FEATURES Paseo collaborates
The Paseo Project and Hotel Willa team up to develop a new Taos artist residency
with Hotel Willa
TOGETHER, THE PASEO PROJECT
and the Casetta Group are creating a new gallery and artist residency program at Hotel Willa, which will soon replace the former Indian Hills Inn in historic downtown Taos.
The new Hotel Willa will include a gallery space on-site, which The Paseo Project will manage. The gallery will host shows featuring the work of visiting artists, as well as other shows curated by The Paseo Project with local partners throughout the year. Hotel Willa will also feature a “Taos Artists Wall” dedicated to showing works of Taos-based artists.
Each year, Hotel Willa expects to host approximately eight artistsin-residence, who will be selected through a juried international call for artists. Residencies will last one month, and resident artists will be invited to engage with the local creative community in a variety of ways.
“We’re excited to expand on our artist-in-residence program with Hotel Willa. As we work to engage our community through the arts, this partnership creates another venue for artistic creativity and exposure,” says Matt Thomas, founder and executive director of The Paseo Project. “We believe that the success of any project in Taos depends on its engagement with the local community. Paseo and Hotel Willa are already cooking up more ideas for ongoing projects, exhibits and community events.”
“Casetta Group is thrilled to partner with The Paseo Project for the artist in residence program at Hotel Willa. We are inspired by the community of artists in Taos and are looking forward to contributing to the creative landscape in town with The Paseo Project at the helm,” said Sana Keefer, creative director at Casetta Group.
“Hotel Willa will feature a restaurant, pool, coffee shop, events space, ‘glamping’ tents and reimagined landscaping. We’re excited to share the progress of the hotel soon,” said Carolyn Schneider, president at Casetta Group.
Longtime Taos resident Nova Sheppard has joined the Hotel Willa team as general manager and will serve as a direct contact to The Paseo Project as plans unfold. She previously served as the general manager of Lambert’s of Taos, and is the first hire for Hotel Willa.