Two Graces Taos

Eulogy for Whitney Houston by Kevin Costner, February 18, 2012

2012-02-18T16:27:00.001-07:00

Dear readers, although I have never been a fan of Whitney Houston, I am a fan of history. By that I mean we need to learn from our own mistakes and learn from what others before us can teach us.

The quote is: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

It is my belief that there are many, many people in the same place that Ms. Houston was in at the time of her early demise, so saying that please, please Love Your Life.

I have done the best I could to transcribe Mr. Costner's eulogy because it is touchingly poignant of a glimpse of a young woman lost in her own shadow.

I post this here now on my blog, as I posted President Obama's speech after the shooting of Gabriel Giffords, because it is a powerful speech that people should have an opportunity to read.

Thank you, and it begins:

This feels right.

I'd like to thank Cissy and Dionne for the honor of being here, for everybody in the Church treating my wife and I so gracefully. I'll say some stories, maybe some of them you know, maybe some of them you don't. I wrote them down because I didn't want to miss anything. A song "I will always love you” almost wasn't. It wasn't supposed to be in the movie. The first choice was going to be "What becomes of a broken heart", but it had been out the year before in another movie and we felt it wouldn't have the impact, and so we couldn't use it. So what becomes of our broken hearts? Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began, and I urge us all inside and outside, across the nation and around the world to dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger just long enough, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney. Never forgetting that Cissy and Bobbi Kristina are sitting among us. Your mother and I had a lot in common. I know many at this moment are thinking, really? She's a girl, you're a boy. You're white. She's black. We heard you like to sing, but our sister could really sing. So what am I talking about? Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, they don't have anything in common at all. Well, you'd be wrong about that. We both grew up in the Baptist Church.

It wasn't as big as this. My grandmother played the piano, and she led the choir, and her two daughters, my mom and my aunt both sang in it. The rest of my family, uncles, cousins sat every Sunday out front and watched. My earliest memories are tied to that old Church in paramount. I remember seeing a gold shovel going into the ground and people praying about it and thinking, wow, something big was going to go here, and I watched my father and the rest of the men build it from the ground up. I was probably 4 years old and seemed to be always in the way. I wanted to help. I wanted to be in on the action. One of the men snapped down a red line where the choir would be standing one day and said, "have at it", as many nails as you want all in this line. I always took great comfort in watching my mom and aunt sing knowing that they would never fall through that floor where I had worked. The Church was the center of our social life and Whitney and I would laugh knowing it was also the place where we could really get into big trouble especially when you were allowed to sit with your friends and not your parents in the big Church. I remember more than once being pulled from the pew for whispering and passing notes. I don't believe my feet ever hit the floor as my father hauled me outside in front of everyone. I believed even the preacher prayed for me. Whitney's favorite story of mine was me sneaking into the Church kitchen after communion. I liked the little glasses of grape juice that were left over. I liked how they felt in my hand. I couldn't have been over 6 at the time, but I would lean against the table and one by one I would knock them back. Having some image near conversation with someone my father would find me and ask me what I was doing. I told him iIwas a cowboy and I was drinking whiskey. I don't think my feet touched the floor that day either.

It was easy for us to laugh. The Church was what we knew. It was our private bond. I can see her in my own mind running around here as a skinny little girl knowing everyone, everyone's business, knowing every inch of this place. I can also see her in trouble, too. Trying to use that beautiful smile, trying to talk her way out of it and Cissy not having any of it. Mostly the days of Church were good ones for us and we both remembered how our parents tried to explain God and the plan he had for our lives and we agreed that there was this feeling, this promise that if somehow we listened carefully God's voice would somehow come to us. I told Whitney that I always worried God was going to ask me to be a Preacher. I wasn't sure how much fun ours had. Whitney told me she wasn't worried at all. She wasn't going to wait for a whisper. She was going to be like her cousin Dionne and her beautiful mother Cissy. There is no doubt that she has joined their ranks and as the debate heats up this century and it surely will, about the greatest singer of the last century, as the lists are drawn, they will have little meaning to me if her name is not on it.

But as sure as I am of Whitney's place in musical history, from the first time she took center stage here as a teenager, flushed with the excitement that she had exceeded everyone's expectations and awesome promise of what was to come. It's still needing to hear from her mother about how she was received. Was she good enough? Could I have done better? Did they really like me? Or are they just being polite because they were scared of you, Cissy? These are the private questions that Whitney would always have that would always follow her. At the height of her fame as a singer I asked her to be my co-star in a movie called "The Bodyguard." I thought she was the perfect choice, but the red flags came out immediately. Maybe I should think this over a bit. I was reminded that this would be her first acting role. We could also think about another singer, was a suggestion. Maybe somebody white. Nobody ever said it out loud, but it was a fair question, it was. There would be a lot riding on this, maybe a more experienced person was the way to go. It was clear, I needed to think about this. I told everyone that I had taken notice that Whitney was black. The only problem was I thought she was perfect for what we were trying to do. There was a bit of relief in the room when we found out that Whitney was going to be on tour and she wouldn't be available for our movie. The anxiety came right back when I said we should postpone and wait a year.

That was a lot for the studio to accept, and to their credit, they did but not without a screen test. Whitney would have to earn it. That was the first time I saw the doubt. The doubt creep into her that she would not be handed the part. She would have to be great. The day the test came I went into her trailer after the hair and makeup people were done, Whitney was scared. Arguably, the biggest pop star in the world wasn't sure if she was good enough. She didn't think she looked right. There were a thousand things to her that seemed wrong. I held her hand and told her that she looked beautiful. I told her that I would be with her every step of the way, that everyone there wanted her to succeed, but I could still feel the doubt. I wanted to tell her that the game was rigged. That I didn't care how the test went, that she could fall down and start speaking in tongues, that somehow I would find a way to explain it as an extraordinary acting choice.

And we could expect more to follow, and gee, weren't we lucky to have her. That wouldn't have been fair. It wouldn't have been fair to Lawrence who had written the screenplay 15 years earlier. It wouldn't have been fair to Warner Brothers and it wasn't the right signal to send to Whitney. She took it all in and asked me if she could have a few minutes by herself and would meet me on the set. I was sure she was praying. After about 20 minutes later she came out. We hadn't said four lines when we had to stop. The lights were turned off, and I walked Whitney off the set and back to her room. She wanted to know what was wrong, and I needed to know what she'd done during those 20 minutes. She said, "nothing." in only the way she could, nothing. So I turned her around so that she could see herself in the mirror and she gasped. All of the makeup on Whitney's face was running. It was streaking down her face and she was devastated. She didn't feel like the makeup we put on her was enough so she'd wiped it off and put on the makeup that she was used to wearing in her music videos. It was much thicker and the hot lights had melted it. She asked if anyone had seen -- if anyone had, I said I didn't think so. It happened so quick, she seemed so small and sad at that moment, and I asked her why she did it? She said I just wanted to look my best. It's a tree we can all hang from. Unexplainable burden that comes with fame, call it doubt, call it fear. I've had mine, and I know the famous in the room have had theirs. I asked her to trust me and she said she would. A half hour later she went back in to do her screen test and the studio fell in love with her. The Whitney I knew, despite her success and worldwide fame still wondered am I good enough? Am I pretty enough? Will they like me? It was the burden that made her great, and the part that caused her to stumble in the end. Whitney, if you could hear me now I would tell you, you weren't just good enough, you were great. You sang the whole damn song without a band. You made the picture what it was. A lot of leading men could have played my part. A lot of guys could have filled that role, but you. Whitney, I truly believe were the only one that could have played Rachel Mirren at that time.

You weren't just pretty, you were as beautiful as a woman could be. People didn't just like you, Whitney, they loved you. I was your pretend bodyguard once not so long ago, and now you're gone, too soon, leaving us with memories, memories of a little girl that stepped bravely in front of this Church, in front of the ones that loved you first. In front of the ones that loved you best and loved you the longest. The bolder you stepped into the white hot light of the world stage, and what you did is the rarest of achievements. You set the bar so high that professional singers, your own colleagues, they don't want to sing that little country song. What would be the point? Now the only ones who sing your songs are young girls like you, who are dreaming of being you some day, and so do you Bobbi Kristina and to all those young girls who are dreaming that dream, that maybe thinking are they good enough? I think Whitney would tell you guard your bodies, guard the precious miracle of your own life, and then sing your hearts out knowing that there's a lady in Heaven who is making God himself wonder how he created something so perfect. So off you go, Whitney, off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly Father, and when you sing before him don't you worry, you'll be good enough.

From Robert: Thank you all, for taking the time to read this post. The lovely Taos cross is a vintage Jim Wagner, an artist from Taos, (he unfortunately no longer makes them, I was thinking of making a few in a similar manner). This was difficult to transcribe, I found a transcription for the hearing impaired which gave me some idea of what was being said as I typed it out. As I say at the top I hope we can learn from this, whether you agree with what the White House has said or what the right wing has said, my wish is that it sheds some light on the disastrous path that too many people take. It is also my hope that the young woman Lindsay Lohan (and I repeat, so many others) please take notice.

Mary Witkop A Remarkable Woman of Taos, Master Potter

2012-01-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

This year as part of the celebration “The Remarkable Women of Taos” there will be an exhibit of the “Pottery of Mary Witkop” at Two Graces Plaza Gallery, in Ranchos de Taos, scheduled for May 25, 2012. The art exhibit and sale will run through late August. Although we currently only have 2 pieces of her pottery for sale at this time, we hope to have 30-40 pieces for sale in the exhibition, with perhaps more that will be labeled NFS.

The following post was written by Juanita Witkop, Mary's daughter, and edited by me for the www.taos.org website and the promotion "Remarkable Women of Taos". I add this to my own blog stories so that others can read it and discover a bit more about her.

For updates and more photographs of Mary and her pottery please 'Like' Mary Witkop Master Potter on Facebook. Juanita has added an incredible group of photographs from Mary's personal archives.

Photograph by Nancy Neva Gagliano

Taos potter Mary Beatrice Blake Witkop was born August 25, 1948 in Denver, CO. She was influenced early on by her mother who experimented with making pottery and her father who was a jeweler. Her mother collected pottery from the pueblos of New Mexico including pieces by San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Maria Martinez exposing her early on to the beauty of traditional pueblo pottery.

As a young girl her main interest was horses, she got her 1st horse when she was 13. She raised, trained and rode horses, for the rest of her life. She was an avid downhill skier who spent a couple seasons working at Crested Butte and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in Colorado. Mary also enjoyed writing and has published several poems.

This large pitcher with handle is currently available at TGPG

In 1969 while attending college at Colorado State University, she met self-taught potter, Carl Witkop. A class on pre-Columbian art sparked her imagination to begin experimenting with making her own pottery using the ancient methods of coil building, stone burnishing and pit firing. With the encouragement of her soon to be husband Carl Witkop, who had been experimenting with pre-Columbian techniques for a few years, Mary became a dedicated artist. Based on ancient methods, together, they developed a new style of pottery unlike anything else being done at the time. In 1971 she entered her 1st art show and won 2nd place from The Poudre Valley Art League’s Eleventh Annual Regional Art Show in Fort Collins, CO for her piece titled ‘Some People See the Grays’. This recognition put her on track to experiment with new designs and enter more shows where she took home more awards. Also in 1971, the couple exhibited their work at the CSU Student Center Art Gallery, and at the Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins, CO.

At this time period while firing pots on the lawn of her brother’s home the Witkop’s made an accidental discovery. Their original technique was to get black ‘clouds’ while open firing using cow dung. When a pot was accidentally dropped onto the grass, something magical happened. They found you could also obtain unique markings from other organic materials tossed onto the still quite hot from the fire pot. Thus beginning their experimentation with other materials such as horse-hair, leaves, feathers and sawdust. By 1974 most of their pots were fired using this newly discovered method. They named their new firing technique ‘Cloud Fire’. The influence of this method can be seen all over New Mexico today, many of the potters that use the technique known as Horse-Hair pottery know little of this history.

This small highly burnished pot is currently available at TGPG

Trips to New Mexico allowed the couple to visit various Pueblo artists exchanging ideas and techniques with well known potters such as Blue Corn of San Ildefonso, Phyllis Tafoya, Glenda Naranjo, and Mela Youngblood of Santa Clara, Rebecca Lucario, Marie Z Chino and Lena Zorivis of Acoma, Jennie Laate of Zuni, Lucy Year Flower, Joe and Thelma Talachy of Pojoaque, Ruth Keyona of Laguna, and Rose Romero of Jemez Pueblo.

In 1974 they took home 1st Place in the Rio Grande Pottery and Sculpture Exhibition in Albuquerque. Other awards included 1st Place at the New Mexico State Fair in 1978, and Best of Show at the Santa Fe Arts Festival in 1980.

In 1975 Mary made the decision to be a potter full time, leaving her career as a research scientist. The couple moved to New Mexico purchasing a home near Taos. They were attracted to Taos, like others who had come before them, by the beautiful mountains, culture, people, and the flourishing art scene.

A slip of paper written by Mary & Carl from back in the day.

Their 1st exhibit in Taos was in July of 1976 at Clay and Fiber Gallery. R.C. Gorman attended the opening to meet the newest members of the Taos art colony and added Mary’s 1st experiment with corrugation as a design element to his own personal collection.

The Witkops became valuable members of the community teaching workshops, sharing their techniques of making and firing pottery in this unique style. Workshops were conducted at Ghost Ranch and at the Taos Art Association. The film ‘From the Earth Rising’ by Neil Productions documented the artists at work (all known copies of the film have been lost).

Throughout the 70s, they kept quite busy several Galleries were exhibiting their work including, The Empire Gallery, Empire, CO, Foothills Art Gallery, Golden, CO, Gilpin County Art Gallery, Central City, CO, Heritage Art Gallery, Ypsilanti, MI, Clay and Fiber Gallery, Taos, NM, Albatross, Boulder, CO, The Contemporary Craftsman, Santa Fe, NM, The Elements Gallery, New York, NY Francis McCray Gallery, Silver City, NM and K Phillips Studio Gallery, Denver, CO. They were both included in the 1977 Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramics in NM, and in 1978 exhibited in the Central Iowa Art Association’s - The Ceramic Collection.

This large pot is no longer available at TGPG, (SOLD)

After a separation from Carl in 1981, Mary began experimenting with micaceous clay collected in the Taos area. She also began working with Taos Pueblo potters such as Jeri Track, Juanita DuBray, the Track sisters Bernadette, Soge and Dahl, Henrietta Gomez, Cheyenne Jim, and Anthony Durand, exchanging ideas and techniques, learning from them how to prepare and work with the local clays. She encouraged new potters to experiment and develop their own styles. She was adamant about signing their pottery. Through the years Mary signed her pottery with her name and the place she made it, El Salto, Pilar or Ranchos de Taos, thus creating a timeline as well.

This small red earth pot is no longer available at TGPG (SOLD)

In 1987 she met David Hopper, beginning a relationship that lasted 23 years. David was a local contractor specializing in adobe construction and also owner of the Return Galley of Taos (1976-1984). She moved her studio from Pilar to the Old Ranchos Post Office, which was owned by David’s brother Dennis. Dennis Hopper had met Mary years earlier and had already become a collector of Mary’s work. His collection grew considerably over the years as Mary paid her rent in pottery.

Over the last 30 years Mary showed her work at The Michael McCormick Gallery, Bryan’s Gallery and Mesa’s Edge, Historic 802 Gallery, Ruby Elizabeth Fine Art, and Spirit Runner Gallery in Taos, Two Graces in Ranchos de Taos, NM, Mongerson-Wunderlich Gallery, Chicago, IL, Spotted Horse, Aspen, CO, Tops, Malibu, CA and Art Works Fine Art Gallery in Wilmington, NC among others. Exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institute’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC in 1992, House of Taos’ - ‘Mary Witkop a 30 Year Retrospective’ in 1999, and the Taos Harwood Museum tribute to Mary Witkop ‘40 years of Clay’ in 2009.

Taos provided Mary with a wealth of other artists with whom to collaborate. The most successful of these collaborations was with Taos Pueblo Stone Sculptor, John Suazo. They did many pieces together over the years with Mary building the pot, John doing the carving and then sent back to Mary to apply the final burnishes and firing. Other artists that she collaborated with included Jeweler, Larry Herrera and Pepé Rochon.

This small Blue Pot is no longer available at TGPG (SOLD)

Mary also enjoyed collecting art from the many Taos artists she met, helping not only with financial support but her love and encouragement. Thankfully, Mary also had the foresight to collect a bit of her own work, and some of the very best of this collection will be on exhibit this Spring.

Mary took an active roll in the Taos community by promoting art, and preserving the environment. During her years in Taos she taught numerous pottery classes, she was always willing to teach someone who wanted to learn. Mary became Mayordoma of the Pilar Acequia Association for 5 years, and served as Taos County Art Commissioner from 1991-1992.

Mary was a favorite participant of the Pilar Studio Tour since its inception in 1996. People loved coming to meet her, to hear the stories she had to tell and of course buy a piece of pottery from the artist herself.

As an invitee to the Taos Fall Arts Festivals ‘Taos Invites Taos’ she won best of Modern Pottery 12 years in a row (1998-2009), in 2003 she took both the Best of Modern and Traditional Pottery awards. After 2009 she asked the awards committee to stop giving her the award and to give someone else a chance, (that was Mary as some of us knew her).

Mary often said that she would rather give a pot to a friend than sell one for a great deal of money. Many of her friends who were celebrating a graduation, marriage, or even a birthday through her great generosity own a piece of her work. As part of the age old Taos barter system she even traded pottery for many of things she needed, (like it or not her pottery became a commodity in the community).

Mary passed away April 13th, 2010 in her studio. She worked right up until the end, leaving several pieces unfinished. Her funeral on a hillside overlooking her first Taos studio was well attended by all members of the community. An unprecedented gathering of all the cultures of Taos joined hands to say goodbye. Someone was overheard to say: “Look at all the people she’s brought together, she could have been Mayor”.

(By the way, that was me that said that)

Mabel Dodge Luhan, 'Genius Loci' of Taos, NM

2012-01-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

I begin with this excerpt from the book by Mabel Dodge Luhan "Taos and it's Artists" 1947

these are the last 2 lines: "So Taos grows and expands under the beneficent skies and beauty increases. The genius loci is still exerting its age-long influence."

Loosely translated the meaning of genius loci used here would be 'the protective spirit of a place' seems to me this phrase is quite a fitting description of Mabel herself.

Taos promotion campaign this year (2012) is titled "The Remarkable Women of Taos", I think it's a great fit and am looking forward to the many events around Taos that will tie into this theme.

The photograph above is something I purchased recently and is a discarded press photo of 1945, please do not use this or any other images here without my permission, thank you.

I'm always looking for unusual items for my shop Two Graces Plaza Gallery of those items that I have in my own personal collection are what I share with you here in this story. Above is the copper printers bookplate for printing page 68 of "Winter in Taos" my favorite book by Mabel Dodge. This was a gift from a woman from California which she sent to me after purchasing one of my paintings this past year.

I may add that this was a pleasant surprise, but also one of the nicest gifts I've received, a thoughtful gesture and a piece of Taos history.

The signature of Mabel graces a second edition of this book we currently have at the store.

A pair of photographs of Mabel at the Kiowa ranch which she gifted to D.H. Lawrence back in the day. Not quite ready to accept a gift from Mabel, Frieda Lawrence gave her as an exchange Lawrence's handwritten manuscript of "Sons and Lovers".

A complete collection of the autobiographic Hardcovers with rare dust jackets of the writings of Mabel Dodge Luhan, available at TGPG. "Edge of Taos Desert", "Winter in Taos", "Lorenzo in Taos", "Intimate Memories, Background", "European Experiences", & "Movers and Shakers" Please note, at this time I do not have a copy of Mabel's book "Taos and it's Artists" with a dust jacket. The dust jackets from these books are on very lightweight paper and are prone to tearing leading them to be discarded by their owners through the years, making these dust jackets extremely desirable, in some cases even more so than a signature!

An endearing signature from Mabel, with a beautiful portrait of her husband Tony Lujan (this may be my favorite signature I've seen of Mabel's).

As I've said before in other posts the Mabel Dodge Luhan house is a wonderful place to stay here in Taos. This year in particular it may be the toughest place to get a room in Taos. If you really want to stay there, be as pleasant as you can be and perhaps the staff will be able to accommodate you, I hope they will. On our honeymoon to Taos, Holly & I stayed there in early June of 1998, (we were married in August of 1997).

Andrew Dasburg created this woodblock of the house, somewhere in my possessions I have this as a bookplate, now if I could only find it again...

The front portal at Mabel's, complete with roosters and chickens on the roof line, from this she called the house 'Los Gallos'. If you don't get a chance to stay there at least stop in for a visit, the staff is genuine and generous with answering questions (that they've probably been asked a whole lot). Last year the owners celebrated the birthday of Mabel Dodge, although I'd missed it, I heard afterwards what a wonderful evening it was. Hopefully this year we'll be invited guests, (or we may have to sneak in).

A wooden retablo of Saint Francis is embedded into the adobe exterior near the small front study/conference room. Below a letter to Boyce Eakin from the Honorable Dorothy Brett, a dear friend of Mabel and another of those remarkable women of Taos, written on her stationery 'The Tower Beyond Tragedy'.

It reads: Boyce Mabel is kind of weary - & wants me for lunch today - What about tomorrow I'll pop along around 12 o'clock to the school & fix a date Lord what a party but how nice those people were Brett

These letters are the sort of thing that bring these ladies alive for me, I am grateful to own them.

A handsome handmade bench in a side courtyard at Mabel's. A nice place to rest and read.

This next letter of March 1, 1954 is from Mabel to Lee J. Farran, who in 1959 became the editor of the newly incorporated Taos News.

In this letter she writes: Taos Saturday '54 Dear Lee - Thank you so very much for remembering me on my birthday yesterday. They were especially lovely & the thought was too. Yours ever - Mabel L.

This envelope as you can see is unusual with just a name and Taos, evidently it reached him and I'd like to believe the gift he'd sent to her was a bouquet of flowers. This letter was tucked into a copy of Mabel's book "Lorenzo in Taos"

Our inventory of books about and by Mabel Dodge Luhan.

The Mabel Dodge House and conference center has produced a large format coffee table book of pictures and a timeline of the history of Mabel, you can contact them directly to purchase your own copy of this treasure http://mabeldodgeluhan.blogspot.com/ or http://www.mabeldodgeluhan.com/ they also carry new paperback editions of Mabel's books currently in print.

Through the back window of the conference room study, a writer writes.

One of the things I enjoy about the book "Taos and it's Artists" is how pleasantly she writes about each of the artists she chooses to include, (yes she left out plenty). As for the reproductions of their paintings, all are unfortunately in black and white which does no justice to the wonderful color of artists like Ila Mcafee, Emil Bisttram or Gisella Loefler, and the Taos Founders to say the least. Her quick synopses of each of these artists are but a glimpse and a small taste of them, each and everyone of which deserves a monograph in their own right (some do have monographs of their work, mostly out of print, our book collection at TGPG carries as many books on Taos artists as we can). Yet here in her own words is a nice gesture for the reader and a reminder to all writers of how to write something endearing and flattering about someone. Sometimes I feel this to be lost today.
Below: the cemetery grave marker of Mabel Dodge Luhan as it was a few days ago. I think from time to time someone cleans this up a bit, as it was quite messy upon my visit.

So why all this about Mabel after all?
My answer is this, without her Taos would have never been this art colony of these past 100 years, (even with the Taos Founders important contribution, they probably would have all left for Santa Fe as many do) as an artist I am grateful for her input. Back in the day Taos was a difficult place to reach, to get here you really had to want to get here. There was no highway or railroad, even the Santa Fe Trail was more a backroad branch to Taos. As you drove north from Santa Fe and arrived in the village of Velarde, the road narrowed through a mountain pass of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. The Blood of Christ mountains with that sort of name for it and covered as it was and still is to this day in the memorial crosses known here as 'descantos' making for an ominous journey ahead scaring away many who upon this sight refused to go any further and returned to the 'safety' of Santa Fe. The descantos it seemed made people think of 'indian' ambush raiding parties, and what may happen to travelers who chose to continue. Today, although very well maintained by the State Highway patrol, boulders (from the size of a football to the size of a small car) tumble onto the road which hugs the mountainside. To settle in Taos can also be an unsettling experience, most newcomers last anywhere from 1-3 years. The locals say: "The Mountain accepts you or turns you away". This little town of Taos accepted Mabel all these years ago, and Mabel stayed and made Taos her home.

One last small footnote: When I was just beginning to learn how to drive a car, my Dad in the passenger seat would point out that I tended to slow down as I was driving up a hill. I was afraid of what might be coming at me on the other side. My Father's answer to this was you wouldn't know what was on the other side until you reached it.
I hope that people visit Taos this year and for many years to come, we have a pretty great community here and if you choose to join it and become a part of this place, I say 'Welcome'.

Christmas In Taos & the Taos Pueblo Deer Dance

2011-12-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Leaping Deer by Ha So Da Narciso Abeyta Silkscreen,

(we have 2 available at Two Graces Plaza Gallery, a numbered edition and an Artist Proof)

Holly & I have a real love for Taos and the lessons we learn here every day.

This year our Christmas like so many others was a time of reflection rather than of gift giving. No presents under the tree for either of us. Don’t get me wrong we were sent gifts from friends and family. We enjoyed a nice evening out for dinner together, (at Taos Inn’s Doc Martins). Friends dropped off tins of homemade cookies & fudge to us at the shop, and we received many lovely Christmas Cards this year.

We went out to the forest a few days earlier, and cut down a beautiful 10 foot tall Blue Spruce tree which we decorated with the many ornaments that remind us of each and everyone we know and love.

The morning of Christmas Eve a Mountain Bluebird enjoyed the dried Blue Corn on the cob I’d left outside. After a long day at Two Graces Plaza Gallery as I was closing up shop I heard someone shout out to me from the dark “Merry Christmas Robert”. That evening rather than partake in the enormous bonfires at Taos Pueblo or Las Posadas and Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at San Francisco de Asis Church, we chose to stay in and order take out from the new local Chinese Restaurant, (an old family tradition of Chinese food on the eve of Christmas). At home we watched the video of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and drifted off to sleep, well, I fell asleep and awoke as the movie ended to find Holly sitting next to me with tears in her eyes.

Christmas Eve Bonfire

The next morning on Christmas day we decided to visit Taos Pueblo for the annual Deer Dance. The local newspaper published a 10AM start time, but I knew this would be much too early. Leaving the house at 11:30 we picked up a neighbor to join us. Once at the Village we parked easily and found the entrance gate to be closed! Turned out that we were not to enter until Noon after some private ceremonies had been held at the Pueblo.

Just so you know and a reminder to myself for next time, things really don’t start until after 1:30PM, with the arrival of the Deer around 3PM.

We spoke with some of the locals as we all waited, scattered around the Village, and made the best of a sunny afternoon.

Vintage Photograph of a pair of Taos Pueblo Kivas

The most we could see were the Kivas (sometimes referred to as Estufa) where people were gathering in the distance off limits to non-tribal members. This year even the southside/winter side of the Pueblo was off-limits, as the Koshare ushered people back over the bridge to the Northside.

Vigil Pueblo Painting Very much like the Koshare at Taos Pueblo

The Koshare sometimes referred to as ‘clowns’ painted with white and black stripes of clay and soot over their bodies are a society, which has very specific duties of keeping things in order, visitors should give them utmost respect and stay out of their way.

As the Koshare ran from door to door, bringing messages to the Villagers that live there, we waited and watched.

This year there were a lot of foreigners all over the Pueblo, not really understanding the unwritten rules of being quiet and respectful, they seemed to be running amuck. I witnessed at least 3 people with cameras taking photographs, which is strictly forbidden. There were people climbing over and onto walls that were supposed to keep people out, not become an obstacle of which to clamber onto and over.

The procession as painted by Helen Blumenschein

The first of the dancers mostly women dressed in finery, and a few men gathered at the eastern wall on the northside. They quickly formed a line and soon began to dance in front of the San Geronimo Pueblo Church, perhaps as a welcoming to the deer yet to come.

A Vintage Photograph of The San Geronimo Church at Taos Pueblo

Early 1900's photograph of a Taos Maiden

The women wear beautiful handmade white boot moccasins very specific to the Pueblo of Taos, pinned to ears and dresses wonderful vintage costume jewelry as well as silver & turquoise jewelry, and around necks each with a special necklace. The Koshare intermingle with this ceremonial dance, which eventually moves to in front of the Northside/Summer building. As I watched, perhaps a little too close to the front of the viewing spectators, a Koshare approached me and quickly removed my hat, which he then wore into a tet-a-tet with one of his comrades who had also chosen a hat from another guest. Knowing full well this would not last very long and that I would eventually get my hat back, I stood and enjoyed their acting. This was rather special to me, and soon, quite politely my hat was returned.

Once this group of dancers finished and returned to where they had come from, we waited.

Painting by Helen Blumenschein of Deer Dance depicting Maiden Dancers in colorful dress encircling Deer, with Deer Maidens at center with Koshare Eagle, off to the right are the Koshare with a smokey bonfire!

The Koshare soon returned (now wearing eagle and bird of prey pelts around their necks) and began to build the smokiest bonfire you could ever imagine. Now taking on the role of Pueblo Angel Messengers. The dancers returned once again (in front of the Church) this time with the smoke blowing towards them. I thought of this as purifying incense wafting over them similar to the smoke from Midnight Mass in the Churches back east.

Early Illustration of Taos Pueblo Deer

From the Kiva men and boys began to emerge wearing the freshly skinned hides of deer from the forests around us. I shouldn’t call it wearing these hides, because they actually are embodying the animal, they have become the Deer. Leading the group are 2 White Deer with enormous antlers, they walk with a stick in each hand creating the look of a deer on all fours. These deer are followed by an assortment of Deer, Buffalo, Elk, and Antelope. Some but not all of the skins are fresh, from which you can smell a heavy odor as they pass by, their steps like that of the prancing animal itself. This Deer procession is led into the circle of dancers, where 2 Deer Maidens (distinguished from the other women by their dress and parrot feather headdress) have now welcomed them to join the People of the Village.

Painting by Ernest Blumenschein of Deer Dance, note the White Deer towards the bottom.

There were some Deer with antlers so large that they needed the support of the Pueblo men to keep them from toppling over. Imagine trying to dance with 50 pound (or more) antlers on your head! The Koshare ‘shot’ small arrows at the Deer and quickly carried their heavy prey out of the circle.

This had now built up to an enormous circle of Deer Dancers, Koshare, Maidens, Men & Women all gathered giving thanks to the wonderful creatures of the forest.

Another awe struck Christmas at Taos Pueblo Deer Dance. We merged with the other Visitors surrounding the dancers trying to get a view over others heads. From where we stood the bobbing of deer antlers was about as much as we could see.

Another reminder to visitors, the Deer Dance is a special ceremony to be able to view, it has probably changed through the years, but not by much. This continues to be one of the most untouched and true forms of ceremonies by an indigenous people in the entire world. I remain thankful that we are allowed to witness this sacred event, it is not my intention to give away secrets of the Deer Dance only to give a report of the things I have seen in my lifetime.

As my legs began to buckle out from under me, even with the help of a cane, we quietly left Taos Pueblo.

A Flicker wintering in Taos.

The flicker is a sacred bird, and whenever I see one seems to be bringing a very strong positive message.

Stopping into the Adobe Bar at Taos Inn for a snack and a hot toddy on the way home was a nice way to decompress.

Once home we enjoyed collaborating on cooking a Duck for dinner with a Cherry Glaze and roasted root vegetables from the Taos Pueblo Farmers Market.

Settling in for the night with dessert of far too many cookies and fudge, we watched another movie and fell off to sleep once more.

The Images here are used to illustrate this story in order for people who have never been to Taos and who cannot possibly imagine just how visual this experience is.

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

Our Christmas Tree this year, which is full of ornaments given to us from Family & Friends, each a treasure and memory of someone dear to us.

We go out to State Forest Road 5 and bring our sleds, at this time of year it's a great place to go sledding on the mountain slopes.

The following recipes are from my Mom and my Grandmother, I hope you enjoy them.

Candy Cane Cookies

½ Cup Shortening

½ Cup Butter

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Egg

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Cream this together and add

2 ½ Cups Flour

Mix this together and half the dough

Add a bit of Red Food Coloring to one half

roll out the dough into long snakes

about ½” or smaller in width

Cut these snakes into 4” sections you’ll then

twist the white and red dough together

and bend it into a ‘Candy Cane’ shape

Bake at 375 up to 9 Minutes

While still hot sprinkle this mixture over the top and bottom of your cookies

Combine 4 real Sugar Candy Canes crushed and mixed with ½ Cup of Powdered Sugar

This makes about 4 dozen cookies!

Greek Half Moon Cookies

2/3 Cup Ground Almonds

1/3 Cup Sugar

1 ½ Sticks Butter

1 Egg White

Cream this together and add

1 ½ Cups Flour

¼ Teaspoon Clove

small pinch of Salt

Mix this together and shape into Crescents

Bake at 325 for 15-20 Minutes

Hot out of the oven dust top and bottom with

Powdered Sugar that you’ve added

½ Teaspoon Cinnamon into

ToTo’s Chocolate Spice Cookies

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Shortening

1/4 Cup Butter

Cream this together and add

1 Egg

½ Cup Milk

Mix this together and add

2 Tablespoons Baking Cocoa Powder

3 Cups Flour

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

½ Teaspoon Clove

½ Teaspoon Allspice

½ Cup Walnuts

Mix this together and roll into balls the size of half an egg

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes

When cool frost them with a chocolate frosting

½ Teaspoon of Meringue Powder

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

2 Tablespoons water

¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Above are my Gingerbread Cookies, I made the Keith Haring style Barking Dog and the Snoopy Cookie Cutter myself.

The recipe for the Gingerbread Cookies had been posted in a blog much earlier, simply type into the search engine at the top left Gingerbread Cookies and that recipe will show up,

thank you and Merry Christmas.

Just in case you need more cookies here's one more recipe, sorry I don't have a picture of these.

Sesame Seed Cookies

¼ Cup Shortening

½ Cup Sugar

2 Eggs

Cream this together and add

2 ½ Tablespoons Orange Juice

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

2 Cups Flour

Mix this together and form into ovals smaller than an egg

Roll these into a bowl of sesame seeds

Bake at 400 for 10 – 15 Minutes

Southwestern Christmas Stockings and a Christmas Story

2011-12-18T13:37:00.001-07:00

Recently I had this brilliant idea to make Christmas stockings with old navajo weavings. Thanks to our friend Julie Cloutman of Taos Fiber Arts we were able to have these made by her with some 'cutter' weavings and navajo rugs that we had in storage. Right now at Two Graces Plaza Gallery we currently have 11 (10 actually, one just sold) different ones, they are priced at 75.00 each, (3 more will trickle into the shop this week fro Santa's elf). With a quick search of the internet I soon learned that someone else is making these as well, (with a very Santa Fe price if you know what I mean).

These are priced right and made right here in Taos, New Mexico from vintage rugs.

Just look at how great they look over a classic Southwest Kiva Fireplace!!!

This single one above is SOLD, (thank you).

These are all 11 patterns, each very unique, (I expect to have 3 more during the week). Contact us before Wednesday for delivery before Christmas outside NM, at 575-758-4101 or email r2c2graces@gmail.com or just stop in and shop at our lovely store here by the San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos. We are open every day, (except Christmas), and I'm thinking of staying open late on Christmas Eve, but we'll see how things go.

"A Christmas Story"

One year we were celebrating Christmas with some of my family in England, they rented a National Trust Home in the countryside of the Lakes District near Windermere and the home of Beatrix Potter. We had to take a ferry to get to the house we were to stay at. The house had a coal burning stove to cook on and which to heat the house. An upstairs had enough bedrooms for the group of us. My sister had chosen this particular area that Christmas as it was known to be one of the few places where it could possibly snow for Christmas (in England), which it actually did. Nearby too are the stone circles of Castlerigg which we visited on the Winter Solstice and the original Gingerbread shop in Grasmere. Now of course all of this made for an incredibly wonderful Christmas Holiday with many adventures. The story which relates to Christmas stockings unfolds like this.

On Christmas Eve after dinner we played board games with my nephew & niece and their parents, during which I told the children that if they had at all been naughty that year that there would be Coal left in their stockings from Father Christmas. My Niece was horrified and assured me that could never happen to her. With eyes wide open, sleep finally overcame her and she was carried upstairs to her room.

As everyone adjourned themselves off to bed, I waited a bit until certain all were asleep. With a lump of coal from the stove placed safely into my own Christmas Stocking, I went back to bed. Yes, I was tempted to put coal in everyone's stockings but mine, but I thought the better of it.

In the morning the children were up and ready to open presents and empty their stockings which Mom & Dad had also, snuck downstairs at some point and filled with gifts. As I emptied my stocking onto the floor a loan lump of coal fell out to the great JOY of my niece who gleefully exclaimed, "Uncle Robert has been VERY, very Naughty and has gotten Coal from Father Christmas" I turned to her and asked, "What did you get?" She tipped the contents of her stocking onto the floor and announced that she had no such thing and had been very good, that it was not her but me, Uncle Robert who is indeed the naughtiest one of all. I've always been glad I decided to make myself out to be the naughty one, it made her Christmas that year.

A Very Merry Christmas to you all, may you be Happy and Healthy in the New Year, and if you must be naughty do it in a way that will put a smile on someone's face, wink, wink...

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 9: Curios

2011-12-16T17:46:00.002-07:00

I'll include more information to this ASAP, until then please feel free to email me for prices and sizes at r2c2graces@gmail.com

If you need something for Christmas the cutoff date for shipping will have to be Wednesday, December 21, 2011, before 5PM Mountain Time.

This post is inspired by our recent inclusion in the Taos News Tempo section "Wish List". The response of which has been tremendous, everyone here in Taos has seen it and comments about how wonderful our items looked in the local newspaper keep coming our way, so thank you Taos News and the people who work so hard there.

I post these items from our store Two Graces Plaza Gallery to show you the range of the curios we carry. We also carry vintage Pueblo Pottery from New Mexico and Arizona, Vintage Fred Harvey Jewelry, Contemporary jewelry from local Taos craftspeople, & Kachinas (as you can see from the many blogs about them).

We specialize in rare and out of print books of the southwest, New Mexico, Taos, Native American, Art, Photography, Hispanic Authors, herbal, flora and fauna, & spirituality/religion. The books are sold in the store and on Amazon.com under TwoGraces and ThePlazaGallery, where you can find in the amazon search engine our inventory, we are listing 90% of what we carry in the next few weeks.

We are also a local oriented Art Gallery featuring the artwork of proprietors Holly Sievers & Robert Cafazzo.

As you will see from the photographs, we have a lot of great merchandise, but things are selling for Christmas gifts so please be in touch soon if there's something you see here. There's also a whole lot more in the store so please come by, we are open every day 9:30-5:30, (we will be closed on Christmas Day)

Large Mary Witkop Micaceous Clay with horsehair with handle and spout signed and marked 2000 Ranchos de Taos 1,500. small highly polished Mary Witkop micaceous pot with horsehair 250.

Lalique style crystal bowl and American pottery

Vintage Altamira Bison Cave Painting souvenir dish

Porcelain Deer on turquoise painted base SOLD

For the dog lover Chalk Shepard, Bonzo terrier at fire hydrant, 2 pair Salt and Pepper Shakers small and Bonzo Dogs

Vintage Homer Laughlin Harlequin, various pieces, some Fiestaware also available

A great deal of the Harlequin has been sold to a family in Australia!

We expect to soon have more...

Bright orange set of espresso cups and saucers

Vintage Salt And Pepper Shakers Donkey, Apple, Pear, Cactus, Mickey Mouse, plastic Cats

Vintage Frozen Charlotte dolls some pairs, some singles

the 2 pairs of indian boy & girl have both SOLD

Vintage porcelain Wedding Cake Toppers, (we had them on all the tables at our wedding many years ago)

Neon Blue Pepsi Cola sign

Philadelphia Eagle Bronze sign with great patina

assorted Flower designer frogs

Candles and candlesticks, Vintage Nambe pair

Copper Bowls Miners slug copper handmade lucky cover dish, 1930's era Fred harvey Copper bowl, hand hammered kidney shaped copper bowl

Vintage Fred Harvey Copper Bowl ca. early 1930's with cloud and rain stamping, extremely RARE 650.

Glass Quarter Moon Decanter bottle, Quarter Moon Cake pan SOLD

Assorted Vintage Cookie Cutters prices start at and madeline mold tins in Box (Sold)

Vintage Biscuit Tins or Cookie Tins

Metal Horse, Eagle (large or small) Welsh Door Dragon SOLD, Buffalo Nickel dish, Water Sprite statuette, Angel Matchstick holder

Vintage Windmills Handmade rusty arty one by Alan Hart

These are the LAST of the old stock Tin Nicho Frames

Tramp Art Crown of Thorns Frame (near perfect) with tin type of man with hat holding dog which has slightly blurred from moving during photo exposure

tri colored Painted Tramp Art Frame for Tin Types, and pair of Tram Art Frames

Small Tramp Art Frame, reproduction Tramp Art Frame, Wall Pocket Tramp Art, Very early New Mexico Tin Frame, Tin Wall Candle sconce

Hand Made early Maple Salt Box, Black Forest Bear Knick Knack Shelf

Shallow relief carved prancing deer plaque from the Charles Reynolds Estate

Handmade small Felix the Cat shelf with tin work

The Angel San Raphael by Anita Romero Jones, purchase at Santa Fe Spanish Market ca 1990, standing on Tramp Art Shelf with heart details

Jim Wagner House Angel, hand carved and painted, rare and beautiful

Vintage and new Prison Art, Lamp, Heart topped box, large and small heart frames, standing Cross, pair of baby booties, made from old cigarette packages and gum wrappers, true prison art!

pair of Memory Jugs larger one from Northwest coast with shells, smaller one with broken crockery pottery and the eye...

Vintage Black Americana Bottle Cap Chip and dip Figures (the one to the far left is SOLD), there's also a butlers brush

Bottle Cap Art 2 large chain links, Bottlecap snake, bottlecap basket

Vintage Art supplies and ledger books

Vintage taxidermy Birds, BlueJay in scenic box, small wren, and South African Turquoise feathered bird

Crystal Rock Bookends, and TinTin And Snowy Bookends extremely Rare

Vintage Globe Banks, Old Atlas of the World book, and map of Arizona & New Mexico

Selection of Vintage Donkeys, the 2 in the center & art deco one to the left are SOLD

A selection of Vintage Bird items, the woodpecker is metal and picks up toothpicks from his perch

Vintage Putz Cows (the 3 cows to the front right are SOLD), and large Bull Hand carved and signed

Vintage Leopard Jaguar Folk Art from Mexico

Jaguar Artist piece

Jumpin Jack carved toy and cut out toy

Vintage Handmade cutout wooden Mickey Mouse and Popeye Folk Art

Vintage Crocheted Mickey Mouse & Sunrise Kachina, seated in an Adirondack Twig Chair (signed)

Sock Monkey El Marriacchi SOLD

Leah Benau Shaker style Cat Doll handmade by a local Taos craftperson in a willow chair

Lost Glove critters by Rebecca Sievers each one of a kind

Bear Sculpture, light weight concrete casting

3 Acoma Pottery owls, 2 are SOLD, one left, Wooden Owl by Dan O'Hagan

Wind-up Donkey, Bear and Duck on a bike tin toy, squeak toy Scottie Dog with remote battery control

Poosh Clown Pinball game SOLD

Andy Warhol Superstar Collectible 'action' figures MIB

All Vintage, Pair of Mom & Dad Skookum Dolls with Baby, Pair of Boy & Girl Bully Good Skookum dolls Mint in Box, Pair of nesting dolls in felt cradle, 2 mini baby Skookum Mailers

Skookum Dolls 1930-1950's (Snookum, Bully Good) some with shoe labels some with plastic shoes

2 pair of Vintage Navajo Dolls and 3 Vintage Navajo Zuni style Pincushion Dolls

Selection of Vintage Indian Curios: wooden bust, Cigar Store style Indian, Frozen Charlotte pairs large & small, Singing Boy & Girl, Cowboy & Cowgirl ceramic or porcelain dolls, Little Indian Boy, canoe tin toy, & Bucking Bronco Wind-up toy with box

Vintage Glass & Porcelain Curio Canoes, Tin wind-up toy canoe SOLD & 2 pincushion canoes

Vintage Birch Bark Canoe selection with porcupine quill work

Argillite Beaver Bookends pair (chipped), Japan ceramic Totem Pole, carved Steallite stone eskimo in canoe with seal on base, wooden carved Vintage Totem Poles, argillite round box with lid (chipped)

Santa Anna Pueblo wooden handmade crosses with straw inlay and turquoise pcs priced at 20.,30.,40., also a few pottery crosses from Oaxaca Mexico

local Cordova, NM Carvings vintage Sabanita Lopez Ortiz

Our Lady wooden carved probably Guatamela

Repurposed gilded Nicho with doors open or closed

Locally Made Vintage Our Lady Nicho

Selection of small vintage religious statues

San Simon Champion of the Hopeless, carved wood in chair

Hollow, one sided metal Jesus & Mary figures 10.99 each

Large Painted Concrete Buddha, gilded Buddha head, wooden carved Quan Yin, brass Buddha Head, Resin Buddha

Statue of Liberty Banks and such

Emil Bisttram (April 7, 1895-1976) Abstract Works on Paper

2011-12-13T13:07:00.029-07:00

Quite recently I was in the right place at the right time when a portfolio of the artwork of Emil Bisttram was offered to me. I recognized the drawings to be of quite extraordinary quality and beauty, a rare opportunity to own such a grouping.

In my research I have discovered a bit more to this, (I continue to learn more about Bisttram and this collection).

The Bisttram estate was donated to St. John’s College in Santa Fe. Most of the contents of the house were gathered up, put onto a truck and brought to Santa Fe from Taos. The artwork was at first turned over to the Gerald Peters Gallery and a short time later sent to the Munroe Gallery where it was stored in a room in the Santa Fe railyard district and piece by piece appraised and sold by James Parsons of Taos (from 1986-1989) who authenticated the unsigned artwork. Mr. Parsons also created a signature/logo stamp, which he used on this body of work from the estate.

Mr. James Parsons who still lives in Taos, came to look at this portfolio here at my gallery in Ranchos de Taos, Two Graces Plaza Gallery, he and his appraiser friend also in attendance, exclaimed simultaneously ‘wow those are some great Bisttrams’. *These 2 gentlemen have also given me a wholesale appraisal estimate for resale. He is an authority on the artwork of Bisttram, Jim was a consultant on the books ‘The Transcendental Art of Emil Bisttram” by Walt Wiggins (1988) and “Emil Bisttram 1930-1976” by Warren Shaull, James Parsons, Bernard Ewell & David Witt (2003). This portfolio will include with it a Certificate of Authenticity written and signed by Mr. Parsons. This body of artwork is thought to be circa mid 1950’s to early 1960’s.

In a 1954(?) Family Circle magazine article on Taos Artists I found this photo of Emil Bisttram in his studio, (above) pinned onto the wall behind him lined up in a row are drawings similar to the B&W work in this group. Although, I cannot say with certainty that any of these are the same exact drawings in the picture, I am convinced this is from the same body of work.

The technique used here is black ink has been painted into a rectangular field, onto a heavy paper and drawn onto with what we think to have been a white china marker or conte crayon. In the margin, (they have about 2” margins all around) one of these has a small hand drawn diagram in the margin at the bottom, Bisttram’s thought process. The B&W field on these is about 9” x 12”, with the paper around 14” x 16”, all are not signed, but will come with the COA of Jim Parsons.

The accountant (who became the unofficial de-facto executor to the estate of the Bisttrams) gathered up the items left behind by the college, (this woman was not just an accountant, she was a trusted and dear friend). It is from the family of this accountant that this portfolio was acquired. Along with this portfolio of Bisttram works on paper, there are also commissioned poster studies by Bisttram, artwork by local Taos artists, drawings by his students, unused zinc plates for lithography (still wrapped in paper from the day he had purchased them) and a pencil drawing of “Dynamic Symmetry” (also referred to as “Designed Reality) on tracing paper. When placed over some of the artwork this drawing matches the shapes and designs Bisttram created here, as someone recently said to me this is the ‘golden mean’. In 1930 a Guggenheim Fellowship gave him the opportunity to study with Diego Rivera in Mexico, there Emil would have learned of this grid technique. Rivera called it the “Golden Section”, sometimes referred to as “Divine Proportion”. It is explained that this mathematical ratio was thought to have spiritual powers.

The single circular pencil drawing is larger than the other work and is from the time period of his masterwork painting “The Oversoul”. This theme continues in drawings known as “Kundalini”, “Atonement”, & “Creative Forces”, this piece is not signed, but will come with the COA of Jim Parsons.

One of Bisttram’s friends would meet him regularly for coffee in a local Taos Plaza coffee shop at one time he remarked that Emil would be better off making the more realistic artworks which sold quite well and popular with the art buying public, rather than this new ‘abstract’ and not necessarily as popular body of work, to which Bisttram replied, ‘this was his real artwork and his true calling’.

This particular pastel is NFS

The group of colorful abstract chalk pastels is again in the range of 9” x 12” only with a smaller border of about 1” around. These images range in subject matter from a landscape, dynamic symmetry examples, the amoeba-like musical notation, and abstract Shalako Kachina heads, all are not signed, but will come with the COA of Jim Parsons.

In order to make ends meet he created his own art school The Taos School of Art, renamed in 1943 the Bisttram School of Fine Art, he also taught through the University of New Mexico Summer Arts Program, and at an art school in LA from 1945-1951 during the Winter. Bisttram was also involved with starting one of the earliest art galleries here “Taos Heptagon” along with a Taos Artists Society. 1938-1942 he was also a member of the Santa Fe “Transcendental Painting Group”, which promoted abstract painting.

The oddest pieces here in this collection are the poster designs, which are on illustration board and done in watercolor, quite beautiful in their own right, again something probably done to earn some money.

NFS

Along with the original Bisttram’s are a group of Portrait and Figure drawings from one of his art classes. These are matted and signed by the students, it is my deduction that these were matted to have them displayed in a student group show as an exhibition to celebrate the end of that semester. One drawing in particular of a figure, has a smaller figure drawn on the lower right side, which from my own experience in art school would have been drawn by Bisttram himself to demonstrate his point to a struggling student searching for the best way to depict the figure. This tends to be the way most figure drawing teachers teach, thus a jewel of a Bisttram sketch appears along with this particular students drawing. These student artists include works by: Bob Burke, M. Tuttle, W. Jimenez, Gendron Jenson, Marilyn Wood, F.B. Coffman & Bob Matz. Another aspect of this group of drawings is that in the book “Modernists in Taos, From Dasburg to Martin” by David Witt on page 64 a photograph of the Bisttram school of art shows students at easels with the student in the center of the photo painting a portrait of the very same Hispanic gentleman that is included in this portfolio.

Today in the market place it is thought that there are many forged Bisttrams. It is my belief that this is untrue, that actually there are forged signatures on real artwork, because much of the 3,000 pieces of art that Bisttram created had never been signed by him and that he tended to sign things as he sold them and not before. An artist as prolific as Emil Bisttram would be making some great work and some not so great artwork at this level of output (during almost 60 years). The signature of Bisttram is almost always a simple block printed last name, which would be extremely easy to recreate, (thus forge). In a local gallery there is a pastel drawing, which is signed with a script signature. When I inquired about this, the gallery owner told me this particular piece had come from the estate of Helene Wurlitzer who had purchased it herself directly from Mr. Bisttram.

With Taos being one of the oldest art colonies in the US and with the amount of truly talented artists who have lived here over the last 100 years it is not unheard of for some of the artwork created here to turn up every now and then. I’ve seen paintings by the Taos Founders (aka The Taos Society of Artists) stored under the bed of a local Taos resident!

I've removed the photo of the Bisttram House, it was the wrong house, in reality it is the house directly west of the Harwood Museum, built in 1936 at the same time as the library building.

*If you are interested in making a purchase of the entire collection or single artworks, contact me at r2c2graces@gmail.com or 575-758-4101

This artwork is unframed at this time.

Prices range from 75.-100. for each of the 11 figure or portrait drawings by his students, if you would like to see more of these I will email photos to you or you may set up an appointment with me for viewing.

The 'Taos' Posters are priced at 750. each. (the Kangaroo San Diego Zoo is SOLD, Taos Poster w/Shalako Mask is SOLD)

The circular pencil drawing is priced at 1,800. and will need to be taken to a paper conservator for cleaning.

The pastels range from 2,000-2,500. each, there is a separate price if interested in the entire group.

The B&W's are being purchased by the Taos Harwood Museum with a generous benefactor's gift.

The tracing paper dynamic symmetry drawing is being donated to the Taos Harwood Museum as part of the arrangement with the benefactor & Museum. We are thrilled that these artworks will go to a local Taos Museum, especially that the Harwood is directly next door to the Bisttram Home.

Food: Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-18T20:41:00.002-07:00

It's almost Thanksgiving!

My family celebrates this sort of Holiday with a lot of guests and a lot of food, plenty of leftovers of all sorts. My friends would tell you that Holiday meals at my Mom or Grandmothers house meant plenty of food, but even more so DESSERT! Whether we were at home or at one of my relatives homes there was always enough dessert to fill an entire banquet table. Many of my Grandmother's recipes were not written down, she would just measure the ingredients with her hand and eye. At some point my Mom started actually measuring out what her Mom was doing and was able to create an archive of her favorite recipes. At one time I made this recipe using fresh steamed Pumpkin, I didn't mash it enough so the pie was rather lumpy, my Mom just laughed about it, but it was delicious and there were no leftovers for the next day!

So with my Family in my thoughts this Holiday I share with you this recipe.

PUMPKIN PIE

Turn your oven to 400, when you put the pie into the oven lower the temperature to 375, it should take about 1 Hour to cook, in Taos at 7,200 feet this takes a bit longer.

(Grandma's trick was to always start the oven very hot)

2 1/2 Cups Pumpkin (mashed)

1/3 Cup Maple Syrup

1 1/2 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 Eggs

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon each of Cinnamon & Ginger

1 Pinch of each Salt, Nutmeg, Allspice, Clove, Mace

Mix this together and pour into a pie pan that you have put a pie crust into.

I use a rather large pyrex glass pie pan. If you have too much batter don't waste it, just pour it into a couple of ramekins, and bake these too!

We prefer a pie crust made with half Butter and half Shortening such as:

1 1/2 Cups Flour

Pinch of Salt

1/6 Cup Shortening

1/6 Cup Butter

3-4 Tablespoons ice cold Water

If you've never made pie crust before this is rather straight forward and not very difficult, do this first wrap it up and put it in the fridge until you're ready to roll it out and put it into your pie tin. I roll it out onto parchment paper to make it easier to transfer to the pan.

A perfect pumpkin pie does not crack, but if it does don't worry just enjoy how delicious it is!

Two Graces Plaza Gallery Fall into Winter Tour 2011

2011-11-12T16:33:00.009-07:00

Yahoo Travel 10 Great Mountain Towns By Jamie Moore Taos, New Mexico This Southwestern town, in a high desert valley, is a study in contrasts. Rich blue skies meet an arid countryside dotted with adobe dwellings and the Taos Pueblo village. The Sangre de Cristo Range towers majestically above the desert floor. And the Rio Grande's whitewater cuts a deep gorge in red sandstone below. Is it any wonder Georgia O'Keeffe, D.H. Lawrence, and countless others have been inspired here?  Do: Find kitschy kachina dolls, baskets, pottery, and other treasures at Robert Cafazzo's Two Graces Gallery, Curios and Bookstore in Ranchos de Taos.

We were HONORED recently by being featured in Yahoo Travel's story on 10 Great Mountain Towns. Of each town featured in the article we were one of the few places they chose to mention and I am the only person mentioned by name, a rather wonderful surprise that I am obviously very proud of.

Here's a short tour of what the shop looks like these days since our move from directly next door July 15, 2011. We'll be experimenting a bit with the 2 front windows and try to keep them fresh and up to date.

The reaction to the new look has been fantastic, people have said this is a wonderful update, that we've created a new and elegant shopping experience here in Ranchos de Taos. It's quite different from the earlier blog of 'Two Graces Curio Shop Tour 2011', no longer cluttered and easy to see items.

A new aspect to the store is that our books are very organized into specific categories, easier to find what you're looking for, but if you don't see it, please do ask. We specialize in having rare, out of print, and used books specific to the region of Art, Taos, New Mexico, Native Americana and the Southwest.

Locally made Herbal Remedios and Pueblo Pottery. There's also 'Fred Harvey' era vintage jewelry and contemporary jewelry by local craftspeople. We carry contemporary Zuni Fetish carvings and vintage Hopi Kachinas, along with an array of southwest curios.

The shop also provides wireless internet available right here in Ranchos de Taos, please ask for the password. Holly Sievers is also available for consulting on design and internet websites for your business.

A small religious section of curios and books is located in the Folk Art area of the second room.

The case here is full of vintage folk art, the wall behind it is hung with a variety of Tramp Art.

The Gallery exhibits paintings and charcoal drawings by proprietor and artist in residence Holly Sievers. The Dining room chair is one of the pieces designed by Frank Gehry.

Our current window display featuring vintage Kachinas, Skookum dolls, Zia & Acoma Pottery.

Taos Valley Overlook Trail on my day off...

2011-11-11T14:41:00.021-07:00

This winter Holly & I are swapping off being at the shop, She'll work a week, and I'll work a week, the exception being that I'll be working most Sundays. Taos in Winter is Slow for independent businesses, so there's little reason for us to both be here. Last week was my turn to have some time away from 'work'. Friday was one of the last nice days of Autumn here, so I decided to take a walk and stretch my aching bones and gout ridden body. The Taos Overlook trail pullover is located on the western side of Highway 68 between mile markers 35 & 36. The parking area is poorly marked but it's about a mile south of the Stakeout Restaurant entrance on the opposite side of the road. Once you pull into the parking area, the signage is helpful, but to sign in on the clipboard you'd better have a pen or pencil handy.

The reason I chose this trail is that I thought it would be quite easy and just allow me to stretch my legs, which it certainly is a nice place for this. The trail is mostly flat and straight to the Gorge if you decide to hike the "Traders Trail", the "Rift Valley Trail" loops around and seems quite popular with mountain bike riders.

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/programs/recreation/rec_docs/rec_docs_taos.Par.93658.File.dat/TaosValleyOverlook_Trail_Handout_Color.pdf

This link will get you a great map, wish I knew this when I went on this hike!

After about 10 minutes I could feel the sun on my back warming me up and my legs starting to tingle from the lack of exercise I get. Stepping off the trail which is basically an old off road vehicle road, I noticed a whole lot of this sort of vegetation, here it almost seems to be spelling something out??? If you choose to step off the trail at all, fair warning there is a whole lot of low lying cactus everywhere you step. Thorns will go right through your shoes and make for a very uncomfortable journey.

Over to the right/north is Taos Blue Mountain and Wheeler Peak and all that sage. I wasn't expecting to see a whole lot out on this trail, although an animal of some sort deer, bear or coyote could have come up over a ridge that I couldn't quite see over from my 5' 11" vantage point.

Instead I turn my attention to the local Flora, above is the local Cota or Navajo Tea, in the field you'll recognize it when you brush your hand over it you'll smell the distinct aroma of Chamomile. There are a whole lot of low lying yellow flowering plants, so if it smells like the calming tea then pick a bit of it, dry it on the dashboard of your car window and steep it in hot water, it's quite enjoyable and good for you.

This bush of Rabbit Brush stood out going all soft and feathery after flowering in a bright Fall Yellow, reminding me of this beautiful painting by Jonathan Warm Day of Taos Pueblo.

The "Winter Rabbit Hunt" painting is included in his book Taos Pueblo Painted Stories, it's a nice size at 26" x 30" and is priced at $1,500. currently I have it hanging in the window at Two Graces Plaza Gallery. As I was thinking of this connection, on the other side of a Pinon Tree I noticed something move ever so slightly, while trying to reach for my camera stashed away in my pocket one of those mountain bike riders swooped up from the arroyo and scares a Jack Rabbit out of his hiding place.

So, a bit of Fauna after all out on this trail!

This shot is what my Mom would call me 'Being Arty'

After about 20 minutes the canyon rim of the Rio Grande Gorge began to reveal itself, and too the clouds rolling in for the storm which left us with a nice snowfall over the weekend.

My hiking of trails is of the rambling type, I prefer to bushwack and go off the beaten path, (You are discouraged from doing this), sometimes you take a few steps off the trail and something reveals itself to you that you would have never experienced otherwise. Thus I walked down to the arroyo below me to discover this outcrop of rocks, and on a few them wonderful Petroglyphs showed themselves to me. I searched around a bit more for any others but didn't come across anymore in the area.

Back onto the trail proper, I could hear gunshots popping in the very far distance. Over at the road down to the bottom of the gorge a lot of people shoot guns over the rim at all times of day. The trail is quite nice, a bit more strenuous as it hugs the side of the canyon and takes you quite deep into the gorge itself all the way down to the river. That trail is at the end of what is referred to as the Golf Course Road. The first time we walked down to the river there we saw crawfish in the water, amazing and quite unexpected.

These shell casings were scattered about where I was, so evidently boys will be boys and shoot their guns off wherever they like. There's a bench here at the end of this trail, which seems to be utilized for the most part by people drinking beer and shooting guns. What I don't like about this aspect is the bottles and cans are strewn about and smashed on the rocks. Well enough of that, I came out here for the view.

...and what an incredible view it is...

To the southwest your view is of the river road 570 from Pilar and the Taos Junction Bridge, another beautiful spot and place to explore here.

Yucca growing on the edge of the gorge.

A magnificent view looking straight down to the river below! The rock slide on the other side of the gorge, is reason enough not to get too close to the edge...

I took a whole lot of photographs out here, but decided not to post too many here, to instead encourage you to take your camera and take a hike.

I'd been wondering around out here for 2 hours already, so I headed back.

At this point I was just walking back when I noticed one of our local migrating Tarantulas crossing my path. I'm told only the males migrate and usually in large Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets type groups of them. This one was quite beautiful a fuzzy brown and on a mission, I kept taking pictures and he kept walking quickly off to the northwest.

After this you can imagine I was exhilarated and ready to tell the someone all about it, but I still had to walk to the parking area and to the car. I began to count my steps...

After a seemingly endless counting of steps I arrived at 1,545 about 20 minutes later and back to the car. All told it's probably a good 1,800 steps to the gorge itself and well worth it.

So take a camera you never know what you may run into out there!

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 8: Route 66 Kachinas plus...

2011-10-13T15:49:00.024-06:00

Early ca. 70's "Red Marker" drawing by Fritz Scholder from the Estate of RC Gorman

"The Old Kachina Mask"

I've had this matted and UV safety glass put over it.

Size just under 8" x 10" framed 12 3/4" x 15" in original frame.

This painting has been in my collection since I purchased it from the RC Gorman Estate auction. I would rather not sell it but have priced it and have it on display in the office of my store Two Graces Plaza Gallery, it is simply a true jewel and not very common for Scholder although I have seen other southwest subjects (not Kachinas) from this time period in this medium of Red Magic Marker. I sell this as a true Fritz Scholder and I know this because I had asked RC about it years ago when I first saw it in his home. Mr. Gorman had 2 Scholders, one a small portrait of RC in his big Rez hat framed with an oval mat around it done as a 'quick' pen and ink sketch and this amazing Kachina work.

To inquire about pricing email me at r2c2graces@gmail.com (serious inquiries please)

Costume Party designs by Mrs. Jean Arp,

(I've posted this image just for fun, I just love all Kachina Kitsch)

The following Route 66 Kachina dolls were from a family collection that used them and played with them as part of their annual Christmas decoration under the tree ca. 1930-1950!

Above from left to right

"Corn" (w/large ears)6 3/4" tall Rte 66 Kachina SOLD this doll has a crack in his paint down the front, it is stable and should not be 'touched up'

"Eagle" 11 1/2" wing span 8" tall Rte 66 Kachina $199.99

"Sun God" 4 3/4" tall Rte 66 Kachina SOLD

Above a pair of Koyemsi aka Mudheads by the Hopi carver Abbot S., on the left this doll was well worn, his 'knobs' have been replaced priced at SOLD a beautiful well loved doll 4 1/2" tall. The one on the right has the Hopi Sun stamp on the bottom of the base which is cut through to the back and not notched 5 1/2" tall, priced at $99.99

Two more dolls from Abbot each 5" tall the "Thunderbird" on the left priced at $99.99.

The "Hunter" on the right is priced at $79.99 this one has the cut straight through the base, both with the Abbot Hopi Sun stamp on the bottom of the base.

Little Hopi girls the one on the left is a Route 66 Hahaya Kachina Mother 4 1/8" tall.

On the right this little Hopi Maiden with the Princes Leia hair is SOLD, one of my favorite Abbot dolls it was snatched up by a lovely young couple visiting from Japan (just yesterday!).

3 Navajo Yei Route 66 Dolls left to right $39.99, SOLD $29.99

(the first one resembles 'Mickey Mouse'!!!)

These are TRUE Navajo folk art so much better than the powwow dancer dolls they pass off for 'Kachinas' in todays market.

Vintage image of a Hopi carver at work on both, side by side Route 66 Dolls (the ones with bases) and Dolls to give out at the next Kachina dance ceremony (the ones with legs). NA

This pair of Dance wands are just over 23" tall, used in a Hopi Maiden Social Dance,

you can see the wear on the handles.

I have not seen many of these offered for sale and they tend to be in Museum collections which is the only place I've ever seen them. This is an amazing pair ca. 1960-1970's, I'm dating these from the 'poster paint' that was used on them. They do have the clay slip painted onto the wood first. The back sides are white with tadpole designs painted in black. I've been told that these were normally made with wood from fruit crates, but these really seem like they are made of cottonwood. My Hopi friends tell me that they are rarely used anymore, if at all and are more than likely being phased out, what a shame. They did have eagle feathers tied onto them at one time, since this would be contraband the feathers have been returned to the Hopi people.

Personally this is something I would prefer to keep for myself but times are extremely tough SOLD.

2 Home Dance Kachina dolls ca. 1980 SOLD Green face and $79.99 White face.

Cochiti Pueblo pottery Antelope wall hanger by Irwin Quintana 125.

Irwin Quintana Black Elk Cochiti Pueblo Pottery lidded corn pollen dish, priced at SOLD.

San Felipe Pueblo Kachina Face 4 directions Pottery the faces are each painted for the four directions green, white, red and brown priced at SOLD. signed J & M Latoma SFP.

7 1/2" tall about 8" wide

an eyedazzling knockout piece of Pueblo Pottery at a wholesale pricepoint!

I was offered a slightly larger one of these pots a few years ago by a local dealer who swore to me that he paid $900. for it wholesale, so I hope that someone will understand this is quite a bargain and snatch it up, it's quite a beautiful pot.

Well, that's some of the outstanding pieces that have walked in the door lately at the all new Two Graces Plaza Gallery. Today (October 13, 2011) we were featured in the local Taos News as the newest members of the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, to celebrate our merging of our businesses into one great space here in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico.

There's a Burning Man in ALL of Us!

2011-09-09T16:55:00.008-06:00

Burning Man.

As this annual event seems to grow larger I wonder what the attraction is. One of my friends has attended for a number of years, he returns refreshed, exhausted and inspired. One of my relatives had mentioned they’d love to attend, but timing for college professors just doesn’t work out with the new school year pre-activities and registration just beginning at the same time as BM on the calendar. When I thought about this, my feelings were that both of these people are rather old for this sort of thing, I know I am, was my reaction. It dawns on me that there’s a lot more to it than that, which inspires me to write my story here.

On a similar level, since 1972 Rainbow Gatherings have taken place in a different and diverse location each year, an event that tries and strives to promote spirituality and creativity. Rainbow Gatherings are attended by devotees, new-bees, and curiosity seekers, all seem to have quite a fun time and take from it a positive experience.

The Barter Town of the “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” 1985 movie seems closest to the spirit of this event. Not for the crazy Mel Gibson antics, but instead for the total artfulness of the film. The design team must have had a blast creating this set and that’s what Burning Man in all it’s arty-ness seems to be to me. Not quite art as you’d see it in a NYC Gallery, but creativity flowing and having an enormous good time. What does happen to all that artful stuff that is created for BM. For that matter I’d like to know what happens to all that artful stuff that’s created for all the amazing sci-fi and other films.

Since the website Kickstarter has come to be a place for finding funds for underfunded art projects, many Burning Man projects appear as funding projects through them. It’s a good fit, but with all the BM projects listed, at some point there’s a tendency to overwhelm the other just as worthy projects listed on Kickstarter. KS it seems to me will eventually sort this out and not offer as many BM projects in the future. The scale of BM projects, seem to be enormous and well in need of some serious funding. Perhaps BM would consider having a grants committee as part of their mission to evolve and inspire.

“The Wicker Man” 1973 film is another vein entirely but it sticks in my mind as valid in my thought pattern here. A large human like stick figure is set ablaze as part of a Celtic Paganism event.

Also, the ‘Burning of Old Man Gloom’ Zozobra in Santa Fe, New Mexico, comes to mind visually. This is a large sculptural puppet set ablaze at this time of year. Originally created by local artist Will Shuster in 1924, now an icon of Fall in the Southwest.

The radical political beliefs of the Monks who set themselves on fire as living breathing and painfully dying devotees of something I, and most of us will never understand. Obsessed devotion, willing to die for the cause. Yet, this is Not what BM is all about.

Well, I come to this conclusion, we all want to be “Burning Man”, thus some of us move to places like Taos, New Mexico, or other ‘art colonies’, (even if it’s just for a season).

Some will join a ‘stable’ of gallery artists who have similar taste and aesthetic. Some will attend an art salon, or even an art opening for that matter. We just want to have some form of creativity or creative element in our lives. We may become enriched or inspired, but sadly in the scheme of things only a few will have the opportunity to become a Burning Man. Maybe I just wish they’d have called it something else!

Long live the Burning Man in us all.

...since he's not a 'member' he could not post this so here it is from: Tony Abeyta

Burning man is somewhat like a a misunderstood genius amidst a classroom of A+ students, The class follows directions and there are assignments turned in on time but there are those few who choose to ditch class to create outside the lines and boundaries and expectations of a responsible world. No one quite understands why. People, often speculate why it is in the middle of a hot, dusty & desolate pastel desert, part of that begins with the long pilgrimage. once there , it is a celebration and creative experience like no other. there are no "hippies" there. In fact they frown upon the didgeridoo and rainbow attire that belongs to another genre, I see more organized and well financed crews of professionals, spending beaucoup duckets on theme camps with persian rugs, chandeliers and huge generators and swanky RV,S stocked with whole foods wish lists that line up for up to 6 hours to just park in that dust.

{ they say google shuts down its operations in SF, for the week}

I have had no less than several spiritual experiences that are part of the burn, it is an ephemeral mecca in the desert that was birthed from our cultures, its there as a reaction to the banality of the everyday. It is everything you cant possibly think of imagining and then it becomes your community for a brief moment in time.

yes, there is nakedness, drugs, bikes, fake fur coats, bartering,dubstep beats and dusty heat. but then there is the Temple, which is a sacred space where people go to release their crippling pain and post notes to loved ones lost, their stories like painful tabloids, mementoes and artifacts and the desperation to "let go" ,all later to be consumed in celebratory flames. its a vital part of what occurs there, a celebration of freedom from the confines of the world we have constructed for ourselves. Burning man is not for everyone, its a labor intensive, expensive and not very practical or even a responsible endeavor but its a manifestation of who we are , what we can create, and surely there is magic there like no other place.... purely transformational, and for those who know that playa well, it is sacred. T

Santo Domingo Pueblo Corn Dance Feast Day & the Santo Domingo Thunderbird Necklace

2011-08-05T14:49:00.017-06:00

Dorothy Dunn School style painting of Santo Domingo Corn Dance Ceremony (please note: the clowns are spotted and not striped as in this depiction).

August 4 is the traditional holiday for Saint Dominic, Patron Saint to Astronomers and Hopeful Mothers, also the namesake of Santo Domingo Pueblo now known as Kewa Pueblo. Located 25 miles south of Santa Fe from Taos its normally about a 2 hour drive. With feast day traffic and Brian M. as my guide, we took the back roads through nearby Cochiti Pueblo. On the road we passed corn and pepper fields, along with a whole lot of roadside Bee Weed, used for painting the black designs onto Pueblo Pottery. Cochiti Lake, the Rio Grande and the Santa Fe River all supply water to the people of this region, this is truly a wealth of water. With ominous Thunderheads gathering overhead this morning we were not to see any moisture from the sky. Years ago I foolishly asked at Zuni Pueblo if the dance would still take place as it began to rain. The answer to my question was “We dance so that it will rain”. Parking where we entered the village was plentiful within 2 blocks walking we were suddenly in the midst of the Corn Dance. The Plaza was packed with dancers; Men, Women, Children all in ceremonial dress, along with the Koshare type clowns of the village who were all over the place. I’d estimate over 300 ceremonial dancers!

Vintage photograph of the dance ceremony

Santo Domingo Corn Dance illustration of Costumes

The men wore crisp white kilts, a fox skin attached to the back through a woven belt, red clay painted bodies, white moccasins, a bundle of parrot feathers tied at the top of their hair carrying black gourd rattles. The women with long black hair some wearing traditional cloud Tabletas on their heads painted turquoise, (nowadays made of foam core, yet still strikingly beautiful), black woven dresses and either red or black moccasins. Each dancer carrying bows of evergreen. I believe the dancers outnumbered the viewers, there were SO MANY of them.

1947 painting by Ted Schuyler which he produced from memory!

Vintage photo of the wonderful Santo Domingo 'Clowns'

Everywhere you looked there were the clowns, riding on golf carts, walking among the visitors, even shopping amongst the many vendors. The Hopi Clown equivalent would be a cross between Tsutskutu and Kaisale. My description is of men with white clay painted onto their bodies which are embellished with randomly painted large black dots, wearing loose black kilts, with turtle shell rattles attached, the hair is painted with clay and formed up onto the top of their heads as a spike then tied with corn husks sticking straight up into the air.

The black dots on some were allowed to drip to form a polliwog/tadpole design, a symbol of water and life.

As a child I would often play at local ponds scooping up frog eggs to watch them develop into squiggling tadpoles with short black tails, then forearms developed and later back legs, life developing right before my eyes.

Right through my shoes my feet burned standing in the soft sand, a Clown came up to me and handed me a gift of a cold orange soda, I accepted gratefully.

1962 Painting by Leon Gaspard

Set up on one end of the Plaza was a tented booth where visitors were allowed to view the large plaster statue of St. Dominic, and to then help themselves to food prepared by tribal members, a gracious offering to all. This so reminded me of the Little Italy parades of Patron Saints through the streets of Boston and New York City during the Summer months, so heartwarming.

A Pueblo Corn Field on a very hot summer day.

All of the people at Santo Domingo were exceptionally welcoming, friendly and most of all glad we visitors were there.

This is the second time I’ve been to Santo Domingo Pueblo, the first time a few years ago, my family & I were invited by the Governor’s Office to the closed ceremony of the Rooster Pull, which I am not to speak or write about.

As we drove away from Santo Domingo a Roadrunner crossed our path and soon a Dust Devil skittered past us as well, New Mexico working it's magic once again.

A few examples of Santo Domingo pottery currently available at Two Graces Plaza Gallery. Small Chile bowls with bird motifs $75. & 90. And a large Water Olla priced at $300. There is currently a revival of this pottery begun by the contemporary potter Robert Tenorio, who has been teaching his people to make this sort of beautiful pottery again. These 3 examples are by his students.

Wheelwright Museum Exhibit

On to Santa Fe to take a second look at the “Thunderbird Jewelry of Santo Domingo Pueblo” exhibit currently at the Wheelwright Museum until April 2012.

This exhibit concentrates on the Depression Era Necklaces, also known as Tab Necklaces, or Thunderbird Necklaces.

Wheelwright Museum Exhibit

According to legend this jewelry comes about in the late 20’s early 30’s during the great depression when a train wreck takes place near the Pueblo. The box-cars were full of early plastics such as records, car batteries, cafeteria trays, and toothbrushes, which were left behind in the dust. The people gathered this material and began using it, making this some of the first ‘recycled’ craftswork. I’m told the white parts are from toothbrushes, red cafeteria trays, black car batteries or records, along with left over turquoise bits and pieces. The beadwork is made of local calcite, although the ladies have told me teasingly they are made of Goat Penis bone, (newer necklaces use heishi shell or glass beads).

Wheelwright Museum exhibit

They are strung on cotton string and should be re-strung by someone competent to do so.

That I know of there is one repair person in Santa Fe who specializes in fixing these if yours is damaged.

TGPG selection of Santo Domingo Thunderbird Depression Era Necklaces currently available.

The now adult children of the people that made these have told me they participated in the work involved by putting the plastics into the oven for the plastic to soften, then cut out the patterns with sharp tools. Mom & Dad would then ‘inlay’ the parts and string them together. Road trips would bring them to Trading Posts and other Pueblos all over the southwest, where this jewelry was sold or traded. There is a misnomer that because much of the jewelry was purchased by visitors at Zuni Pueblo, people assumed it was Zuni made, this is not true.

Currently Two Graces Plaza Gallery has a nice selection of early necklaces and even a Bolo Tie, (we did recently sell a pair of earrings and one of our necklaces, neither of which is pictured here), our prices average around $450, which we hope to maintain at this price point. Fair warning, these will start getting scarce, I’m already seeing them at $900. and up in other shops.

In the early 70’s when Dennis Hopper was living in Taos he wore a tab necklace with great aplomb!

I own a necklace, which is made up of parts that I have purchased over the years, and love wearing it. Ladies from Santo Domingo have a Love/Hate relationship with these items telling me they hated the fact that Mom & Dad ‘made’ them do the hard work of cutting out the pieces OR how memories of a different day & age come flooding back to them when they see these wonderful historically rich pieces of jewelry.

Now with this extremely beautiful exhibit of these necklaces at the Wheelwright Museum, the people of Santo Domingo (and the owners of them) can take pride in a part of this history of the southwest. A book is expected to be released by the end of Summer based on this exhibit. Once the book is out I’d expect this jewelry to become much more treasured and to see prices triple in shops across the southwest region.

Please join us on Facebook for updates of our inventory at "Two Graces Plaza Gallery", or stop by our beautiful shop in Ranchos de Taos.

Kachina Repair, Cleaning & Maintenance

2011-07-21T17:58:00.003-06:00

Cleaning and maintenance of your Kachina doll:

Use an artist paintbrush to brush away any dust that has accumulated, this is the only way to actually clean your doll. Do Not use any form of liquid or even a damp cloth as this will melt the kaolin white clay ‘duma’ base. A woman came in with 2 dolls that her housekeeper had ‘cleaned’ with Windex, the result was a catastrophe, they looked like a clown after he’d been sprayed with a garden hose or just plain bad mascara after you’d been crying all day.

As for repairs to a doll that has been dropped or purchased with missing parts, go to a professional. I have been repairing Kachinas and wood carvings for over 25 years. I’ve gone so far as to travel to the Hopi mesas and ask permission to repair certain items and have been granted access to gathering materials for the repairs.

Bad glue leads to more complications down the road, such as staining and misalignment of the pieces. Lost pieces can be replaced. Feathers can also be replaced, but if you start to see tell tale signs of feather damage place your doll in direct sunlight for a few days, turning him in all 4 directions each day, this should kill most feather mites. If you can place the doll into a sealed plastic bag this will speed the process of killing the mites.

Often times a broken foot is a good indicator of age and of your doll being the real deal. Feet are the first part of a doll to break when played with, usually the toe tip winds up lost, this too can be replaced.

I’m not big on attaching dolls to bases of any sort, I prefer a kachina to be hung on a wall usually over a window or doorway. Try to resist the ‘southwest’ style of hanging them over the fireplace or placing them onto a fireplace mantel, the heat and smoke will eventually do irreparable damage.

I have repaired Kachinas and Santos for some of the Best Collectors and Museums. People have been finding me by word of mouth, I am careful and patient. Removing excessive old glue repairs is just one of the things I do. Gathering the correct materials is also a time consuming aspect of the repair work.

The doll in the photo here had been colored with crayons by an ambitious child. It took me 4 days to clean it all off and repair any damage to the original paint. I was told that the tableta was made from recycled fruit crate wood, this had been cracked and repaired with traditional butchers cotton string. This particular doll was sold rather quickly, a Hemis doll is one of the most beautiful and desirable of Hopi carvings. I took it off the wall and handed it to a couple that were interested in it. The gentleman would not hand it back to me, he was delighted, telling me this is the best doll he'd seen on his trip and that he had to have it. This wasn't just about making the customer happy, I was happy that this really nice man purchased this great jewel of a kachina, one that took my breath away!

For repair service please contact us at:

Two Graces Plaza Gallery, PO Box 1587, 68 St. Francis Church Plaza, Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

575-758-4639 or 575-758-4101

r2c2graces@gmail.com

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 7: Kachina, Katsina, Katcinas

2011-07-21T15:54:00.042-06:00

Why collect Kachinas?

We are primarily talking about Hopi Kachina Doll Carvings, also referred to as Tihu. Sometimes the spelling varies Katsina, Katchina, Katcina, these terms are interchangeable.

Anyone who collects something becomes passionate about their collection, sometimes ravenously obsessive about it. Some will protect sources: the carvers they may come to know, the stores where they find the best dolls, the dealers and websites that offer dolls for sale new or old. I’ve seen collections of over 500 dolls on a single household wall.

The ultimate collector must have been Barry Goldwater. His kachinas make up the bulk of the spectacular collection at the Phoenix Heard Museum. Artists Andre Breton, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Horst Antes, Georgia O’Keeffe, R.C. Gorman, Andy Warhol, and so many more all collected and were often inspired to paint their own versions of Kachinas. President John F. Kennedy was gifted a Long Beard Kachina back in the early 60’s, he gave it to his daughter Caroline, that doll is now in the Kennedy Presidential Library.

Above and below 4 oversized Kachina Cottonwood root carvings, all available now, contact us for pricing they are about $6,000 each.

The local Taos author Frank Waters would say of his collection, which still to this day hangs on his bedroom wall, ‘they tend to be alive, at night they seem to move about’. A collection begins when you suddenly find yourself with more than 3 of something, you don’t need to go overboard and fill your house with them. One doll hanging on your wall or standing in a place of honor will bring blessings to you, your home and those who visit your home.

This set of 3 Kachinas and prayer altar are available at SOLD. 2 Mudheads, 1 Hillilli (the Hillilli is still available), with the wall hanger shelf, vintage ca. 1950's extremely rare. I was told feathers and dance wands would also be kept on this shelf. Below are close ups of the 2 Koyemsi.

The carver from Second Mesa that lived across the street has passed away, but thankfully we now know his name. We have recently purchased 2 dolls with his name written on the underskirt!!! Here the one to the far left is available Sold, and when you scroll down you'll see a Morning singer doll standing behind the Frankoma mud head mug that is also available by Rae Honwytewa SOLD

Hakto tied to an ear of Hopi corn ca. 1980's $249.99

This doll was given out by a bank in Arizona to customers after they deposited a certain amount of funds into their savings account. He was mounted onto a base, which is long gone, the glue on the bottom of his feet remains. ca. 1950's by Robert Quotsquya $149.99

Badger $199.99, Mudhead $59.99 & Hummingbird (Sold)

Values keep going up, and older dolls have gotten harder to find, (or find at a reasonable price point). As with anything this desirable there’s a lot of competition out there for collectors. Whether you collect just one particular type of kachina such as Koyemsi/Mudheads or Longbeards/Hillilli, they all make quite a colorful display.

Hopi Kokopelli Maiden (sold), Maiden by Abbot S. signed as such on back of shawl similar to the JFK doll $99.99, Badger (sold)

Badger, Qoqole (the Hopi 'Santa Claus' close up below) $279.99 contemporary Old Style Doll by J. Quamahongnewa, ca. 1950 Ogre (Sold)

A selection now available hanging over the window at Two Graces Plaza Gallery.

The Old & the silly fun made by a woman in Taos.

Alsaka a diety carving like Masau perfectly fine to own but RARELY carved, from the R.C. Gorman collection $1,400. (there is a Fewkes plate of this doll, which probably inspired the carver)

Tuma-Uyi Contemporary Route 66 doll by Gallegos SOLD, with crocheted doll by a woman from Farmington that made loads of these for the local Taos toy store Tiovivo

Then there are the doll carvings made by other Pueblo people. Zuni carvings are some of the best (in the store here they always sell rather quickly, recently I had one for all of 3 hours!), Acoma & Laguna carvings are the simplest and to some collectors extremely desirable but really not for everyone, basically they look like a short log with a stylized face, Jemez dolls tend to be confused with ‘Boy Scout’ carvings, those from Isleta are not common but do exist. San Juan carvings, which I carry are specific to the various Northern Pueblo Dances. As a rule I do not carry Navajo Kachinas, which I refer to as PowWow Dancer Dolls. These may look great on a coffee table featured in a photo essay for Architectural Digest or some other home interiors magazine, but they are some of the worst craftsmanship of curios in the marketplace today. Navajo carvers did make traditional Route 66 Yei Dolls, and there are some amazing Navajo traditional carvings out there. It’s my personal opinion that PowWow Dancer Dolls are not your best option. All of the Pueblos in New Mexico & Arizona have their own unique carvings, some do not offer them as crafts for sale and strictly forbid the sale of wooden deity carvings. When visiting a Pueblo ask for dolls or crafts—never ask for ‘Kachinas’.

San Juan dolls by Trujillo

San Juan Buffalo Dancer & Koshare below by Maestas ca. 1980's

Old navajo Yei Route 66 carving.

A Hopi Pottery 'Doll' House with 2 mini route 66 dolls $500.

Taos Pueblo Koshare Clown Mask of micaceous clay $59.99

Ottelie Loloma Longbeard Kachina Pot with wicker handle

San Ildefonso or Isleta Kachina painting on heavy board of the Dorothy Dunn School $750.

For the truly obsessed there is the realm of Kachina Kitsch, such as Tablecloths, Glassware, Tableware, Liquor Bottles, Banks, Salt & Pepper Shakers. You may also find yourself collecting Kachina motif Pueblo Pottery, Navajo Weavings, Dorothy Dunn School Paintings, Fewkes Prints or Native American Jewelry. Actual dance items come onto the marketplace occasionally Kilts, Leggings, Arm Bands, & the most common item available which are the Gourd Rattles. Please stay away from Kachina Masks and Turtle Shell Rattles, both run into a grey area for collectors.

Views of the shelves of Kachinas & Kachina Kitsch, yes, you are seeing 2 different make it yourself Kachina Kits!

1 Frankoma Mug available, sold in the Harvey House that was located in Albuquerque where today there is the airport $79.99

Tumblers with Salt & Pepper Shakers with an amazing metal name tag for a Kachina Boat!

Arizona Tablecloth & Hopi Sunface small hooked area rug.

If you are looking for something specific, or would like a detailed photo of some of the items you see in these pictures please call or email us, we’d be happy to assist you.

575-758-4639 or 575-758-4101

email to: r2c2graces@gmail.com

Bull roarer, dance wand pairs, Kachina ceramics, a wooden bank, lots of kitschy goodies.

There are 2 rattles here, and a pair of dance wands, the terra cotta rattle is the best I've ever seen, it has indian heads scribed into it all around, I believe this to be Maricopa, although I do not know with absolute certainty $275.

I have 2 sets of these 'dead stock' in the box sets of 6 Kachina tumblers priced at $79.99 per set of 6, the Kachina Antelope dancer ceramic tray with raised base is a treasure at $39.99

A boy and his dolls...

Thank you for your interest, R

Blessing the LLano Quemado 'Ponce de Leon' Hot Springs

2011-06-24T11:45:00.000-06:00

June 24, 2011 the Nativity of John the Baptist was celebrated here in Ranchos de Taos today at daybreak with a blessing of the 'Ponce de Leon' Hot Springs in LLano Quemado.

Not very far from Two Graces Plaza Gallery here in Ranchos.

Heading south from the San Francisco de Asis Church Plaza you'll soon take a left turn onto State Road 382/the Hot Springs Road, cross over the Olde Santa Fe Trail Road and continue up the hill past the Capilla of La Capilla de Nuestra Senora del Carmen, continue down the road which eventually changes from paved to dirt at the intersection of Leyba & Vista del Valle, on past the Llano Community Center & Water association buildings. This road eventually takes an extreme sharp left turn park at the turn around at this corner.

Walk around the gate, stay on the dirt road and keep walking, this road will eventually horseshoe turn back keep following it until you notice this break in the trees to the right which takes you to the springs. As I came around the turn a rabbit hopped along ahead of me, a nice sign of John the Baptist in attendance this morning. There is a shortcut across the horseshoe, which is under the water sluice cutting across the depression not quite an arroyo, not recommended to newcomers.

Taking to the path on a cool morning such as this the air suddenly intensifies to a warmth as if you'd just entered your own home. Perhaps this isn't a normal experience but this is what I felt.

You'll cross over a stream of water which is coming from the springs.

There are 5 pools of water, the first of which is currently overgrown with cattails, the next is large enough to swim in with two smaller 'soaking' pools attached to it. Then there is the warm natural spring up against the mountain the bottom of which is covered in smooth stones, with a tree growing out of the rock above.

WARNING: do not drink the water from this spring, the microorganism Giardia is here making it unsafe for human consumption.

And so the Blessing began with Father Deano the new priest of San Francisco de Asis Church saying a prayer with the group known as Los Comanches in attendance.

After a great deal of controversy and turmoil over who would control this spring it is currently owned by Taos Land Trust, which respects the right for Native People to hold Sacred Blessings of their own there. This spring is located on the trade route between Picuris Pueblo and Taos Pueblo, it has been a sacred site for as long as people have been in the area. TLT has now posted signage to remind people of just what a Sacred Place this is and to show respect to those who worship here. I give a strong warning here to all who come to this spring to PLEASE pick up after yourselves and keep noise levels to a minimum.

Shamefully this morning there was far too much trash all around.

Father Deano giving Blessings to the spring and the people, flora and fauna for which it provides. A very fitting prayer for all.

A few years back a white Cross was painted onto the rock face under the bush to the far side.

The great concrete pool is large enough to swim in.

I've brought people and sent people here from near and far, everyone of them has understood the value of this experience, there are many Hot Springs in the world, this one is quite special.

Los Comanches as they drum sounding loud and clear. One drum has a Northwest Coast design, one an elk and the other with an antelope painted onto the top. There were about 8 attending all around the sacred pool they drummed in rhythm with one another. Afterward each man dipped his hands into the water to cleanse their foreheads, I did so as well.

There is a great deal of water coming out of this mountain, part of the Picuris mountain range of the Sangre de Cristo section of our great Rocky Mountains.

It's said that on this day to be cleansed by fast rushing water you will be blessed for the year to come.

As we left the springs walking out of the trees onto the dirt road I once again felt the warm air from the Hot Springs fall away behind me as the cool morning air awaited just outside the break in the path to this Sacred Site.

Thank you to Taos Land Trust, Taos Pueblo & Picuris Pueblo for sharing this place and keeping it open to the public who may enjoy and respect this beautiful place.

Taos Friends & Family, or "Here But by the Grace of God am I"

2011-06-22T12:35:00.000-06:00

Let's start off by saying "Thank You, everyone"

This photograph of me is by Brian Snyder taken just across the street at Martinez Hall, the wall as you can see has remnants of an old sign "Indian Jewelry, Navajo Blankets" with a bit of pink plaster. I'd asked Brian to take a photo of me next to this wall, on his last day visiting he did this, great image, thank you.

Taos isn't the easiest place to get to, it never has been, this story is about my great appreciation of our friends and family that come to visit and of the people that have come here to Taos to make this village in the middle of nowhere their home. If you are coming to Taos from London, the East Coast or Midwest, it's a long day to get here and another long day to get back home. A long flight and then a 2 1/2 hour drive from the Albuquerque airport to finally arrive in Taos New Mexico makes for some very dedicated travelers. Friends from the West Coast may not have such a long flight, but still the drive from ABQ is long for most people. When I first moved out here, I'd overnight camp at the Coronado State Park campground next to the ruins which feature amazing Kivas with mural reproductions. This kept me from driving to the airport to pick people up for 5 hours straight there and back. On occasion some of our visitors will take the train from ABQ to Santa Fe which is easier to be picked up at, the train is a real treat with spectacular views of an unchanged landscape.

If you're new to Taos, please stop by our shop Two Graces Plaza Gallery in Ranchos de Taos, and say hello. Lately people have been doing just that coming by to say they'd found us through this blog and visit.

We have a cabin on our property that is mostly Holly's studio, but a great guest house for visitors complete with kitchen and bathroom. Brian above & Diane below were our most recent friends to visit. They try to come out to Taos every year to relax and decompress, they're not high maintenance guests, they help with meals and even help with customers coming by the shop. Brian is a photographer for Reuters news service, he tends to specialize in sports and politics. While here we all went to Santa Fe for the day, on the way back to Taos he took some spectacular photographs of the Pacheco fire near Santa Fe Ski Valley, within an hour of filing/posting one of his pictures was on MSNBC, it was picked up by other news services even one in INDIA! Needless to say AMAZING, I'm astounded of him.

While here they visited the Golden Willow Retreat run by Ted Wiard, check it out www.goldenwillowretreat.org it's open 24 hours a day when you need a place to say a prayer, the website has directions you've gotta love ie: "You will pass a dip in road with cattails and a dry pond on the right" I first learned of this place from the KVOT 1340AM radio program Breakfast with Nancy Stapp. When I heard Ted explain what he was doing I drove to the radio station just as he was finishing his interview with Nancy to give him a donation to use for candles so that people could light a candle for a loved one at this sanctuary. This to me is an important hidden jewel right here in Taos.

By the way my own time slot on Breakfast with Nancy on KVOT is the third Wednesday of each month at around 9:15AM mountain time, you can listen to it streaming live on your computer www.1340kvot.com

Back in the School of the Museum of Fine Arts days, Diane's office was the one we all hung out in to relax and decompress, (funny how that works, now she comes out here to visit to do the same). She just got a job at Harvard a couple weeks ago and stipulated to them that she'd be taking a trip to Taos. She's great, her friendship means a lot to me and I will never understand what it is she does.

This photo is from a recent gallery opening with Nancy Neva Gagliano www.nevacoloma.blogspot.com & Caterina Giglio www.caterinagiglio.blogspot.com, both terrific people and wonderful artists who also write blogs and inspired me to do so as well.

I may have written this before, but here it goes again, I think of friends as people that you take the time to sit down for a meal with. Perhaps this is an Italian thing, food dinner with family, dinner with friends, the people you love means a lot to me. Renee Howell www.renee5280.blogspot.com, David Hopper, Holly, Caterina, & Neva (who took this photo) at our home having dinner, (homemade Pizza) telling stories, listening to stories, and drinking a bit of wine. Sometimes I think my theme should be 'I could have dined all night', just chatting with people and listening to their stories can make for some magical moments in my life. So, thank you again for sharing.

Some friends here in Taos & Santa Fe we don't see all that often, Rick Aragon is an artist, filmmaker, musician who I'm looking forward to seeing play at Taos Plaza Live on August 11, 2011. He's one of those people that everyone loves and can light up a room. We don't see much of some friends, but we know they're there, like Rudy Funk. Or, like the other friends from Santa Fe who stopped by for a visit yesterday, they headed to the Harwood Museum to bring their friend to see the Agnes Martin room, (she was friends with Agnes). Once there they discovered a leak in the roof had forced the museum to close the room while it was being repaired. The paintings were now stored in the basement archives room, one of the curators asked them if they were pleased with their visit, when they told her about why they had come to visit the Museum she took them to the archives room for a private viewing of the Agnes Martin Paintings. That's a pretty great thing to have happen, they stopped by on their way back to Santa Fe to tell me all about it! That's the Taos I know and love! By the way next year Taos will celebrate the "Remarkable Women of Taos" the Harwood Museum will be featuring an exhibit of early Agnes Martin Paintings, which should be AMAZING.

Two Graces Plaza Gallery has a few things in the works with an exhibition of paintings by Taos Modernist Adeine de la Noe (she too was a friend of Agnes, but is now gone), and some other great exhibits that we're keeping our fingers crossed and we'll keep quiet about for now.

As you can imagine Taos must be a very special place to attract so many terrific people, a couple we know from Taos Pueblo just stopped by offering to help us with our move. People young and old have offered to help as well. Last time we moved Two Graces from across the street we had a dozen friends help carry everything across the Ranchos Plaza, this time it will be carrying everything into the space directly next door, which Holly has been running as The Plaza Gallery www.hollysievers.com and will soon be Two Graces Plaza Gallery. We hope to make the shop better and still make it affordable, interesting and exciting for visitor and local customers.

Holly's sister Rebecca with Holly & I.

My wonderful wife Holly Sievers, she makes me a better person.

There are a whole lot of people I'd like to tell you about here, but that would end up being a book. This is more about the idea of friendships and family the people I love, and sometimes people I miss. Although I may have gotten sidetracked a bit from the original concept of what it is I'm trying to say, there have been a lot of really terrific people coming by today to chat and the fact that I'm still frazzled from staying OPEN last night until midnight for Summer Solstice. Yet, that's just it we have to remember to take the time to visit with the people around us and hear their stories too. The author Frank Waters wrote a wonderful book about people in Taos "Of Time and Change" he's still listed in the local phone book although he's been gone for about 10 years or so. Recently I brought some of the memorial items people had left behind in front of the door at Dennis Hopper's house across the street to his grave site, David had asked me what to do with it all and I told him I'd take care of it, which I did. The cross I believe was probably carved by Leo Salazar who is a good friend of their family. Photograph by Cris Pulos, who had recently asked me if there was anything he could do to help me out, when I said: 'coming over to make dinner tonight would be a huge help' he and his wife did just that!

Yup, Taos = GREAT friends.

A few things have happened lately that remind me to slow down and take the time to appreciate the people I know and love. I've written about people who have died, which is not easy, as we get older more and more people we know have, and will pass away, including me. As for me I hope that someone will have a nice little story to tell of an experience, a remembrance they had with me. Hopefully my ashes will be spread over the ground out at Abiquiu, where I hope someday you'll visit. For now, please 'friend me' Robert Cafazzo on Facebook, I try to keep updates on it, it's been a great way to keep in touch with friends and family.

I hope you kept reading, Thanks, R

Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch Trails & the Land of O'Keeffe

2011-05-11T16:27:00.000-06:00

Here's my tour of the trails at Ghost Ranch and a bit more. Usually we go for a hike at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu about this time of year in the Spring. Wildflowers are blooming, just clinging to life and birds have migrated in for the Summer months. Ghost Ranch has quite a check list of 227 species of migratory birds that come through. The ranch property is open to the public on a regular daily basis, (there is now a small check in fee of $3.). There are classes you can take and you may even book a bungalow to stay there for a few days retreat, check them out at www.ghostranch.org PLEASE, be sure to check in at the office, hikers need to let someone know where they'll be going just in case of an accidental emergency. Seeing the film "127 Hours" will make you think twice about gong off on your own without anyone knowing you've even gone.

The Chimney Rock trail we usually take is 3 miles there and back, 5 years ago it took me 25 minutes to get to the top, this year it took 41 minutes. You are going to the top of that mesa in the distance, and believe me it's worth the effort. The altitude is what will get to you so take your time and bring 2 bottles of water in your backpack, one for up and one for down, Drink it!

A snack of some sort is also a good idea, please take your trash with you, don't leave it behind.

On this day it's a bit cloud covered which is actually good, keeping us from over heating. That's the famous Georgia O'Keeffe "Pedernal" mountain in the background behind Holly on the well marked trail.

O'Keeffe claimed the Pedernal as her own, and included it in many of her paintings, the painting above I have cropped and recolored. There is a trail for Serious Hikers to take you to the top of this pedernal mountain, it is Quite difficult and should only be done by people who know what they are doing and are in tip top shape, (which leaves me out).

Along the Chimney Rock trail are many ancient trees clinging to life.

The views and color of the sandstone cliffs inspired O'Keeffe, along the trail if you are extremely familiar with her work you'll spot places where she stopped and painted.

Here's the top of Chimney Rock Mesa, PLEASE do not stand too close to the edges, there are fractures on some of the undersides that you would never be able to know about that may give way. This birds eye view comes complete with hovering Ravens catching the air currents, stay still and one will glide out of nowhere before you know it.

We noticed this clutch of wildflowers at the top as we wandered around. We also saw something similar to blue perriwinkle flowers, red desert paintbrush, white mountain astors another yellow flower and Mormon tea.

As we headed back down the trail I thought of how much Holly's Mom & my Mom would have enjoyed seeing all this.

On a windy day the trail you should choose to take is the Box Canyon trail, it runs along a small stream which you follow to the dead end of monumental cliffs leaching water into the stream.

The Box Canyon is a 4 mile there and back fairly flat trail.

The third trail which I would not advise for most people is the Kitchen Mesa trail, this one is about 5 miles round trip and you'll need almost 4 hours time. You begin easy enough, very flat taking you around the back of this mesa, you head toward a further mesa and start climbing up.

At the top of Kitchen Mesa it is rolling dunes of gypsum with some flora, it feels like you are on the top of the world. Again, not advisable to get too close to the edge.

The Kitchen Mesa trail at some point just before reaching the top has two precarious sections. The first tricky dangerous part is a NARROW foot path barely wide enough for a single foot. One slip and it's straight down. The second tricky section is just above this area and is a crack in the rock wall, which is narrow and which you will need to lift your legs one at a time into horribly uncomfortable positions to gain altitude. In the photo above is Holly scrambling to get back down. We were both so afraid going up this trail that neither of us would admit to the other just how frightened we were! I am TOLD that there is an easier back way to get up to the top of Kitchen Mesa, so far I have not found it.

O'Keeffe turned everyone into bone collectors, and to this day you may still come across the spine, skull or who knows what part of an animal's bleached remains. I left this vertebrae in place for the next person to discover.

The Gas Station and General Store at Abiquiu is a real treat, so make this a part of your trip and stop there. They have food and snacks, with a nice wine selection for an impromptu picnic.

The folks that work there are all really nice, even to the craziest of tourists like me. The thing I noticed that struck me as odd, being a former New Englander, was that they carry Samuel Adams Beer & Cape Cod Potato Chips! Holly says it's all about branding, I say maybe we need an Abiquiu Brew, (they do carry tortilla chips and salsa).

A short stopover in the village of Abiquiu proper brought us to the O'Keeffe house, which has a great big wall around it. There is a "NO PHOTOGRAPHS" sign posted at the gate, so of course I took this of the house. I've never been inside for the official tour which costs $35., the grounds have flowers and trees growing, it's nice to see how well taken care of the place is. The one thing I'd like to see for myself inside the house is her library,

I wonder what books she collected???

Many, many years ago some friends would drive into the driveway here while O'Keeffe was still alive. They'd wait to see if anyone was around, and one time Miss O'Keeffe was there and came out yelling at them to leave. She was so exasperated she tossed an artists pallette knife at the car, which they had the good sense to quickly pick up and sceedaddle out of there with it. As this was a great old friend of mine, she one day appeared with this pallette knife to show me and then made a gift of it to me. Now I can't prove it really was O'Keeffe's but what a wonderful story, and I still have it, which I actually use for painting with it.

A cluster of yellow roses just outside the O'Keeffe Abiquiu residence, I was good enough not to pick any. Perhaps I should have and sent it to my Mom.

Lastly, around the bend of the road from O'Keeffe's place is this beautiful Morada, a place of the Penitente where worship for the Stations of the Cross during the Easter season still take place to this very day. There were 2 men outside by the door firing a couple of antique guns, at first I was skeptical of stopping to take a photograph. I drove further up the road, turned around and stopped again calling out to the men if they wouldn't mind if I were to take a photo of the Morada, they said they didn't mind at all, so here's my shot, I mean photograph.

Two Graces Curio Shop Tour 2011

2011-04-03T16:17:00.000-06:00

Two Graces Curio shop is located in the St. Francis Church Plaza in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. The shop is in a building that is about 300 years old, we're open every day 10-5 usually longer hours, especially in the Summer. This shot was taken by a customer a few years ago, I found it posted when I did a Google search of Two Graces, (I have cropped it and changed it)!

A shop without a selection of postcards is just not trying hard enough, we carry both contemporary Post Cards and Note Cards along with vintage Postcards of various subject matter, but primarily New Mexico and Native Americana.

This past week I moved the shop around, here's a look as you enter...

We carry Vintage Curio Jewelry from the Fred Harvey type trading post stores, along with Kachinas and other types of collectibles you would have purchased from 1910-1970. We tend to carry 'Vintage' items and not much 'New'. The store is a reflection of my taste in this matter, I sell what I like, not exactly what you'd expect. I rarely carry furniture unless I've made it myself or it was too good to turn down, (I just don't want to move heavy furniture).

The prices at Two Graces are extremely affordable, we strive to keep them that way.

Moving around the front room from right to left and back to the front door. A selection of Vintage Native American Baskets & Pueblo Pottery is always available. At this time we do not have a Maria Martinez pot but we do have a very beautiful pot by Otellie Loloma. My preference for pottery is from the Hopi Pueblos, the beautiful decoration of Acoma pottery, the curio figures from Cochiti, and the colorful 'Poster Paint' pots of Jemez & Tesuque Pueblos. We also have black pottery of San Ildefonso & Santa Clara, a couple of very nice Zia pots and a wonderful new addition a contemporary Santo Domingo water pot with birds.

The books we carry are primarily of the Southwest, but once in a while we have a selection of $1. & $5. bargain books, right now I have an enormous pile of books in French all for $1. Toy metal Tonka Dump trucks and license plates, too.

Sorry but the vintage Red Sox pennants aren't for sale. Hopi, Navajo & Zuni books, Kachina prints, along with an iron Horse boot scraper.

These shelves contain Kachina Salt & Pepper shakers, a carved Steer, a Cow Weathervane complete with bullet holes with a hornets nest inside (I'm told people will shoot at Weathervanes to make them spin) Prison Art & Tramp Art. In the center the orange painted table is one I made, on it rests a vintage typewriter, the type people now take the keys off of to make jewelry with. On the wall a pair of early Mexican tinwork frames, and a large Brass Eagle with separate Banner probably made to be a shop sign perhaps to post items on as daily announcements, this is an amazing sign purchased from a former Philadelphia area antiques dealer. Above this a collection of recently acquired Vintage Kachinas. On top of the shelves are religious items which I've written about in other blog posts. A new favorite item is the "Next Attraction" sign.

For Baseball fans there's the autographed by Ted Williams picture of Ted & Babe Ruth (with COA). More books, these a large range of out of print Native Americana. The Outsider painting is by Louis Maestas a Taos native.

Olaf Wieghurst painting of a Navajo lady, surrounded very humble matchstick crosses were made by children attending Bible Summer Camps. This section of the book collection are the Art Books, Rare and Autographed Books and New Mexico Books. Richard Nixon: "As you know, I kind of like to read books, I'm not educated, but I do read books..." Up on top a couple of Taos drums, an OLD one and a new one.

Day of the Dead Dia de los Muertos figures on the Skeleton Shelf I made 7 years ago.

We also carry some vintage toys and lots of Ephemera, such as Vintage Ledger paper, old photographs, old lithography and tin types. If you're an assemblage artist, please ask to see what else is available, I tend to put things aside for people to make art with, usually that sort of thing isn't out on display, but it's squirreled away in bins, and the prices are more than fair.

Taos New Mexico Pennants for sale, funky bird carvings (the single ones are $25.each), Photograph by the son of Imogen Cunningham, Rondal Partridge, and the hat worn by Robert Redford while filming Milagro Beanfield Wars in Truchas, New Mexico not far from Taos.

More books Warhol, O'Keeffe, Higgins, Bistram, and the largest collection of signed and first edition Mabel Dodge Luhan books for sale ever put together.

A couple of photographs of Taos Pueblo, and a nice folk art type painting by Joe Louis Mirabal who signs his artwork Red Willow. Old bow and arrows from Jemez, a folk doll, Navajo Yei doll, and a Pueblo dance stick hang next to the door.

Nowadays in order to make ends meet you'll find me selling on Ebay as rosiethepinktoedcat.

If you spot anything in the pictures here that you would like to purchase I'd be more than Happy to send you a better picture of that object itself.

I'm also posting new items on Two Graces Facebook, please join it and thank you very much for your time.

Elizabeth Taylor, R.C. Gorman & Taos

2011-04-03T15:14:00.000-06:00

This glass statue was given to R.C. Gorman from Elizabeth Taylor.

The story goes that when Ms. Taylor received her third Academy Award in 1993 which was an honorary one from the Academy of Motion Pictures, R.C. said to her that since she had 2 already why not give him one. Well that wasn't about to happen, but to his surprise she had this glass statuette replica of an Oscar made for him, and presented it to him on her next visit to Taos.

Back in the day Elizabeth Taylor and Dennis Hopper would have crossed paths here in Taos during one of the RC salon parties. Of course they also knew each other from acting together in the 1956 film Giant, starring Taylor, James Dean & Rock Hudson.

It's said that Ms. Taylor was a great humanitarian. Being a spokesperson to help get recognition and funding for much needed AIDS research was a huge risk for someone of her caliber. She opened a lot of doors.

She saw the broader picture of how much her being a spokesperson meant to so many people. She also saw the smaller picture of how much a gift like this would mean to one of her very dear friends.

I've only very recently learned of this story and although I had posted this 'Oscar' in an earlier blog about the Gorman estate I thought it would be a nice thing to post here and now a few weeks after the death of Elizabeth Taylor. If someone is interested in purchasing this piece of memorabilia, please ask, it deserves to be displayed and in the proper collection, just ask.

2011-01-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

If you ask anyone around Taos why there are so many doors painted blue, they may say it’s to keep out evil spirits as a protection device or talisman would. That it’s simply beautiful, after all isn’t blue the most popular of all colors.

Take a trip to your local paint supplier and ask for a gallon of Taos Blue, you may wind up with a light blue, a turquoise blue or a blue with a tinge of purple to it. Digging a bit deeper and not quite satisfied with the answers above, I discovered there are many, many answers, and most Taosenos agree to disagree.

Some may think of the starry robes of Our Lady of Guadalupe or of the Virgin Mary, the outer a deep royal blue, the inner a soft pale blue. Robes to envelop, beckoning I will keep you safe from all harm. Creating a feeling of warmth and of love as you enter through a blue door.

For the practical, it’s thought the color blue repels and disorients insects keeping them out of doorways and windows. Insects it seems do not tend to fly upwards into the apex of the blue sky. Flying too high towards the sun we’ve learned from Icarus himself, would lead to disaster.

Blue indicates one of the four sacred directions of Pueblo life, the direction of the Southwest, Red the Southeast, Yellow the Northwest and White signifying the Northeast.

The color of Taos Blue can become an obsession for someone like myself, I’ve roamed around Taos with paint sample chips from the local hardware stores trying to match colors, either too green, or this one too purple, really not a turquoise color, on and on searching to get it right. This may sound too much like Goldilocks in a search to find the right porridge or bed. It’s a mystery after all, a puzzle to be solved and we move on to get to the conclusion of any good mystery.

Whether you take the color of a calm Caribbean ocean and mix it with the color of a clear blue sky, or on a clear day at noon look straight up at the sky to its blue zenith. It’s said that we who live here in Taos live between Heaven and Earth and this is the color of the true Taos Blue, and that’s my little secret I share with you.

With thanks to the store and gallery owners of Taos, New Mexico. A heartfelt thank you to both Jerry Padilla of the Taos News www.taosnews.com and Sue Westbrook of Taos Blue www.taosblue.com for their generosity and insightfulness.

I Bought Dennis Hopper, Works of Art

2011-01-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

January 11, 2011 an auspicious day unlike any other began early with the Christie’s Interiors auction of the Estate of Dennis Hopper.

A two day sale of 964 items were to be sold at auction by Christie’s of New York City. These were the third and fourth auctions in a series of artwork and other materials, which were owned by Mr. Hopper.

During the big contemporary art auctions of November Christie’s sold, in two separate groupings, some of the larger and more valuable paintings from the Hopper estate, Warhol, Schnabel, Duchamp, Haring, Lichtenstein… These auctions realized quite a bit of money as you could imagine and made national headlines. This was not where a person of my own means could bid on something at a bargain price, this was the world of high end art dealing.

What I was hoping for was to be able to pick up something at auction during the Winter Interiors Sale perhaps some wine glasses, maybe a curio of some sort.

This past Autumn on separate occasions and over the course of a few months, 3 moving vans pulled up to the Hopper house just across the street from the Ranchos Church Plaza. Items were selected packed up and shipped off to NYC, where they would be photographed to be included in a catalogue and listed for 2 auctions to be held January 11 & 12, 2011. Dennis, squirreled away a lot of stuff, and those lots were to be listed by Christie’s.

When Christie’s posted on their website what the items selected were and the price estimates I was a bit disappointed that there were no wine goblets or special little item that perhaps I could bid on and purchase. Instead there was a lot of the art from the “Hopper at the Harwood” Museum exhibit of his local Taos artist friends, and a great deal of the smaller artworks from his vast art collection. Two of the featured artworks were Andy Warhol silk-screens, a red Marilyn and a blue Mao. Hopper had shot the Mao canvas twice then brought it to Warhol who decided to add some notations to it and announce it to now be a “Hopper/Warhol” collaboration! Also included a selection of posters from films he starred in, even the very recently awarded Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque and a rather small group of items, which were not art related yet more in keeping with the ‘Interiors’ theme of the sale.

In my opinion there were a few jewels, and hopefully ‘sleepers’, which would be well worth bidding on. The best of these were two groups of four pots by our dear friend Mary Witkop, a tiny 3” x 4” photograph of a tree by Mike and Doug Starn, a shallow relief sign, a pair of paintings by the Honorable Lady Dorothy Brett, and two early artworks by R.C. Gorman.

Having saved a bit of money for this sale since last October I expected to bid on 2 items. Not being able to put enough money together for a run at the Witkop pottery, instead, I brought them to the attention of a well-loved Taos art dealer and also an admirer of this wonderful pottery. A few days before, the Witkop family announced on their website that these pots would be included in this sale, and at that point I felt I didn’t stand a chance of being the winning bidder. With the Bretts, these too were pointed out to a separate Taos art dealer, not quite my cup of tea, yet desirable pieces to bring back to Taos. Having a lot of R.C. Gorman already, and the market for Gorman rather flooded and a bit soft, I thought these to not be as desirable. There were other items I thought would be of interest to friends of Mr. Hopper, and told each one of them about the particular pieces.

My sights were set on the “Starn Twins” photograph, the estimate at $500-700. and the Ron Gardner shallow relief wooden sign with an estimate of $400-600. These two pieces seemed within reach of me becoming the winning bidder.

Christie’s has a few ways to become a bidder of their auctions, an online ‘live’ bidder, an online pre-auction bidder, a telephone bidder, a proxy ‘live’ in-house bidder or an in-house ‘live’ bidder. Since I wasn’t going to be making the trip to NYC or asking someone to go for me, I chose the next best route, to be a telephone bidder. The week before I called to set up an account, a representative assured me that I would be called 5-10 minutes before my item numbers came up and that my bids would be placed as per my instruction.

The auctions were to run from 10AM to 5PM (Eastern time), with just over 500 of the listings to be auctioned off the first day. The two pieces I chose to bid on were to come up on the morning of the first day, in Taos Mountain time this meant the Christie’s New York auction would start for me at 8AM. For the first 2 ½ hours I watched online, excitedly calling, and emailing friends, along with adding posts to my Facebook page of how things were going. The Mao painting went for $300,000. ten times the estimate, the Bruce Connor and George Herms assemblage pieces went for 4 times the high estimates and a few for much more. Everything was selling much higher than expected! Over an hour of this had me reeling and beginning to feel a bit embarrassed of my position and plan to snatch something up that I was lulled into believing wouldn’t really bring a lot of money, after all Christie’s themselves had estimated these two items to be not very valuable. They’re the experts at this, I thought don’t they go by auction records on this sort of thing, perhaps not. My head said escape, just don’t answer the phone and it will all be alright, no one’s twisting my arm to actually place a bid and I haven’t bid on anything, not even promised to, they couldn’t possibly fine me or charge me for not bidding and wasting their time. Could they? Miraculously, things changed, a lull in sales with a few items going for under the estimate. An auction can be tuned to a point, and timed to create waves of excitement, this just might be the sotto voce moment of this particular auction, and my item numbers were coming up right in time for it. Hope. My pride said, do it, pick up the phone and ask a few questions, don’t show fear, and bid if I could. The woman calling told me the auction was going quite well, and assured me that I had yet to make any commitment. She also told me there was a lot of interest in the room towards my selection of the Starn photo. Ah, the old auction house ploy of chatting up interest in the item in question. Did she actually think I’d just fallen off the proverbial turnip truck. Before I knew it she was rapidly and softly whispering the bids in my ear, 500, 700, 1000, 1500, 2000, it was gone and I never uttered a word. Yes, the fine art of seduction one might say. This auction house had definitely fine tuned it, from the low estimates to entice you, raise your hopes and pull you in, to the soft and gentle sales people helping you with your bidding. Was I now in a movie, or in a dream, it seemed a whole lot like a movie I’d seen, or did that actually just happen! Egads, what a fool, did I really think I could bid on something, anything in a Christie’s auction!

Years ago, through the kindness of someone who collected my own artwork, I attended the Warhol Estate auctions, it was fun, but I knew my place and had no intention of bidding on anything. This, was different, as they say, this was personal.

Within 20 minutes she called back, we chatted and I told her how I went to school with the Starns and how Mr. Hopper lived just across the street, that right here and now I could see his house from where I sat talking to her on the phone. I told her how bidding on something from Mr. Hopper’s estate was for sentimental reasons. ‘Yes, of course dear, you sentimental old fool’, I’m sure she thought at this point, yet she remained extremely seductive, kind and helpful. Perhaps sensing my fear she told me she’d worked for Christie’s for about 5 years and how a recent sale of Star Trek memorabilia was quite fun with bidders and colleagues dressed in Star Trek gear. OK, your item is about to start, and, you’re off once again like a horse at a racetrack trying to catch up to the pack. The bidding starts at 200, will you do 250, yes, now 300, will you do 350, yes. I’m holding on for dear life here and trying not to fall off this fast paced thing I’m latched onto. 400 will you do 450, yes, 500 will you do 550, yes. In the real world I would keep my bidding paddle held high for all to see, which tends to intimidate all other potential bidders. 600, will you do 650 yes. That’s it we’re done you’ve got it thank you very much. Wait! Don’t go now, I fumble trying to catch my breath, how do I make my payment, how do I pick it up, I ask. She tells me the phone number to call and that’s it, we’re done. With a buyer’s premium attached by Christie’s, my $650 sign will now cost me $813. At least a friend in NYC has offered to pick it up and send it out to Taos, otherwise I’d be charged another $200 or more for shipping and packing by Christie’s.

Am I glad I did it, bid at a mysterious (to an outsider like myself) auction in New York City? Yes.

Will I do it again, perhaps. Could I really afford it, no. Was it fun, yes.

A few good reasons to have had this experience:

1.) I bought “Dennis Hopper, Works of Art”

2.) I had the experience of bidding in a Christie’s auction, which most people would never even think of doing. By the way, try it you may enjoy yourself.

3.) Bragging Rights

4.) Having an incredible story to tell and a great ‘conversation’ piece to hang in my Gallery Two Graces.

5.) That was a whole lot of fun!

When the piece arrives from NYC, I’ll hang it proudly at Two Graces Gallery in Ranchos de Taos, by the famous San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos, just across the street from the former home of Dennis Hopper. Perhaps someday soon someone who knew Dennis will come by and see it, and remark on a time in Taos that I can only wildly imagine. What I know about the piece is that Dennis had it made by Ron Gardner to hang outside the Return Gallery his brother David ran for about 9 years in the Taos Plaza, and too where the pottery of Mary Witkop was exhibited.

Thank you Mr. Hopper, it was a wild ride…

President Barack Obama, excerpts from the speech at the Arizona Memorial

2011-01-13T11:02:00.001-07:00

I post this here today because of it's importance, some of you may have missed the President's speech last night during the tribute to the fallen and the heroes in Tucson, Arizona. I have edited it to under 1,200 words taking out his tribute to each of the individuals that this tragedy came crashing down upon. I believe he kept his message to be positive and challenging each and everyone of us to think about our actions and the consequences, to LOVE one another rather than be hateful towards others. Please read:

Our hearts are broken -- and yet, our hearts also have reason for fullness.

Our hearts are full of hope and thanks for the 13 Americans who survived the shooting, including the congresswoman many of them went to see on Saturday. I have just come from the University Medical Center, just a mile from here, where our friend Gabby courageously fights to recover even as we speak.

We are grateful to the men who tackled the gunman as he stopped to reload.

We are grateful for petite Patricia Maisch, who wrestled away the killer's ammunition, and undoubtedly saved some lives.

These men and women remind us that heroism is found not only on the fields of battle. They remind us that heroism does not require special training or physical strength. Heroism is here, in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens, all around us, just waiting to be summoned -- as it was on Saturday morning. Their actions, their selflessness poses a challenge to each of us. It raises a question of what, beyond prayers and expressions of concern, is required of us going forward. How can we honor the fallen? How can we be true to their memory? You see, when a tragedy like this strikes, it is part of our nature to demand explanations -- to try and pose some order on the chaos and make sense out of that which seems senseless. Already we've seen a national conversation commence, not only about the motivations behind these killings, but about everything from the merits of gun safety laws to the adequacy of our mental health system. And much of this process, of debating what might be done to prevent such tragedies in the future, is an essential ingredient in our exercise of self-government. But at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized -- at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who happen to think differently than we do -- it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we're talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds. Scripture tells us that there is evil in the world, and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. In the words of Job, "When I looked for light, then came darkness." Bad things happen, and we have to guard against simple explanations in the aftermath.

We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future. But what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other. That we cannot do. That we cannot do. As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility. Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let's use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for empathy and remind ourselves of all the ways that our hopes and dreams are bound together. After all, that's what most of us do when we lose somebody in our family -- especially if the loss is unexpected. We're shaken out of our routines. We're forced to look inward. We reflect on the past: Did we spend enough time with an aging parent, we wonder. Did we express our gratitude for all the sacrifices that they made for us? Did we tell a spouse just how desperately we loved them, not just once in a while but every single day? So sudden loss causes us to look backward -- but it also forces us to look forward; to reflect on the present and the future, on the manner in which we live our lives and nurture our relationships with those who are still with us. We may ask ourselves if we've shown enough kindness and generosity and compassion to the people in our lives. Perhaps we question whether we're doing right by our children, or our community, whether our priorities are in order. We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame -- but rather, how well we have loved - and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better. And that process -- that process of reflection, of making sure we align our values with our actions -- that, I believe, is what a tragedy like this requires. For those who were harmed, those who were killed -- they are part of our family, an American family 300 million strong. We may not have known them personally, but surely we see ourselves in them.

If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate -- as it should -- let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. Let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and point-scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle. The loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better. To be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors and coworkers and parents. And if, as has been discussed in recent days, their death helps usher in more civility in our public discourse, let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy -- it did not -- but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation in a way that would make them proud. We should be civil because we want to live up to the example of public servants like John Roll and Gabby Giffords, who knew first and foremost that we are all Americans, and that we can question each other's ideas without questioning each other's love of country and that our task, working together, is to constantly widen the circle of our concern so that we bequeath the American Dream to future generations. They believed -- they believed, and I believe that we can be better. Those who died here, those who saved life here -- they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another, that's entirely up to us. And I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.

And here on this Earth -- here on this Earth, we place our hands over our hearts, and we commit ourselves as Americans to forging a country that is forever worthy of her gentle, happy spirit. May God bless and keep those we've lost in restful and eternal peace. May He love and watch over the survivors. And may He bless the United States of America.

Thank You Mr. President for a great speech! R

Turtle Dance at Taos Pueblo

2011-01-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

I awake at 6:15AM, outside it's -15 degrees below zero, still dark outside. I'm not quite ready to leave until pulling on a second pair of pants over my jeans, this must be the coldest day ever here in Taos, New Mexico. Today is the first of the new year when Taos Pueblo has it's ceremonial Turtle Dance, which will begin at sunrise. Hoping to get there to see this ceremony begin, I'm off towards the Blue Mountain covered in a fresh blanket of snow, it's daylight yet the sun has not peaked itself over the mountain quite yet, there's still time...

Quickly I arrive and park the car in the first visitor lot, closest to the entrance, not many people here, and I don't hear anything yet. Expecting to hear the beat of a not too distant drum, it's the ceremonial rattle I hear instead. Walking up the alley to the Plaza, it's begun in front of the Taos Pueblo Church a row of forty bare-chested men, singing a low chanted hum of the Tiwa language dancing soft steps in the squeaking snow beneath their feet. Each hold a gourd rattle painted white with bows of evergreen wrapped around the handle. A single Turtle shell rattle tied to a leg and many sleigh bells wrapped around each ankle, most have crocheted white leggings, all wearing traditional kilts of Monks cloth and a variety of designs. A headdress of Parrot, Hawk, and Eagle feathers adorns the back of each dancers head, a white stripe of clay painted under each chin which is marked into a checkered row. Reddened chests look sunburned, yet the sun has still to rise over the mountain. The drummer was using an old drum slightly larger than what I have a photograph of here, it was covered in what looked like the hide of a Buffalo with much of the hair still attached.

There may be 12-15 guests witnessing this ceremony when I first arrive, in just an hour there are now 50-60 visitors. The breath of the person next to me knocks me over with fumes from the alcohol consumed last evening. Taos Pueblo ladies are in the first row of spectators wrapped in colorful Pendleton blankets, trying to keep warm and transfer their thoughts and prayers to the men dancing. It must be working for the men aren't keeling over having turned blue with cold and frostbite. In the background all around the plaza, Taos Pueblo Priests (caciques) watch over the ceremony and the spectators. Many of the elders I know are nowhere to be seen, perhaps watching from rooftops or waiting in the Kivas.

Today is also the transfer of the Lincoln Cane and Governor's Cane to this year's new Pueblo Governor and new governing body. The ceremony for which takes place in the afternoon. If you missed the Turtle Dance and are able to witness this pay close attention to the canes, they are part of the living history of the villages known as Pueblos.

Warning: No cameras are allowed and please stay out of the way.

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/110719749-oku-shareh-turtle-dance-songs-of-san

Pasting this link into your browser will allow you to hear a similar song to Taos Pueblo of the Turtle Dance from San Juan Pueblo. It is said that the turtle dance ceremony came from the people of Laguna Pueblo through to Isleta Pueblo, to San Juan Pueblo then to Taos Pueblo in the mid 1800's. Someone once told me that the Taos Blue Lake is also called the Turtle Lake. The turtle in many cultures is an important symbol sometimes depicting a lake or body of water, sometimes of Mother Earth.

It had been 11 years since I'd last been to the Turtle Dance here. We visited Taos for the millennium 1999-2000, just a couple more spectators at the ceremony that new year. On that day it began to snow, a soft light snow, an eagle circling over head made me feel the welcome of Taos Mountain beckoning us to stay. A few years later we moved here permanently, thank you Taos Mountain for accepting us. Thank you to the people of Taos Pueblo for allowing us to be spectators at this wonderful blessing.

Photographs and images here:

"Road to Taos Pueblo 1/1/11" Robert Cafazzo

"Turtle Dance" painting by the Honorable Lady Dorothy Brett (notice the body paint markings this is usually done for the afternoon dance).

Taos Pueblo Drum with cowhide skin attributed to Rena Family, Two Graces price $800. (extremely similar to the one used at today's ceremony).

"Turtle Dance Taos Pueblo" 1916 attributed to B.G. Randall

"Three Dancers" Adrian Padilla of San Juan Pueblo (Ohkay Owingeh)

Please Note:

As much of this has been documented in the past through photographs, sound recordings and paintings it has now become a part of history. Some people will argue that I should not be writing anything at all here. Some will take this for what it is which is a tribute in my own words and from my memories of an event that took place on a particular day that I experienced. If in the future I decide to change place names to fictitious names then so be it.

Thanks for reading...

A Two Graces Christmas Carol or It's a Wonderful Life in Taos

2010-12-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

On Christmas Eve the family tradition was to go to my Grandmother’s for dinner, (sometimes it was even just Chinese or pizza takeout). Then many years ago, (around when I was 11 or 12) we arrived at home after Christmas eve at Grandma’s to find the door of our house left wide open. Thieves had broken in and stolen Christmas, they stole the presents, they stole the kitchen appliances and the TV, (this was pre-VCR & DVD players). Yes, Cindy-Loo-Hoo, the Grinch who stole Christmas was very real and living in my hometown, and on this particular year ‘The Grinch’ chose my family to loot and scoot it all out the front door. Somehow my Mom & Dad rallied and pulled off Christmas with presents, food and festivities. How they did it and what they did, isn’t what I remember, it’s that they provided us with Christmas no matter what the circumstances. This may have even been the year we started going to the movies on Christmas day. Going off to the movie theater was not a great expense those days but a treat nonetheless. The horror of arriving home and finding everything stolen stays with you, even now.

So as this has been on my mind lately, maybe that’s what’s got me in a funk this year. I suppose what I mean to say is that I have yet to catch any of the “Holiday Spirit”. What in the world is that supposed to mean? I don’t have the energy to pull it off this year, no tree, no decorations, it’s all just a bit too much pressure. Then too, a lack of snow (and a lack of shoppers) makes it seem less than Christmas time. This is the slowest season I’ve ever seen in Taos for businesses! I ask people whether or not they have a Christmas Tree, and sadly many just don’t.

I don’t really need gifts at Christmas time, I have a tendency to buy what I want for myself. Sure I may not be able to afford a flat screen TV right now, but our busted 8 year old television still works more or less. I don’t really think about Christmas gifts all that much, if and when I buy something with someone else in mind I tend to give it to them when I see them, rather than hang on to it, hide it, and wrap it up for them as a “Christmas gift”. Yet some of my favorite Christmas presents have been Christmas tree ornaments, they remind me of who gave them to us, or where and when we bought them for ourselves.

Another aspect of this year’s Christmas was Holly had planned to visit her parents in Iowa, and when she was initially planning her trip, it seemed to me that it would be during Christmas, which really had me worried. I just couldn’t imagine having Christmas without her. Thankfully she arranged to visit them a couple weeks before and is home here with me. About 15 years ago, we began dating at Christmas-time. One mid December day I was telling her that I planned to go and get a tree the following day. She told me that she and her roommates were having a tree trimming party at her place and that she’d love it if I could make it. It was to be a dinner party and they would be making home-made ornaments. That evening she went home to tell her friends that they were now having a tree trimming party and that she had invited me over on this ruse. For my own deceit in this I designed and practiced making an ornament so that when I arrived it would be a matter of effortless ornament making on my part. Until very recently I had no idea about this whole plot. Yet, that was the Best Christmas and nothing else can match that.

I’m asked what was the best Christmas dinner I remember? My response is an array of fresh fish on Christmas eve at my Mom’s aunt Phyllis’ house, topped off with baked stuffed lobster, and all the cookies I could eat. A Sicilian/American tradition, lots of fresh fish for Christmas eve. In reality the best Christmas dinner is not what there was to eat, it’s who was there and the memories of family and friends. Floating around my head are some great memories.

Lately, friends have come by with a present for Holly & I, or mailed us a card, which has really meant a lot to me, so thank you one and all. Maybe Christmas cards and gift giving is a way of saying thank you, I’ve been thinking of you, you mean a lot to me, let’s stay connected and stay in touch. So, Merry Christmas, after all…

Photo Credits: All Photographs are by Robert Cafazzo taken within the last 8 years "Deer at Mabel Dodge Luhan House First Snow" this statue has been stolen and is missing to this day if you know of it in someone's yard please report it to Mabel Dodge House and the Taos Police, thank you

"Aspens in Snow"

"Holly in Upper Los Colonias After the Snow"

"Taos Pueblo Christmas Eve Bonfires" Please note, it is no longer acceptable to take photographs at Taos Pueblo during Christmas Eve, even if it's of you and your friends.

"Bent Street Christmas Tree, Taos, NM"

FACEBOOK

2010-12-06T10:39:00.001-07:00

Two Graces is now on Facebook, although I have NO IDEA what I am doing!

Please 'LIKE' us on Facebook at Two Graces Plaza Gallery, you will see from our feed this is where we post new items and specials.

Stay up to date with TGPG and join us on Facebook, thank you, R

"Don't Worry Be Hopi"

2010-12-05T14:07:00.001-07:00

December 2, 2010 we sponsored a lecture on Hopi Kachina Dolls and Hopi Baskets here at Two Graces. The turnout was great and I believe everyone came and learned something from it.

The premise was for Joseph & Janice Day of Tsakurshovi Trading Post on Second Mesa in Hopiland, Arizona to have an exhibit of Kachina Dolls and baskets at Orr's Trading Post along with a lecture. Since Del Orr's shop is a bit small for a seated presentation we had the lecture here, (thanks to Martina for the loan of the comfortable chairs). On arrival the Day's began hurriedly unpacking and organizing what they had brought. Helping to unpack and arrange is always a good idea it eventually leads to you getting first pick! Which is how I wound up purchasing this wonderful doll above.

Janice Day is a member of the Third Mesa Basket Society, and she is in charge of purchasing baskets at their shop. Above is a collection of 'sifter' baskets, which are incredibly durable and useful for anything you can think of, even as a strainer for your veggies.

Kachinas as they were unpacked are laid out on a table. All the kachinas dolls presented were traditional or 'Old Style', at times based on early depictions found in books.

Joe, Janice & Dell above checking over a particularly complicated doll making certain it was in tip top shape upon unpacking it.

A group of baskets and dolls.

At the lecture Joe & Janice explained the uniqueness of baskets and dolls and how they are used at the Hopi villages today.

In the audience Bill Baron thinking up some sort of editorial cartoon on Hopi Kachinas?

Two of the more talked about dolls, the Cow to the left was purchased before it was even delivered to the shop, (perhaps one of the ugliest dolls I've ever seen was the one everyone wanted!). To the far right is a depiction of the Dragonfly kachina, there was a whole lot of discussion as to whether this was true or not...

These 7 dolls are a depiction of the Zuni Shalako dance which began Saturday evening over at the Pueblo of Zuni. We banged heads a bit on whether or not to close up early Saturday and all drive over to Zuni for this dance.

Local Taosenos deciding which baskets and which Kachina dolls to purchase. The prices for all of the merchandise were closer to wholesale prices, there was no markup. Del & I were more the vehicle for an incredible presentation and sale of wonderful Hopi crafts, we did not make any profit on this exhibit. What we did get out of this was an education, and sometimes that's worth a whole lot more, (and yes, I probably ate 10 rolls of Hopi Blue Corn Piki, which I LOVE).

Janice also brought her corn of the 4 directions and hung the bundles from the ceiling vigas along with baskets.

A couple of sifter baskets filled with the flat Cradle Dolls. As Joe pointed out the bodies are all the same, with variations on the head. These are the first dolls given to babies both boys and girls.

A lovely arrangement on the mantle of the fireplace.

Joe teaching Taja of Treasures a thing or two about real kachina dolls.

Another wall arrangement. The exhibit was an incredible success, business was brisk and more than half the inventory that was on display was purchased by local Taosenos and a few visitors.

Book List Part 2

2010-12-01T13:14:00.001-07:00

Alright now it's been a year since my last book list and there's a lot to cover since then. Some of the books featured here are available at Two Graces 575-758-4639

or The Plaza Gallery 575-758-4101 This list is of books I believe are compatible and make for an interesting read together. You decide, and of course any of them will make a great gift for someone this Holiday season.

"Moving to a Small Town" Urbanska & Everling

This is one of those books that you might pick up once you've moved, but best read long before you even think about moving. Time and time again I loan this book out to people who have moved here. Taos is a small town and as such has all the quirkiness of EVERY small town across the world. Wether you are moving to Taos or some other small town, read it, everything this book discusses will come to pass.

"Birds of Sorrow" Tom Ireland

Here's a rather sad and tender book of someone who does choose to move to an even smaller outlier village of Taos and some of what happens, lovely.

"Mother of God, Similar to Fire" Miribai Starr & Father Bill McNichols

These next 2 books are from some very wonderful people, Father Bill is the iconographer and priest at the San Francisco de Asis Church here in Ranchos de Taos. It's a treat when Father Bill is the one holding Mass at this Church because he relates Mass to life and nature in a way that if John Muir were to sit you down and tell you his thoughts your mouth would be agape the entire time you were listening. Ms. Starr has her own specialness, I've not had the pleasure of speaking with her in a long conversation but if Father Bill says she's OK, then she's OK with me too. Signed copies of this book are available at The Plaza Gallery.

"The House on Mango Street" Sandra Cisneros

Last winter this woman walked into the shop, she spent a long time looking around, then we began to speak with one another. It turned out it was the author Sandra Cisneros, she appreciated that I have a Latino/Latina author section, and made some suggestions. We talked and talked. When she left I felt that one of the most wonderful people I'd ever met had just been here in my little shop.

"The Art of Buying Art" Paige West

You can purchase this through the NYC gallery Mixed Greens at mixedgreens.com, an insiders guide to collecting contemporary art.

"Leo & His Circle, the Life of Leo Castelli" A. Cohen-Solal

This is well researched delving into the early history as well as Castelli the superstar New York art dealer. When you walked into the Castellli Gallery on West Broadway in NYC there was always a hush, never active or lively, more like a library filled with the most incredible art you could see outside a museum.

"I Sold Andy Warhol (Too Soon)" Richard Polsky

The follow up to "I Bought Andy Warhol" another GREAT read.

"LuLu Meets God and Doubts Him" Danielle Ganek

This book is really fun to read.

"Weekends with O'Keeffe" Carroll Merrill

"Miss O'Keeffe" Christine Taylor Patten & Alvaro Cardona-Hine

Two books by people who knew and actually spent time with Miss O'Keeffe, almost as good as from the horses mouth. New copies of Weekends are available through The Plaza Gallery.

These last 2 books are for the Hoarders out there, both are intriguing and will start more than a conversation with fellow readers of either or.

"Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder" Lawrence Weschler

"Finders Keepers" Craig Childs

The Santa Fe New Mexican Pasatiempo arts section devoted most of an issue a few weeks ago on this particular book by Childs. Possibly controversial in the great Southwest, and timely for collectors or hoarders.

Many of these authors have of course written more than the particular books I've listed here, you may want to check out the entire body of work by each of these authors.

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 6

2010-11-10T11:44:00.001-07:00

This column is dedicated to my Mom's Aunties: Nini, RoRo, Poppie, and my Mom's Mom Lena. One day my Mom purchased a pair of LEE Jeans, (she called them Dungarees), when I saw the name on them I asked why she had my Grandmothers' jeans. My Mom LOL had to explain to me that they were the name of the brand, not my Grandmother's name sewn onto them! Please continue...

Everyone needs a Guardian Angel, this one is hand carved wooden with Glass Eyes, probably Italian, possibly from Portugal? 12" wing span, SOLD as beautiful an angel as can possibly be. Placed over a door to bid you good journey each time you leave your home, or over your bed to bring sweet dreams as you close your weary eyes.

Starting on the left this plastic light up Infant of Prague is priced at SOLD stands at 12", the red robed Infant is 12 1/2" and comes with a set of extra Robes $129.99, the next one is a 'planter' with a small compartment at it's back for flowers or gifts 10 1/2" tall priced at SOLD, the last one on the right is 12" tall and comes with vintage medallions pinned to it's robes $129.99.

Two Graces is fortunate to have these lovely statues available at this time.

This is something very special to me, on the bureau or on top of a cabinet, The Infant of Prague was to have a proper place in the homes of my Mom's Aunts where they could see this depiction of the Christ Child and ask for favors. When the wish was not forthcoming in a timely manor the tradition was to break off the hand of the statue, but to glue it back in place once the favor was complete. Then out of guilt you were to adorn the statue with new handmade robes and/or to pin medallions onto the robes. Except for the light up plastic one to the left, the examples above all have broken and re-glued fingers.

Placing the Infant outdoors the day before an event such as a wedding will ensure good weather, ahh the possibilities!

Part of the story of "The Infant of Prague" which makes my hair stand on end...

The Carmelite Friary was plundered by the Lutheran Swedes, and the image of the Infant of Prague was thrown into a pile of rubbish behind the Altar. Here it lay forgotten, its hands broken off, for seven years, until it was found again in 1637 by Father Cyrillus and placed in the church's oratory. One day, while praying before the statue, Father Cyrillus claimed to have heard a voice say, "Have pity on me, and I will have pity on you. Give me my hands, and I will give you peace. The more you honor me, the more I will bless you."

The Buddha 9" tall seated black stone pumice SOLD, what I call the Venus de Milo type 8 1/2" figure with stand is SOLD, and the metal head 9" of Buddha with nice patina and stand is$59.99

The Buddha taught non-violence, respect for all life, the merit of giving generously and of a simple lifestyle, serving for many people as a model of the highest standards of humane behavior, how nice is that and how can you not have one!

When the Great Potter Mary Witkop was taking a trip to Indonesia she asked if I'd like her to bring anything back for me, I asked her for a Buddha, she returned with the Smiling Buddha, and that makes me smile to this day.

On a recent Shopping Two Graces Blog someone asked about Holy Water Bottles, so here they are, in the front is a vintage glass bottle with dispenser top from Mexico 3 1/2" tall priced at $24.99, to the left a vintage 8" plastic Our Lady bottle SOLD, the tallest one is a 12" vintage plastic Our Lady of Lourdes and contains Holy Water collected from the grotto up to about her tummy priced at SOLD ( I can't guaranty that miracles will happen but this seems a very small price to pay), the pink and white plastic bottles are contemporary 8" tall from Mexico $7.99 each.

In New Mexico it seems to be the phrase "Our Lady" is used to describe what in other areas are called a "Madonna", to me both seem interchangeable. Perhaps with the connotations that the Pop Star Madonna negative and/or positive can conjure up, the term Madonna has fallen out of favor. Above is a selection of vintage statuettes starting at the left is a delicate 'head vase' 6" tall SOLD (a nice addition for anyone with a head vase collection), next is a metal statue with silver plate remnants 6" tall priced at SOLD, next in the back with starry blue robes just over 10" tall standing on a serpent SOLD, in the front she glows in the dark 6" tall priced at SOLD, behind her the thin white figure is SOLD and her companion in Blue robes SOLD, these are each just over 7" tall, in front is a light up torso her hands holding a pink flower and a crown of pink flowers on her head SOLD, to the far right the off white one with glaze just beginning to crackle is 9" tall SOLD, the tallest one 13" to the back with blue robes, (a finger on her right hand is broken off) SOLD. As you can see gathered together, these make a worthwhile and spectacular arrangement, start collecting now.

Lastly, these 4 photographs are from the collection of Violetta Barela which was brought to me by her family. Rather than toss it all into the dumpster they brought it to me. This collection includes some of the most beautiful vintage Holy Cards I've ever seen, (and that includes the ones I've seen in books). Vintage Bibles, Scapulas, Rosaries, Statuettes, can you imagine all going into the trash, because IF I didn't want it, who would??? I understand this and the disposability of our belongings once we are gone, but it still bothers me and I wish it didn't have to be that way. Blessings to you on your journey Viola...

Two Graces Taos

Eulogy for Whitney Houston by Kevin Costner, February 18, 2012

Mary Witkop A Remarkable Woman of Taos, Master Potter

Mabel Dodge Luhan, 'Genius Loci' of Taos, NM

Christmas In Taos & the Taos Pueblo Deer Dance

Christmas Cookies

Southwestern Christmas Stockings and a Christmas Story

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 9: Curios

Emil Bisttram (April 7, 1895-1976) Abstract Works on Paper

Food: Pumpkin Pie

Two Graces Plaza Gallery Fall into Winter Tour 2011

Taos Valley Overlook Trail on my day off...

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 8: Route 66 Kachinas plus...

There's a Burning Man in ALL of Us!

Santo Domingo Pueblo Corn Dance Feast Day & the Santo Domingo Thunderbird Necklace

Kachina Repair, Cleaning & Maintenance

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 7: Kachina, Katsina, Katcinas

Blessing the LLano Quemado 'Ponce de Leon' Hot Springs

Taos Friends & Family, or "Here But by the Grace of God am I"

Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch Trails & the Land of O'Keeffe

Two Graces Curio Shop Tour 2011

Elizabeth Taylor, R.C. Gorman & Taos

“The Secret of Taos Blue Doors” Robert Cafazzo (copyright 2011)

I Bought Dennis Hopper, Works of Art

President Barack Obama, excerpts from the speech at the Arizona Memorial

Turtle Dance at Taos Pueblo

A Two Graces Christmas Carol or It's a Wonderful Life in Taos

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"Don't Worry Be Hopi"

Book List Part 2

Shopping at Two Graces Vol. 6