Episode 28 Taos
“Taos In Winter” watercolor by kayti sweetland rasmussen
Taos stands resplendent in the late afternoon sun, magnificent against the backdrop of the Sandia Mountains. Taos is the jewel in the crown of the nineteen New Mexican Pueblos, unchanged throughout the centuries, despite the influx of visitors who come to marvel at the three story architecture still inhabited by this proud people. The tourist town of Taos and the Pueblo village of Taos are separate places, and no where is this more apparent than in the peace and quiet of a sleepy summer afternoon, with a few wispy white clouds drifting around the mountain, and the buildings painted hues of pink or yellow with deep purple shadows, all accomplished with a solar paintbrush. It is the most highly photographed of all the villages, and the camera fee has increased throughout the years. In the l960’s it was $5, but a number of years ago when we were there, it had grown to $15. There are restricted places where visitors may not enter or photograph, because of course this is home to many people. Of course, common courtesy demands that permission must be obtained before photographing the people, and a fee tendered, whatever the going rate.
It is estimated that the pueblo was built between 1000 and 1450 AD and is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. There are over 1900 people in the community with some of the people having modern homes near their fields and stay in the pueblo in the cooler weather. There are about 150 people who live year around in the pueblo.
Many families still conduct their businesses in their residence in the pueblo. We first met Georgia’s friend Tony Reyna, in his jewelry shop on the road into the pueblo. Tony , who is now 100 years old, still sells the very best Indian jewelry from the finest artisans in the area. Tony’s son now runs the shop.
Tony Reyna
Kiva San Ildefonso
Kiva Ruin showing sipapu in floor
The kiva is a place for religious ritual, and solemn ceremonies. Though there were no “Keep Out” signs posted, the sight of the ladder emerging from underground sent the mysterious message that this was a holy place. I felt it to be spiritual yet crackling with life from the ages. Ancient kivas had a sipapu, or small hole in the floor, symbolizing the portal through which man arrived.
Taos Man
Taos 1966
Old Taos cemetery at sunset
Bert Geer Phillips and Ernest L. Blumenschein came to Taos, New Mexico as part of a tour of the western United States in 1898, but upon seeing Taos, decided to stay. Within a few years other American and European artists joined them and they formed the Taos Society of Artists which heralded the beginning of the Taos art colony, who collected around the visually spectacular Taos Pueblo. The founding members fostered the emergence of a major school of American painting.
Many artists were drawn to Taos due to the presence of Mabel Dodge Luhan, a wealthy heiress from Buffalo, New York who had run a prominent art salon in Florence, Italy, and Manhattan, New York, before settling in Taos in 1917. After both divorced their spouses, she married a Pueblo native, Antonio Lujan, and built a house. She spelled her married name ‘Luhan” as it was easier for her friends to pronounce.
Luhan carried on the tradition of the European salon. For decades she invited artists, writers, and other luminaries to be inspired by Taos and each other. Among them were Ansel Adams, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz, author D.H. Lawrence and his wife.
As the summer drew to a close, we spent a lot of time in Santa Fe, which was not completely taken over by the tourists yet, and was beginning to develop a thriving gallery business on Canyon Road. I entertained highly unrealistic dreams of living there, being quite sure that Dr. Advice would thoroughly enjoy running a gallery while I spent my time painting and sculpting off in the hills somewhere.
In the week before we departed for home, there were many bread bakings at Isleta, stewed chile feasts and much laughter. On one such evening, more women seemed to be dressed in traditional clothing, and there was lots of giggling and whispers as if a secret were there trying to escape. I became aware that I was the object of their mirth when Georgia announced that she was giving me a new name. After much thought and many discussions with the other women, she had decided that my new name should be “Pacho Fa” which means Three Feathers, signifying family, friends and Art. It was a special moment for me climaxing a long visit in which we began as strangers wary of one another, and ended with a community which had embraced and honored me as a friend.
What a great part of your life. A trove of memories to dwell back on. A great story with paintings, sculptures and photos. Thank you, Kayti, for the insight and journey.
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Yes, that was a great summer. Even though Dr. A and I traveled there for many years afterward, it was never as exciting as the first time. Thanks for the accolade Gerard, you always make my day.
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Sounds like a wonderful place to visit, and your description of it is lovely. I’m really going to have to take a trip to New Mexico some day.
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Maybe I’ll meet you there Carrie.
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🙂
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Taos is one of Peggy and my favorite places, Kayti. We, too, considered living there before settling in Southern Oregon. Once again, you water color is wonderful. –Curt
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Thank you Curt. Southern Oregon is lovely as well. My father’s home ground. There are still wild rivers to explore.
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Yes there are… Where did your dad live? –Curt
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He was raised in Grants Pass, died in Brookings. I lived in G.P. for part of my soph year in High school during the War.
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We live on the Upper Applegate River near Applegate Lake, Kayti. Jacksonville is our mailing address. My mother was raised in Medford and I was born in Ashland. We moved away shortly afterwards (1944), though. My grandparents moved to Medford in 1906 and bought a pear orchard. –Curt
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Medford, Ashland, Jacksonville, all such familiar places. Medford is famous for its pears; i.e. Harry and David. My grandfather was the town butcher in G.P. and had a small cattle ranch outside of town. I guess he was pretty famous as a sausage maker. You might look back through my archives for “Catch a Falling Star” and “The Rogue I remember”. It was about 1942, the war years. If I were clever I could put a link in, but I am ignorant of all the know-how.
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This is so lovely
Sent from my iPhone
>
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Thank you dear. So much fun rummaging through all the old photos.
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And I am the happy recipient of the stunning watercolor which Pacho Fa titles “Taos in Winter” which, ironically, is proudly gracing the walls of our bedroom in Arizona. Kayti, you write eloquently of the Taos Pueblo, its rich history, and role in the development of an art movement. I have my own little Taos story which I have shared with you: Ron and I drove up to Taos and hoped to see Julia Roberts. We’d seen the Taos Pueblos a number of times as my early roots in Southern New Mexico had pulled me from the California Coast back to the high desert of Santa Fe and Taos. We headed out to Angel Fire just for the heck of it. While stopping for gas in, at the time, the one gas station in Angel Fire, Ron said, “You know, Cheri, Lauren Hutton lives “off the grid” somewhere around here.” Ron had always admired Lauren’s many attributes…I went into the bathroom at the gas station. Evidently, in the 5 minutes I was there, Lauren Hutton drove up, put several gallons in a big oversized car, smiled at Ron, and drove off…no kidding.
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Hilarious story. I remember when you made that trip but had not heard of Lauren Hutton. She was a fast gasser obviously. Very cute.
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I remember your adventure . You were so cool, even then, you left with your friend and we had to grow up a bit! We survived and you grew and learned . You are a gift, my sweet Mama! You’ve always been ahead of the curve!
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You not only survived; you surpassed all expectations. You are MY gift.
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Ah, finally I understand where your blog got its name. Wonderful photographs; and the painting! Depictions of buildings are often lifeless, but your painting is full of life–even the walls seem about to dance.
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I admit the name was confusing! I’m glad you liked the painting. It really is a place that gives you a sense of life.
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A pivotal moment in your life, your time at Taos. How fortunate you were to meet Georgia and travel with her! Tell me, did the people get to the second and third floors of their houses by ladder?
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Coincidentally, today is the anniversary of Georgia’s passing some 17 years ago.
Yes, most used ladders to get to the upper floors. Probably some steps,but I don’t really know. Do you remember some posts I wrote about Georgia’s husband Emmett Oliver and his Paddle to Seattle program? Their daughter, Marylin Bard has taken that over. Emmett is now 102!
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I remember your posts about Emmett and his epic paddle. Brilliant that his daughter has taken it on. 102 is immense. A great man in every way.
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I so enjoyed this, Kayti. Your prose is both informative and entertaining. The photographs are compelling, and I think the watercolor, Winter in Taos, is spectacular. I spent some time just soaking it up.
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Thanks so much Janet. I’m glad you liked the painting. I have painted the pueblo at different times of the year and in its various color changes. I particularly liked seeing it in winter because of the activity of the people.
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What a wonderful story, you must have been thrilled to be named, and with such thoughtfulness. On an extremely grim day here, I feel the warmth of place and people. 🙂
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Rain is promised for today or tomorrow, but sun is shining its little heart out! Blossoms have appeared overnight on the fruit trees. Spring can’t be far away.
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The photo of the kiva, showing the sipapu in the floor, is most interesting. I recently saw a video representing a black hole merger, and the resulting gravity wave. At about the twelve-second spot, you begin seeing a funnel-like effect that reminded me of the kiva. Science and mythology often are linked, at least metaphorically, in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
The photo of San Idelfonso is superb. And Taos? One of the most beautiful places on earth, I swear. Your watercolor captures the mystery — and the subtle secrets — of the place so well.
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Hmmm… Never mind the strangeness. First, I wasn’t allowed to comment, and then half my words turned golden! The link is over the words “funnel like effect,” and it does work.
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The video is wonderful. You are right—it does resemble a sipapu. Instead of having something emerging FROM it, they black holes dropping into it.
As for the “strangeness of the color change, I don’t understand a lot of what happens on WP without our “consent”. i wrote almost an entire post with a coupld of saves along the way the other day, and suddenly–nothing! It was all wiped out. No idea what happened. i could capture it back to the last save, but lost all my pictures and had to replace. It happened all without touching a key. Strange.
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