Many artists came to the area of Taos in the early twentieth century to pursue a truly American art. They were drawn to a new art without any of the industrial influence, and instead inspired by the light and landscape of New Mexico, as well as the Hispanic and Native American cultures in the region. The collection of the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos offers the public an opportunity to view a unique record of this convergence of artists from the its origins to the present.
The museum's embracing spirit was established by artists Elizabeth and Burt Harwood. The couple left their home in France in 1916 to move to Taos. Immediately upon their arrival, the Harwoods bought the property on Ledoux Street, which consisted of a number of small adobe buildings. By 1918, Burt Harwood had remodeled the structures using several local tradition construction techniques. El Pueblito, as the complex was then called, was at the forefront of New Mexico's Pueblo/Spanish Revival and restoration movement.
The Harwood Museum of Art and Taos entered a new phase after World War II to welcome new trends in American Art. The museum aims to meet its educational mission by offering docent tours, special lectures, and working with community groups and local schools with an array of special programs. One of the main goals of the Harwood is to make accessible and introduce its collection and exhibitions to the entire community, both young and old.
Since the museum reopened in 1997, it has introduced thousands of children to its art. The Harwood Art Museum provides a series of free and innovative art programs for both families and children, and has established outreach programs with local schools. The Harwood believes that introducing children to art at a young age offers many benefits, such as inspiring creativity, building links to the cultures and history of the area, and providing experimentation and fun.
In addition to special exhibitions and an extensive program for children, the Harwood Museum of Art provides many different art programs for adults. These programs include Gallery Talks, Art History Programs, Lecture Series, Art Workshops, Docent Program, film series, and concerts. Several different tours of the museum are also available.
The General Tour provides an introduction to the museum's collection. This one-hour tour covers a variety of themes, exploring the different artistic expressions of the collection and how art is a manifestation of the human experience. The tour is designed to be an interactive chat between visitors and the docent. Focused Tours offer a more in-depth look at specific galleries at the museum, as well as special exhibitions. Such tours include The Taos Society of Artists, Hispanic Religious Art and Decorative Art, The Taos Moderns, and the Agnes Martin Gallery.
The Museum Store offers an eclectic selection of unique gift, with items ranging from pieces related to the museum's collection to craftwork of some of New Mexico's finest. Featured in the store is a selection of unique jewelry, fine art posters, ceramic, books, fine art, lithographs, and retablos.
238 Ledoux Street, Taos, New Mexico, Phone: 575-758-9826
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