New Mexico

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Meow Wolf

In Santa Fe you are surrounded by artists and their art. If you want to go full immersion you visit a former bowling alley in an industrial part of Santa Fe.

This is Meow Wolf.

Meow Wolf is the brainchild of a collective of Santa Fe artists. This is so much more than an art gallery on Canyon Road, it is an immersive art installation.

The original opened on 2008 in Santa Fe. The installation is titled House of Eternal Return. 135 artists were involved in its creation which tells the story of a family that has mysteriously gone missing.

Since 2008, the collective has opening four other venues with another planned in Los Angeles.

When you walk in you are faced with a two story Victorian-like house. Inside it looks normal until you explore a bit by finding portals through the refrigerator, a fireplace or an upstairs bedroom closet to another world. In all there are about 70 rooms.

Part of an undersea world beyond the realms of the house.

I sketched two of the large sculptures out front. A robot and a wolf, before I went inside (featured sketch).

I originally planned to sketch inside but I found it was too dark and very complex and the longer I stayed, the more crowded it got. No so conducive to sketching.

I really loved the creativity and effort it took to create this experience.
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The Railrunner

I saw a picture of a commuter train set of the Railrunner in a diesel locomotive field guide a MotivePower MPI MP36PH-3C in fact.

What stood out was the stunning paint job on the locomotive and cars. This New Mexico train travels between the state capital of Santa Fe to Albuquerque.

A Railrunner at the Santa Fe Depot.

The locomotive and three cars are painted a light silver with a tribal (southwestern) red and yellow roadrunner blazed on its sides, its tail continuing on through the cars. (Locals give the train the moniker the Snailrunner).

The paragon of diesel passenger service livery has to be Santa Fe’s Super Chief’s Warbonnet paint scheme (covered in a previous post). The red and yellow of the Railrunner reaches back to this iconic paint scheme.

Once I pulled into my Santa Fe digs, I quickly unpacked and headed to the Railyard District which was a ten minute walk.

I wanted to get some dinner and sketch the Railrunner at the historic Santa Fe Depot.

As an extra bonus the Sky Train was getting ready to back into its six car consist.

Sky Trail on the left with the Railrunner to the right, in front of the Santa Fe Depot.
The livery looks stunning in the Santa Fe morning light. I did a continuous-line sketch of the locomotive with the road runner (featured sketch).
A pre-trip sketch and the real deal.
My last encounter of the trip with the Railrunner, on my way from Chama to Albuquerque. The line parallels Highway 25 for a bit. This train is heading to Santa Fe. It actually traveling the opposite direction.
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The Santa Fe Railyard

In Santa Fe I stayed a 10 minute walk from the vibrant Railyard District.

This area includes the Santa Fe Depot where the Railrunner to Albuquerque as well as the Sky Train which goes to Lamy departs.

A continuous-line sketch of the Sky Train (left) and the Railrunner (right) at the Santa Fe depot.

The Sky Train is funded by local author George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones). The train is a sunset, murder mystery train that is more about the journey than going anywhere.

In the Railyard are restaurants, breweries, art shops, a farmer’s market, a bookshop, and two cinemas.

The symbolic water tower, reflecting back to the days of steam at the Railyard.

I had breakfast at Sky Coffee and sketched the view before me of the watertower which is the symbol of the Railyard. This water tower is a replica of a real water tower used in the days of steam. I don’t think is served a purpose other than being a rounded billboard for the “Santa Fe Railyard”.

Here’s a real watertower on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in the Chama Railyard (more about the C&TSRR in other posts).

As I sketched and sipped artisans were setting up an art bazaar behind the tower. This city is full of art and artists like no other.

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Mapping New Mexico

For my early October fall break I decided to spend the week in New Mexico.

The last time I set foot in the state, or lay down in it, was a visit to Four Corners on a road trip with my family. So my last and only visit was fleeting.

As is my usual routine I sketch a map of the state with my intended travel destinations with round vignettes of sight I hoped to see and sketch (featured sketch).

These include the Taos Pueblo, the Cumbres &Toltec Scenic Railroad, the Railyard District in Santa Fe, Canyon Road arts district also in Santa Fe, San Francisco de Asis Church in Taos, my digs in Santa Fe, Tent Rocks National Monument, Scandinavia Peak Tramway, and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Side view of the famous Santa Fe F7 Super Chief in its Warbonnet (red, yellow, and silver) livery.