D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
May
2009
Truth or Consequences
Page: 2
"We appreciate slow growth," sums up Brittan. "The kind of explosive growth like Las Cruces has had is pretty crazy and not very appealing."
But the real appeal here for creative types may be the abundance of large, airy workspaces and minuscule rents. Downtown's old brick buildings are slowly being converted into studios and exhibition spaces for artists. There are plenty of aging bungalows and apartments nearby. Increasingly, T or C is a refuge for folks who need plenty of room and solitude to commune with the muse, yet want to stay loosely connected with the dealers, critics and buyers who support such bohemian lifestyles. Santa Fe, one of the country's biggest trade centers for art, is less than four hours away via Interstate 25. Scottsdale demands only two more hours of high-speed driving.
"You have to learn to amuse yourself here," cartoonist Bret Berman told Vanity Fair. Added Susan Koenick, the owner of a vintage-clothing store whose husband is an artist: "The whole [living in the] Twilight Zone thing keeps us inspired."
T or C's Fiesta Days peak on the long weekend of May 1-3 with the grand parade beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 2. The Junk Boat Race begins at 1 that afternoon at the Cuchillo Street Bridge, east of town; a drawing is held for start positions. The finish line is at Ralph Edwards Park, where most music, food and craft vending is also found. For more information, call (575) 740-3902, or go to www.sierracountynewmexico.info or www.torcifesta.com |
T or C, Mo Koenick told me, "is a place where rubber-duck races and food-eating contests still make sense." His M Gallery, on Main Street, provides an eye-catching melange of provocative photography and graphics, many served up with a political message.
"There's a lot of local art displayed now in our restaurants and businesses," notes Koenick. One way to appreciate this fully is during The Art Hop, held from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Sponsored by a local nonprofit arts association, it highlights more than 25 participating gallery-district venues. Talents cover a range of media, including ceramics, painting, sculpture, woodworking, jewelry and printmaking. Visitors to the downtown area also are encouraged to check out its quirky mix of restaurants, antique shops, boutiques, used-book dealers and vintage-clothing stores.
In the end, one can't resist speculating as to how much Truth or Consequences really has benefited by adopting an oddball name. The visitor base for "America's affordable spa town" is said to be mainly New Mexicans, along with some winter-roosting Midwestern "snowbirds." The chamber of commerce website still refers to the town variously as "one of the American Southwest's best-kept secrets" and "a lesser-known haven for nature lovers and those who want variety in their surroundings with a mild climate." Hmmm. This may explain the recent promotion of the city as a gateway to Richard Branson's commercial spaceport, 27 miles distant and still in development, or less overt appeals to aging Baby Boomers. An increasing number of the latter are retirees, drawn to relocate by the impressively low housing costs, diverse health-related amenities, and outdoor recreation opportunities that include fishing and boating.
But one doesn't need to be a hot tub enthusiast, devotee of holistic health care, or art connoisseur in order to enjoy Fiesta Days. Like the unpretentious town that celebrates such frivolity, you'll find nothing comparable. And keep in mind Ralph Edwards' upbeat Truth or Consequences on-air mantra, once emblazoned on signs posted at the edge of town: "Hello there! We've been waiting for you!
Southwest Storylines columnist Richard Mahler lives in Silver City, where he writes books, practices journalism, teaches stress reduction, and guides walking tours of the historic district. He can be reached via www.RichardMahler.com