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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Weems to honor Homeland Security chief
By David Steinberg
Journal Staff Writer
Weems Artfest will honor the secretary of the U.S. Homeland Security Department next weekend.
The honor is completely unrelated to Janet Napolitano's Cabinet secretary position.
Napolitano will receive the Outstanding Patron Award for her constancy as a patron of Weems Galleries and Framing and Weems Artfest. She will be at Artfest at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.
"When she was governor and attorney general of Arizona, and now in Washington, D.C., she has never bought her art anywhere except for New Mexico," said Mary Ann Weems, who owns the gallery and founded Artfest.
"All her travels all those years ... it's been wonderful ... watching this dedication, coming and supporting these artists," Weems said.
Napolitano said she tries to attend Weems Artfest every year. She said she's bought art there for her residences in Arizona and now in Washington, D.C.
"I don't try to find art to match the decor. I look for art that I like, things that make me feel good," Napolitano said. "I do not tend to collect by artist."
She remembers going with her mother to Weems Gallery soon after it opened in 1981.
"My parents always emphasized art and music. They imparted that to their children. That's part of a well-rounded life," Napolitano said.
She owns a number of pieces purchased at the University of New Mexico's Tamarind Institute of Lithography, as well as bronze heads by Santa Fe sculptor Glenna Goodacre.
"I always enjoy going up and down Canyon Road," Napolitano said.
Last summer she attended "La Traviata" and "Don Giovanni" at the Santa Fe Opera.
"I've gone to the Santa Fe Opera for years. The first time was when I was between the fourth and fifth grades. A neighbor took me," Napolitano recalled. "On the opera side, it's fair to say that that's something that's been growing with me as an adult. I go to the National Opera."
Napolitano attended Comanche Elementary, Madison Junior High School and graduated from Sandia High School. She played clarinet in Sandia's symphonic band and in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony.
"My parents took (me and my siblings) to Albuquerque Civic Light Opera (productions) and to the (New Mexico Symphony Orchestra) at Popejoy on a regular basis," she said.
Napolitano is the second person to have received Artfest's Outstanding Patron Award. Thelma Domenici received the first one two years ago.
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