SANTA FE, NM.- Tuesday, March 10 marked the opening of tours of the Abiquiu Home and Studio of Georgia OKeeffe, allowing visitors to see how the artist lived and how her personal lifestyle reflected her Modern aesthetic. The tours are arranged through the
Georgia OKeeffe Museum.
Touring the home and studio property in Abiquiu allows visitors to see where OKeeffe created some of her most famous paintings. OKeeffe originally purchased her home in Abiquiu in 1945 from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and supervised a four-year restoration of the property, creating a living and working space that revealed the magnificent views of the valley and mountains beyond.
This is a unique opportunity for visitors to see and experience the inspiration behind some of Ms. OKeeffes most well-known works, said Agapita Lopez, Director of Historic Properties, who worked for OKeeffe for over a decade. By witnessing her own creative lifestyle, one garners a much deeper appreciation of her aesthetic and artistic output.
Visitors to the property enter through OKeeffes garden, from which the artist cultivated a bountiful annual harvest, made further evident through the canning supplies in the well-stocked pantry and kitchen. Throughout the property, visitors will see everyday items used by OKeeffe, as well as many of the rocks, skulls and treasures she collected and featured in her artworks, the large windows and abundant light where she painted in her studio, a collection of Modern, minimal furnishings from big names in Mid-century design pieces by Herman Miller, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen are scattered throughout the house.
Recent updates on the catalogue records at OKeeffes Home and Studio in Abiquiu have unearthed new information about long-hidden items, adding to the intellectual understanding of the property. These new insights will be incorporated into the tours of the home and studio, along with displays of personal objects that OKeeffe used in daily life. Tours are given Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday through May 29; beginning June 7, additional tours are added on Wednesday and Saturday. Special and behind-the-scenes tours are offered on a limited basis.