Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SWIMMING
The
Taos Swimming Pool,
Civic Plaza Drive at Camino de la Placita, opposite the
Convention Center (
&
575/758-4160
), admits swimmers 8 and over without adult
supervision.
231
TENNIS
Taos Spa and Tennis Club
(see “Fitness Facilities,” above) has four courts, and the
Northside Health and Fitness Center
(see “Fitness Facilities,” above) has three tennis
courts. In addition, there are four free public courts in Taos, two at
Kit Carson Park,
on
Paseo del Pueblo Norte, and two at
Fred Baca Memorial Park,
on Camino del Medio,
south of Ranchitos Road.
8
SHOPPING
Given the town's historical associations with the arts, it isn't surprising that many visitors
come to Taos to buy fine art. Some 50-odd galleries are within walking distance of the
plaza, and a couple dozen more are just a short drive from downtown. Galleries and
shops are generally open 7 days a week during summer and closed Sundays during win-
ter. Hours vary but generally run from 10am to 5 or 6pm. Some artists show their work
by appointment only.
The best-known artist in modern Taos is the late R. C. Gorman, a Navajo from Ari-
zona who made his home in Taos for more than 2 decades. He was internationally
acclaimed for his bright, somewhat surrealistic depictions of Navajo women. His
Navajo
Gallery,
at 210 Ledoux St. (
&
575/758-3250;
www.rcgormangallery.com), is a show-
case for his widely varied work: acrylics, lithographs, silk screens, bronzes, tapestries,
hand-cast ceramic vases, etched glass, and more.
8
ART
Act I Gallery
This gallery has a broad range of works in a variety of media. You'll find
watercolors,
retablos,
furniture, paintings, Hispanic folk art, pottery, jewelry, and sculp-
ture.
218 Paseo del Pueblo Norte.
&
800/666-2933
or 575/758-7831. www.actonegallery.com.
Fenix Gallery
The Fenix Gallery focuses on Taos artists with national and/or inter-
national collections and reputations who live and work in Taos. The work is primarily
nonobjective and very contemporary. Some “historic” artists are represented as well.
208A
Ranchitos Rd.
&
575/758-9120.
www.fenixgallery.com.
Inger Jirby Gallery
Finds
The word
expressionist
could have been created to
define the work of internationally known artist Inger Jirby. Full of bold color and pas-
sionate brush strokes, Jirby's oils record the lives and landscapes of villages from the
southwestern U.S. to Guatemala to Bali. This gallery, which meanders back through a
400-year-old adobe house, is a feast for the eyes and soul.
207 Ledoux St.
&
575/758-7333.
Lumina Contemporary Art
Finds
North of Taos (about 8 min.) outside the
village of Arroyo Seco, this gallery, a new version of the notable gallery that was in Taos,
offers a tranquil museum-quality experience. Set within a 3-acre Japanese garden, it has
a water cascade and Buddhist teahouse accented with large stone sculptures. Inside,
works offer a refreshing look at the world. Open in summer Thursday to Monday 11am
to 6:30pm; winter Friday to Monday 11am to 5pm.
11 NM 230, Arroyo Seco.
&
877/5LUMINA
(558-6462) or 575/758-7282. www.luminagallery.com.
