NM Capitol

Our Southwest USA guide book (lonely planet) indicated that the state capitol building here in Santa Fe was worth a stop, that it had lots of pretty decent art.  We went there yesterday and loved it.

The capitol building is round, with 4 covered entries, mimicking the shape of the Zia (Native American) sun symbol, the same symbol that's centered on NM license plates and on the state seal above.  This picture was taken from the 2nd floor rotunda balcony, looking down at the main floor.

This pix, and the 2 below are fabric art.

Several different techniques were used in creating these scenes.

This one blew me away!  

Can you believe this is fabric, all the color and detail done with thread?

Trish, an avid and accomplished seamstress/quilter herself, explained the technique used here: it's called thread painting.  How long did it take to do this, I wonder?

The House meets here, Senate meets in a similar room.

You'll notice a group of people in the upper right corner.  

Trish is in that group, taking a 45 minute tour; I opted out, short span of attention.

Several dead-end hallways have benches and chairs that are themselves works of art. 

The picture is all mucked up by reflections.

It's a curved 3-panel painting of man's best friend and a native woman.

Typical area native art.

My favorite piece.

All sorts of junk cobbled together to make a larger-than-life buffalo head.

The horns are buffalo-flavored newspaper clippings.  Other stuff: paint brushes, film strips, plastic spoons, a horseshoe, a lantern. 

Another great bench: wagon wheels, leather and wood.

Large and lovely, done by a self-taught cowboy artist.

Mongolian Cat.

Similar technique to the buffalo, different artist, encased in Plexiglas 

so there's reflective distortion.

What would you guess this is?

First hint: it's not hanging on the wall.

Second hint: the figure is life-sized.

It's a fountain, viewed from one story above.

I guess the guy is taking a break, soaking his feet, staying cool.