Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Valentines offer unique interpretation of New Mexican Culture

Feb., 2016
LAS CRUCES – Festive, colorful little hearts festooned with images of saints and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Cupidos y corazons (cupids and hearts) on bright red papel picado banners. Punched tin valentines, Navajo silversmiths’ sterling heart jewelry, and skeletal brides and grooms cavorting on romantic cards.
Valentine’s Day in the Borderland can inspire unique, artistic celebrations of our culture.
“I collect things all year long and find things that are perfect for Valentine’s Day. I look for things with heart shapes, little metal heart jewelry and other things that fit it with the theme,” said Kirstie Robles, owner of San Pasqual Market/A Hair & Body Shop, 2488 Calle de Guadalupe in Mesilla.
Some of her inspirations come from the Backyard Bones Coalition, a colorful outdoor market with regional artists that she hosts every year during Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mesilla, in the courtyard outside her shop, across from the Fountain Theatre.
Many symbols of death-defying, eternal love, like traditional Day of the Dead skeletons dancing, or in bridal finery, “are just perfect,” she feels, for Valentine’s Day celebrations here.
Robles also orders and commissions special arts and crafts to encourage one-of-a-kind romantic messages, including some original mixed media works from her sister, artist Stephanie Felix, a former Las Crucen who now lives in Gilbert, Ariz. Works by Felix include a framed heart sculpture made from pieces of driftwood and a corazon collage that features metal and paper.
“This year, I started looking around at Christmas time and found things like a sacred heart tray and other things from Mexico,” Robles said.
Holiday sales and leftover décor can be great sources for valentines, gifts and romantic décor, according to Beverly Chávez-Floyd, of Patina Home, 300 N. Main St. in Las Cruces.
“Just look for anything in valentine colors: red, pink and white. There are some terrific after-Christmas sales and you can get some wonderful things for very little,” said Chávez-Floyd, showing a row of red and white polka-dotted metal tins, tied with coordinated ribbons and filled with vintage teacup-and-saucer sets.
Chávez-Floyd’s shop is filled with romantic Victorian and Borderland table settings and vignettes, many spiced up with valentines she made herself from her stock of collectible ephemera that includes old papers and eclectic motifs like birds, flowers and even colorful Mexican oilcloth designs. Her entryway welcomes visitors with large heart shapes she sewed from white fabric with bright red chile peppers.
The owners of both artistic emporiums welcome those looking for one-of-a-kind valentines for their loved ones and say they are happy to consult and help come up with ideas to please significant others.
San Pasqual Market is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and is closed Monday and Wednesday. For information call 575-527-1910.
Patina Home is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For information, call 575-642-2207.
More custom, creative gifts for your valentine are available Wednesday and Saturday mornings at the Las Cruces Farmers’ and Crafts Market on Main Street Downtown, where you’ll find everything from heart-shaped red chile ristras to fiery homemade salsas, heart-shaped cookies and pastries, flower arrangements, jewelry and wearable art, including colorful bandanas for your four-legged valentines. Couples who show up wearing red at the Feb. 13 market will have a chance to win romantic dinners for two at Main Street Bistro.
Find one-of-a kind arts and crafts, poetry readings and special performances throughout the Mesilla Valley during February For the Love of Art Month, or take your sweetheart on FLAM Artists Studio Tours to find special mementos together. For information and schedules, visit artformsnm.org or pick up a FLAM Event Guide at galleries, museums and other sites around Las Cruces.
If you’d like to try your hand at making your own special tributes, children of all ages are invited to create their own valentine crafts at a workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road. Regular admission is required for all family members: $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for children 4 to 17, and free admission for kids 3 and under. For information, call 575-522-4100.
The Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science, 411 N. Main St., will also have some valentine activities as part of their weekly SNAP! program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Feb. 13.
S. Derrickson Moore may be reached at  575-5450, dmoore@lcsun-news.com or @derricksonmoore on Twitter.
PRINT FACT BOX STARTS HERE
Find unique, artistic valentines
• Las Cruces Farmers’ and Crafts Market
When: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Where: Main Street, Downtown Las Cruces
San Pasqual Market
When: 10 a.m -4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Where: 2488 Calle de Guadalupe in Mesilla.
•.Patina Home
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a,m.- 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: 300 N. Main St., Las Cruces

 VIDEOS
SAN PASQUAL Market Valentines

LAS CRUCES FARMERS & CRAFTS MARKET VALENTINES

No comments: