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A Visit with the Artist
Nancy Paap |
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We recently had to go down to Santa Fe, one and a half hours south of Taos, and spontaneously the thought came up: Why don't we go see Nancy in her studio? Calling her up to get directions to her place, she was delighted to have us come, gave us precise directions to her remote place, and then, when we got there, on a dirt road off the beaten track, she greeted us with her warm and friendly smile. This is the first thing you'll notice: her down to earth genuine big smile, always positive, always making time for you (while I can only imagine how busy she is)- yet she is so well organized, as if she was an accountant in some previous life. Following her around her place to the studio, you feel the serenity of her loving, artistic touch everywhere. Once we are in the studio, her passion for what she does lights up everything: "here I dye my yarns, and this is a real old loom, but I still use it", she goes while pulling out spindles of yarn and samples of her work. |
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Her work: It is exquisite! Each one of her pieces is truly one of a kind, created by herself, not contracted out to production weavers. Intuitively she changes colors, weaves in strands of ribbons here and there, puts tucks, pleats and hidden pockets into her vests and jackets, and the finished piece is a work of art! While attending St. John's College in Santa Fe, she was introduced to the art of loom weaving. She has been a creative and naturally talented weaver ever since. |
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As unusual as Nancy's weavings are, so is her life history, and I'd like to think that her wovens are so brilliant because her fascinating history is woven into each piece. She was born in Santo Domingo, within the Greater Antilles chain of the West Indies. Her father, Hans Paap, had been a well known portrait painter in Europe, South America and Taos, New Mexico. Subsequently, Nancy spent her early years growing up in Taos. Thereafter she spent the remainder of her childhood in England and South Africa. Eventually, she returned to the Southwest and settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1968. Nancy was one of the co-founders of the now legendary "Santa Fe Weaving Gallery", but these days, she prefers to concentrate exclusively on her artistry of weaving. |
| Back in the main house, while brainstorming about possible new styles to try in her weavings, she leans over her stove, pulls out a perfect spinach-mushroom quiche, turns around to uncork a bottle of red wine, and says "why don't we share a little something before you get back on the road?" We do, and it makes for a wonderful ending to our spontaneous visit with one of our favorite artists at Artemisia! |
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artemisia@taosnet.com 575.737.9800 |
115 Bent Street - Taos, NM 87571 Hours: 11:00 to 4:30 p.m. daily, Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. |