The Support Santa Fe Gift Guide series features treasures from local shops, makers, and organizations. We’re covering books, lifestyle, food + drink, handmade, and giving. Presenting: the Art Edition.
Be it objects of art, innovative arts organizations, or experiences that have the potential to affect one’s entire experience of art itself, Santa Fe has plenty to offer when it comes to art-related gifts. Within this gift guide are animals (no surprise at this point if you’ve been keeping up with our Gift Guide series), breathtaking works, and communities to join, all of which illustrate the breadth of creativity here in this small corner of the world. Since galleries have mostly been closed, and tourism has been fairly non-existent this year, we’d be wise as community members to support the artists and arts organizations who help make Santa Fe as wonderful as it is. Happy shopping.
The Support Santa Fe Gift Guide: Art Edition
Small Inflatable Parasaurolophus
Inspired by his love of Jurassic Park, artist Brett Kern created a series of “inflatable” dinosaurs. Crafted from porcelain and an unknown amount of mystery, Kern’s friendly dinosaurs look as if they’ve actually been inflated. They even have a gold valve! Are you kidding me? What are you waiting for, add to cart!
Available at form & concept, 435 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501. 505-780-8312.
Gift Card to Santa Fe Art Tours
If you’re looking to be inspired by an organization with a tenacious commitment to what they do, look no further than Santa Fe Art Tours. The company’s founder, Elaine Ritchel, has a palpable love of art education. When her in-person tours were halted this spring, she wasted approximately zero seconds before relaunching her business as online-only, offering “Mindfulness with Art” workshops and virtual studio tours. For an interactive and enlightening experience, give the gift of one of her inspiring programs, or help support Santa Fe Art Tours by purchasing some of their lovely new tees, prints, and mugs.
Available at Santa Fe Art Tours, 505-985-5298.
Junkyard Cloud
Expect the reaction to this sweet steel cloud to be a mix of a gasp and a squeal. Unexpected and delightful! Dreamy yet grounded! In a faded green with marks of rust and abrasion, this little cloud sculpture by artist Jeffie Brewer can easily find its home on a shelf, a desk, a nightstand, or wherever you may need some nebulous company.
Available at GVG Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM 87507. 505-982-1494.
Tamarind Institute Collector’s Club 2021
Tamarind Institute, founded in 1960, has reworked its Collector’s Club into a year-round program that celebrates its extensive and notable history. In addition to choosing a limited edition print from a curated group of Tamarind’s flat files, Club members can immerse themselves in all things lithography including exclusive artist talks, conversations with experts, and more. A meaningful, educational, and beautiful gift, all in one.
Available via Tamarind Institute, 2500 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. 505-277-3901.
A Squiggly Snake
Can I sneak another animal into these gift guides? Yep, and it’s one of New Mexico artist Jim Davila’s squiggly wood-carved snakes. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and vibrant colors, they are the reptilian version of a happy pill, but with no known side effects!
Available at The Rainbow Man, 107 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501. 505-982-8706.
A Southwest Contemporary Membership
Should you have found this gift guide remotely useful or entertaining, consider supporting the organization that made it possible. Southwest Contemporary is an independent, reader-supported publisher of curated, critical arts journalism. We’re committed to connecting audiences with the arts and culture makers who are creating compelling work here in the Southwest. If you become a member or gift a membership, we will even send you this very cool tote bag, featuring the work of Albuquerque artist Christopher Scott.
Available right here at Southwest Contemporary, 505-424-7641.
A Holiday Edition Photograph
Obscura Gallery’s annual selection of giftable works offers a variety of contemporary and vintage photographs. To seal the deal, they’re offering 15% off through December 31. This particular writer wouldn’t mind being gifted Angie Brockey’s Bird or Caitlyn Soldan’s Cerro Pedernal Study #29, just sayin’. Santa, are you reading this?
Available at Obscura Gallery, 1405 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501. 505-577-6708.
A Cesar Santos Painting
Friendship and we find in the commonality of our differences, an exhibition at 5. Gallery, features intriguing new work from a number of artists. Here at SWC, we are particularly in love with the paintings by Cuban-American artist Cesar Santos. An impressive gift for the friend whose walls need to be graced by something breathtaking.
Available at 5. Gallery, 2351 Fox Rd, no. 700, Santa Fe, NM. 505-257-8417.
