Surprises on the road to Chimayo – Folk art finds

Teresas Gallery on the Road to Chimayo

On the road to Chimayo, in northern New Mexico, we decided to go exploring off the beaten path.  Billie and Steve from Santa Fe Travelers were on a hunt for unusual art and interesting people.  They invited me along. After a hectic week at Indian Market  I was ready for a day in the countryside. I readily accepted.

After passing through Espanola and heading down Hwy 76, we followed a sign and turned down a small dirt road toward a lovely crop-filled valley. It was there that we discovered Theresa and Richard Montoya’s gift shop and gallery.

Theresa decided to open a little gallery in her home in 1987.  As she explains on her website, the art gallery first showcased Theresa’s southwest oil paintings and her husband Richard’s retablos, an art form he had learned from watching his father and grandfather. The art gallery walls began to fill with an array of art from various local artists. The business grew, and the Montoya family became well known and gained numerous achievements. The Montoya’s’ work is represented in books, publications and posters. Their art is displayed in numerous churches, museums and galleries including the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the Los Angeles Folk Art Museum. Theresa’s retablo,  ”The Guardian Angel, ” has traveled the United States with the show “Santeras of New Mexico.” Their children have won awards at Spanish Market and have pieces in the Children’s Permanent Art Collection at the Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Of course I knew none of this as we drove down the road to her home. It looked like any other country home on the small lanes off Hwy 76. We approached the house and Richard greeted us and opened the gift shop and gallery. Following little signs in the countryside is always an adventure. And sometimes, the adventure really pays off.

Richard Montoya and his Beatles Retablos

The Fab Four Immortalized
Richard explained that he paints Hispanic folk art of Christian images on wood known as Retablos or tablets. The shop had every possible patron saint including a huge surprise. Richard is a Beatle’s fan and has been painting the Beatles as saints for years.  You know.. Saint John, Saint Paul, Saint George and Saint Ringo?  What I learned was that the colorful Beatles retablos  had quite a following of collectors. Richard painted retablos of all the Beatles songs, each with the Fab Four immortalized as saints and each with a decidedly Hispanic touch to the design. His work is featurd in this book on Beatles art.

Cordova Wood Carvings

Cordova Wood Carvings
The wood carvers of nearby Cordova are well-known for their folk art saints, angels and animals. Aside from the annual Spanish Market in Santa Fe, it is often hard to find these carvers who work out of their homes. Richard and Theresa had a splendid selection of carvings and represented some of the best artists of the area. The carvings and the retablo work go back generations. And, we found, Richard and Teresa’s heritage is very rich. You’ll learn quite a bit about New Mexico history talking to them.

Visit Theresa’s
Theresa’s gallery and studio maintains a large selection of high quality local handcrafted Spanish Colonial and Native American Art, woodcarvings, tin work, weavings, and pottery with the largest collection of Retablos and in New Mexico. They are very hospitable. Richard invited us back to see his huge garden and pointed out the chiles he was growing.

I suggest you call before going. Visit Theresa’s website for more information.

More Information
Theresa’s Art Gallery and Studio, HCR-64 Box 12, Santa Cruz, New Mexico  87567 (there are signs off Hwy 76)
Website
(505) 753-4698
Map to Chimayo
Chimayo Area Visitors Website
Tour with the Santa Fe Travelers