put on your calendar for next year is the 40th Annual Taos Fall Arts Festival. An annual ten day event, the festival is widely anticipated by artists and art enthusiasts alike. Art lovers have a chance to buy work from a talented array of 250 artists, some of whom may not yet be “discovered.”
The event is put on each year by an all volunteer board who do it part time just for the satisfaction of putting on a great show. The festival divided into two exhibits: Taos Select in Rio Grande Hall and Taos Open in Bataan Hall.
My favorite painting: a wall of woods
Taos Select is a juried exhibit of artists who have resided in Taos County for a minimum of 3 years. During the past summer, three independent jurors reviewed hundreds of images of submitted artwork and selected 145 artists for inclusion in the Taos Select exhibit. The jurors change annually and in 2013 included an art curator in Santa Fe and a Taos Art Museum Director.
Two beautiful wallhangings at the festival
Taos Open is, as the name implies, open to any artist who has lived in Taos County for a minimum of one year. It produces newer, exciting and unpredictable work because one never knows who will show up. If an artist is not represented by a gallery or is new to town, the open connects them with art buyers. The open generally accommodates approximately 100 artists to display framed works, sculptures and jewelry.
There is much anticipation in the Taos art community before the show opens. The day before the opening, jurors roam among the artworks and spontaneously award prizes for “Best in Show” and “Juror Choice.” The Festival opens the last weekend in September each year, with the opening public reception typically held on Friday evening.
Two beautiful wooden cabinets at the Festival
Terry and I attended the Sunday after the opening and were impressed by the wide variety of art pieces on display. Several of our favorites were two spectacular wall hangings, beautiful woven tapestries and a painting of a forest that spanned nearly an entire wall. The show also includes jewelry, sculpture, photographs and, for the first time in 2013, videos. This year the show ran from September 27 through October 6th. If you enjoy looking at art and might be looking for a new piece for your home, put the Taos Fall Arts Festival on your calendar for the end of September next year.
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