The 8th Annual Santero Market will be held in Albuquerque this weekend, October 3rd and 4th. The hours on Saturday are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If you're looking for uniquely New Mexican art, this is it! Wikipedia has a nice but short article on santos, which is the name for the statues themselves. The artists who carve the santos are called santeros, so the Santero Market is where the santeros will display and sell their work.
Think of this as a big party, with music, food, dance and children's activities in addition to the market. Some of the performers include La Rondalla de Albuquerque, the New Mexico Marimba Band, and Mariachi Nuevo Mexico. I've heard all of these groups perform, and they're really good. The entertainment generally starts around noon and goes all afternoon and into the evening on both days.
Here's a little history about santos from the flyer:
"In the late 17th and 18th centuries a unique form of folk art developed in the American southwest in the region that is now northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. The "Santero" tradition evolved as the need for religious images increased and imported images dwindled. To make do, untrained artists created their own folk art style images based on traditional Spanish examples. It is this legacy that today's santeros strive to continue."
See you at this year's Santero Market!
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