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A LOOK INSIDE THE ARCHIVES AT ONE OF OUR CLASSIC ISSUES FROM NINE DECADES OF NEW MEXICO MAGAZINE.
May 1959
Previously I had taken the side roads up into the Sangre de Cristos to enjoy the scenery and visit the craftsmen who are known far beyond their isolated villages. The Ortegas at Chimayó always have time to stop and talk as long as you wish to stay. David’s and Joe’s eyes light up when they begin telling of their centuries-old craft of blanket weaving. Their guest book is as cosmopolitan as the Museum of Modern Art.
This month’s cover picture, by H.N. Pennypacker of Albuquerque, was made near Cochiti Pueblo, where wind and water erosion carved the soft tufa rock into a series of tent formations.
The Spanish-Indian Trading Post was organized and had its store across from La Fonda, with poet Witter Bynner as president; B.J. Nordfeldt, artist; and John Evans, young businessman (son of Mabel Dodge Luhan of Taos), as manager. Previously, the only recognized curios were Indian…. But interest grew in collecting, and a group was soon formed of the leaders of the early art and literary set. The group was incorporated as the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, with a large membership for so small a city.
We had a small rubber rowboat with us as an experiment, and I had my 14-foot aluminum boat and a 16-hp motor. The rubber boat capsized prior to Ancho Rapid and, playing the hero, I rescued both boatmen and boat and took them aboard the invincible Lone Star. After two successful trips and the rescue, I was, in a word, overconfident. I entered Ancho Rapid with the motor at a low idle with three men and the rubber boat aboard. We were at least all wearing life preservers. Our motor, running at idle, quit after the first wave; the next large wave boarded us from the rear and we turned the vulnerable broadside position to the waves. The next large wave capsized the boat and dumped us, rubber boat, cameras, lunch, paddles—and ego—into the muddy waters.
Wisteria in bloom. The lovely model is Donna Clauser, of Santa Fe, and the color photo was made by Wally Anderson in the patio garden of the Alice Myers home on Camino del Monte Sol, Santa Fe.
VOLUME 93, ISSUE 5 New Mexico Magazine (ISSN 0028-6249) is published monthly by the New Mexico Tourism Department at 495 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2750. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $25.95 per year, $45.95 outside the United States. Periodicals postage paid at Santa Fe, NM, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Mexico Magazine, PO Box 433148, Palm Coast, FL 32143-9881. Copyright © 2015 by New Mexico Magazine. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or artwork.
80 NEW MEXICO | MAY 2015