Abiquiu Studio Tour
a one-of-a-kind October event!
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October is one of the most beautiful times to plan a trip to Northern New Mexico. The days are often warm and pleasant and the nights cool down dramatically. Best of all, by mid-October the leaves are turning colors in ways that rival New England autumns.
This is also when the Abiquiu Studio Tour takes place — October 12 and 13 this year. Dozens of local artists and craftspeople open their homes so you can appreciate their creations, hear the stories behind their work, and take home wonderful gifts for friends and maybe for yourself. This year happens to be the 30th anniversary of the studio tour, a cause for celebration!
Stops along this self-guided tour are located along Highway 84, the main road from Española north to Abiquiu, and you can also meander along a couple of backroads and find more studios (there’s a map below in the “If you go” section). At many of the stops, you’ll find plates of delicious treats like local apples and home-baked cookies.
One of my favorite stops is the studio of Debra Fritts and Frank Shelton (pictured above). Debra and Frank live in a beautiful adobe house near the Chama River, with studio space adjoining their home (the studio is a renovated chicken coop!). Debra’s clay and ceramic works carry deep emotional tones, and Frank’s paintings and multimedia pieces are elemental, expressive, and at times light and full of play. It’s a de-light to spend time in their studio and talk with both of them. Take a few moments to watch the video below to hear Debra talk about her artistic process. You can find Debra and Frank’s Studio One Thirty Nine at Stop #3 on this year’s tour map.
The Abiquiu Studio Tour is a brilliant way to spend a fall day in Northern New Mexico — plan on it!
Wish you were here!
