Taos Folk goes green in 2021
FOR 36 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, starting Friday (Nov. 19) until precisely 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Taos Folk, the popular pop-up store will once again pop up. This year’s theme is Global Green and even the accompanying signage is green. Taos Folk owner, Cathleen Lambridis, commented on this year’s green theme.
“Whether it’s refurbished, reconstructed, reimagined — putting a ‘re’ in front of almost any word makes me happy.” And so, after being rescinded in 2020 due to the pandemic, Taos Folk will be revived with repurposed, oneof-a-kind art.
“I am passionate about the green, global theme,” explained Lambridis, “but we aren’t limiting ourselves to that.
There will be artists who have newly created pieces and authors with new books. It won’t all be reuse and recycle but it will all be handmade and one-ofa-kind.”
In addition to her leniency about recycled and green-themed materials, Lambridis has relaxed other restrictions for the 2021 Taos Folk. Due to the pandemic, some local artists had to move to either stay in business or help family members. In past pop-ups, every artist was local and resided in Taos County. “It didn’t make sense to require that this year. Every artist in Taos Folk has a strong connection to Taos but for the first time, there are some who are currently residing elsewhere,” said Lambridis.
Indeed, this year’s Taos Folk global, green theme is well-timed. Artists everywhere are experiencing unprecedented challenges due to backlogs of shipments and supplies. “The oceanic traffic jam has made it difficult for many artists who would otherwise have easy access to materials. Taos Folk 2021 fully supports local artwork made
from repurposed items and this year, more than ever, that seems apropos,” Lambridis remarked.
Even her green-minded, repurposed theme is one she is reenacting. At the turn of the century, Lambridis was teaching an art class in Greece when by happenstance she had access to a large number of used, metal chair frames. “As soon as I saw those chair frames, I knew I had a project for my students. I instructed them to give the chairs a soul and a conscious without purchasing any new supplies.” The students were limited only by what they could find and by their imagination. “It was a challenge for students accustomed to purchasing whatever they needed. They initially resisted but ultimately, they allowed their creativity to surface. The results were incredible,” reflected Lambridis.
She may have been ahead of her time then, but Lambridis has always seen the world a bit differently. What we see as an empty yogurt container or a discarded soda can, Lambridis sees the potential for a vase. “My favorite can is condensed milk. My eyes see the small, used can but my mind sees potential.” That potential was likely planted early on. While other kids were going to Saturday afternoon matinees, Lambridis was home watching her favorite shows that described how things were made. “I was fascinated by the factories making brooms or silverware. It didn’t matter what they were manufacturing, I loved watching how it all came together.”
Her passion is once again at work making sure that things come together for Taos Folk. At least 80 artists and authors have committed to the pop-up which will make 2021 the largest Taos Folk to date. In addition to authors, there will be glass blowers, knitters, felters, and jewelers with handcrafted pieces using everything from painted bottle caps to sterling silver. “We’ll have a lot of artists on hand including some woodworkers who will be working and creating on site,” added Lambridis.
Taos Folk is open every day from 11-5 p.m. and until 7 p.m. on Fridays. The store, located in the Stables Gallery, will close at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. COVID-safe protocols will be in place and a limited number of customers will be permitted inside to maintain appropriate social distancing. The pop-up store runs on an ‘affordability model,’ which means items are generally priced at less than $100 and the majority are less than $50.
Perhaps it is the fleeting nature that makes Taos Folk so popular and the fact that the items are not mass-produced. A shopper who procrastinates on a one-of-a-kind purchase will likely be out of luck if they return later but Lambridis makes sure the store is fully stocked until closing time on Dec. 24.
This year closing time will look a bit different because Lambridis is taking her ‘re’ theme one step further.
“I am relocating to Greece after 2021 Taos Folk,” she explained with a voice filled with anticipatory excitement yet awareness that this chapter of her life is closing. “I would love to see Taos Folk continue but it’s time for me to pass the torch. There is so much potential and my wish is that Taos Folk continues to thrive for the artists and the community.”
For more information on each artist and author who will be part of this year’s Taos Folk, visit taosfolk.com.