Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe’s Art Scene 

October 26–30, 2027

Pricing: $4,275 per person; For a single room add $890

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For more information, contact ATA at 855-395-6100 or CHQtravels@academic-travel.com

Overview

Join Judy Barie, Susan and John Turben Director of CVA Galleries at the Chautauqua Institution, to explore one of America’s most charming art destinations. Immerse yourself in the heart of Santa Fe with four nights at the only hotel located on the Plaza. Explore the life and legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe as you tour her home, see the landscape that inspired her art, and enjoy a before-hours visit to the museum that houses the largest collection of her works. Learn about the use of art as advocacy with a private lunch with an acclaimed Indigenous artist who shines a light on contemporary issues through her work. To top it all off, enjoy a hands-on class at the acclaimed Santa Fe School of Cooking and a behind-the-scenes peek at the Santa Fe Opera House with an off-season backstage tour.

Questions?

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Trip Highlights

  • Immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe, the “Mother of American Modernism,” as you tour the grounds of Ghost Ranch, where O’Keeffe lived and painted many of her best-known landscapes over five decades.
  • Step inside the life of an artist as you tour their studios and galleries and meet with a renowned Indigenous artist to discuss the treatment of contemporary issues through art.
  • Travel to Taos along the rugged roads of the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains and explore the unique blend of cultures, styles, and heritage in the historic district, which has served as a hub for artists since the early 20th century.
  • Indulge in Southwestern cuisine at charming cafes and during a hands-on cooking class.

Trip Host: Judy Barie

Judy Barie is a professional studio artist working in Pittsburgh, PA, committed to her practice, creating contemporary paintings. Her work has been shown extensively in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States for over 35 years. She has won numerous awards, and her work is included in a number of private, corporate, and museum collections. Barie divides her time between Pittsburgh, PA and Chautauqua, NY, where she has served as the Susan and John Turben Director of CVA Galleries for the past 19 years. Each summer, she resides at the Chautauqua Institution, curating and managing a variety of contemporary exhibitions. She is committed to introducing the audience to artwork that is inclusive, inventive, and created by professional and emerging artists. Barrie believes that a strong focus on building relationships and conversations with collectors, art enthusiasts, curators and those new to contemporary art, result in a universal support of artists both financially and professionally.

Judy Barie

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 1

Welcome to Santa Fe

Plan to transfer from the Albuquerque International Sunport to your hotel on the Santa Fe Plaza by midafternoon. After settling into your hotel, prepare authentic Southwestern cuisine in a hands-on cooking class at the bespoke Santa Fe School of Cooking.

Included Meal: Dinner

Accommodations: La Fonda on the Plaza

Day 2

Preserving Indigenous Art

Your exploration of indigenous art begins with a morning tour of the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA), the country’s only museum for exhibiting, collecting, and interpreting the most progressive work of contemporary Native artists, stewarding 9,000 contemporary Indigenous pieces in its collection. Continue to the eclectic Railyard arts district for a guided visit to Art Vault, a nonprofit gallery sharing algorithmic, interactive, and video art, including artwork from the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation. Then, enjoy lunch and conversation in the gallery of an award-winning indigenous artist who uses art as advocacy. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Santa Fe’s vibrant arts and dining scene on your own.

Included Meal: Lunch

Accommodations: La Fonda on the Plaza

Day 3

Travel to Taos

This morning, enjoy an exclusive off-season tour of the striking Santa Fe Opera House, an architectural marvel with a sweeping stage and iconic roof, inspired by the “shape of the sound” (subject to confirmation). Travel the winding scenic road through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to Taos for lunch as a group and an opportunity to explore the vibrant town plaza and historic district. Visit the Harwood Museum, where you’ll see works tied to Taos’s early-20th-century art scene—an important circle that helped shape Georgia O’Keeffe’s New Mexico years. Return to Santa Fe this evening for dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: La Fonda on the Plaza

Day 4

At Home with Georgia O’Keeffe

No visit to New Mexico is complete without exploring the life and legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe, the “Mother of American Modernism.” Begin your day with a before-hours visit to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of the artist’s work. Continue to the Georgia O’Keeffe home, studio, and gardens in Abiquiú, a National Historic Landmark one-hour north of Santa Fe. Your visit begins with a welcome from the site manager and details about the Museum’s efforts to preserve this historical place. After lunch as a group in a nearby courtyard, you will visit Ghost Ranch, the 21,000-acre property that served as Georgia O’Keeffe’s home and backdrop to her work for decades. Enjoy a landscape tour of the towering rock walls, vibrant colors, and open skies that inspired and are reflected in her artwork. Return to Santa Fe this afternoon and join your fellow travelers for a final celebratory meal as a group.

Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: La Fonda on the Plaza

Day 5

Departure 

Transfer on your own this morning to the Albuquerque International Sunport for individual flights home.

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
  • Meals, as noted in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
  • Expertise of a Chautauqua expert, ATA-hired travel director, and local guides throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted
  • Quietvox listening devices to facilitate audibility and social distancing on tour
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance

Accommodations

La Fonda on the Plaza
Established in 1607, La Fonda on the Plaza was Santa Fe’s first inn–and remains the only hotel located on Santa Fe’s historic plaza. Rebuilt in 1922, the luxurious lodging offers modern conveniences intermingled with authentic New Mexican style. Spacious rooms feature authentic New Mexican craftsmanship, including hand-painted headboards, handcrafted furnishings and original artwork. Amenities include a heated year-round outdoor pool, steam room, and full-service spa. (4 Nights)