Various locations, Questa, NM August 13-14
New Mexico is brimming with artists and artisans, who make their homes and studios in a state renowned for its rich cultural history and its vibrant contemporary art scene. For a weekend every August, in the small but bustling village of Questa, just north of Taos, some of these studios are open to the public. The Questa Studio Art Tour features more than 50 local artists and craftspeople who reflect the cultural diversity and talent currently thriving in this community.
The tour, now in its seventh year, spans 20 miles with 19 locations, including 12 multi-artist hubs, starting at the south end of Questa and running east to the edge of the national forest and north through Sunshine Valley. Throughout the weekend, art lovers can meet and chat with a wide range of artists and view more than 5,000 works for sale. Among those opening their studios are Peggy Trigg, a landscape painter who captures the beauty of the area, and Mike Ridder, who uses contemporary design to create graceful pottery work. Take a closer look at Roger Harrington’s bold abstract paintings and works by Monique Belitz that reflect her unique stories of land and family. See local treasure Nick Ortega, a 92-year-old stained-glass artist, and Armando Vigil II’s traditional woodworking. Up the road is Jill Kamas, who awes viewers with her contemporary jewelry, as well as elegantly designed gourd art by Betsy Irwin.
And that’s just a sampling of the artists represented in this rural community tour. As you travel along the back roads and highways, you’ll encounter numerous private studios packed with paintings and drawings, woodwork, quilts, jewelry, folk art, fiber art, and more. A sampling of works from participating artists is currently on view at the Questa Public Library.
“The exciting thing about this studio tour is the unique and varied types of artwork on display,” says participating artist and project director Trigg. “The planning committee has sought out traditional craftspeople rich in the history of the area, as well as contemporary and modern artists who often use new and creative mediums and techniques in their work.” —Allison Malafronte
contact informationwww.northernnewmexicoartists.com
This story appeared in the August/September 2022 issue of Southwest Art magazine.
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