Article Contributed on: 12/9/2006 12:22:56 PM
The Santa Fe Drive art district was lit up for the holidays Dec. 8 with the 13th annual Luminarias on Santa Fe. The event featured high school carolers, mariachi bands, Aztec dancers and numerous luminarias, or Mexican lanterns, lining the streets.
Residents came out to enjoy the festivities and view artwork from about 30 galleries on Santa Fe Drive. Staff members from Newsed, a 33-year-old community development corporation, guided the ensembles to each gallery.
Santa Claus also roamed the streets, giving away treats to children.
The event ended with
Las Posadas, which is a Mexican tradition honoring
Mary and
Joseph's journey looking for shelter before
Jesus' birth.
The Luminarias on Santa Fe was to not only celebrate the holidays, but additionally highlight the growing art scene in Denver.
"This is a great place to be,"
Judy Hagler, owner of Translations gallery and vice president of marketing for the art district, said. "We have working artists, emerging artists, we offer classes. This luminarias event is geared towards the community. We want to get to know them and have them get to know us."
Linda Ulmstead, an artist with CoArt (Colorado Artworks) agrees. "It's thriving," she said about the art district. "It's really fun and accessible for people learning about art."
In order to encourage the community to enjoy and appreciate Denver's art scene, the Santa Fe district offers First Fridays, which invites residents to view works in all the galleries the first Friday of the month. Hagler said they recently started a free shuttle from the 10th and Osage light rail station to the art district so attendees don't have to worry about parking.
The galleries on Santa Fe attracts residents from towns around the Denver area.
Chuck Reeves, a resident of Golden, said he comes down to the area during the summer.
"I like it very much," he said. "It's a good place to spend a few hours. There's lots of hidden talent."
For more information about the Santa Fe Drive art district, go to
www.artdistrictonsantafe.com.
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