A love song to a college
Over the years, three generations of our family would make the trek to Santa Fe, discovering the beauty of the city and surrounding area, meeting artists, watching Flamenco dancers and glass blowers, and backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness. And in the process, each generation of my family would, for a period of time, make Santa Fe their home. Attending the College of Santa Fe (summer, 1972) was part of my Santa Fe years. Following in my footsteps, our son, Conor, attended and graduated from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design in 2015 with a music degree. And what a music education it was for him.
My husband and I were quite impressed with the amount of hands-on music experience our son was afforded through the university. Not only was he able to enroll in traditional music courses, he performed at El Farol and other local venues. He also toured with the school’s African Drum Ensemble. And Conor’s song “Legendary,” which he wrote, sang, played and recorded with the Rock Ensemble band, was chosen as one of the songs for the Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s Arroyo Records’ CD, Songs From the Arroyo. His song was copyrighted in his name. Lastly, but certainly equally important, Conor was able to intern with Stepbridge Studios in Santa Fe, which allowed him to further his recording and engineering skills.
In looking back at Conor’s Santa Fe University of Art and Design experiences, we feel that the classes and programs so lovingly developed, the dedication of the instructors and the incredible equipment and performance spaces, combined with the small size of the campus and the unique artistic setting of Santa Fe, provided Conor and many other students with creative opportunities they would never have had at any other college.
This past October, we returned with heavy hearts to Santa Fe after having learned that the university would be closing its doors in May 2018 (“School to close in 2018,” April 13). We were delighted to find the Santa Fe University of Art and Design music instructor and director, Scott Jarrett, still hard at work in the music building. He informed us
that he and other instructors and faculty members were attempting to keep music and film programs alive on campus beyond May 2018. We are elated.
How amazing that would be if Santa Fe, one of the great art centers of the world, could still provide that place of artistry for those seeking the Santa Fe experience. We reluctantly said our goodbyes to Jarrett and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design music department, and completed our tour of the campus with a trip to the registrar’s office for copies of transcripts.
A few days later, on the morning of our journey home to Arizona, we returned one last time to the campus to say our final goodbyes. For a moment, I
was taken back to my days as a student at the College of Santa Fe and performing plays in the Greer Garson Theatre. As we stepped once more on campus, and I, with the deepest and most profound respect, walked the hallowed grounds of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design for one last time, my heart was filled with intense sadness.
Yet, I am reminded once again, as I write this, that there is hope, and I applaud the heroic efforts of those attempting to keep the beautiful idea of a college alive.
In my mind’s eye, I see generations of families to come, making their way to Santa Fe. I also still see a college at 1600 St. Michael’s Drive for the faithful on pilgrimage, seeking the artistry of Santa Fe to be educated at and inspired by.
Donna Hand-Olson is a former family counselor and educator who resides in Prescott, Ariz., with her husband, Gary, and whose passions include volunteer work, art, Reiki and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.
As we stepped once more on campus, and I, with the deepest and most profound respect, walked the hallowed grounds of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design for one last time, my heart was filled with intense sadness.