Con Corazón: Twenty-five artists to take part in Sacred Heart Spanish Market in Gallup

Jerry Montoya works year round to foster community among artists.

The tinsmith is the driving force behind the Sacred Heart Spanish Market.

“It’s our 10th year in Gallup,” Montoya says. “We’ve continued to grow the tradition and the people of Gallup have embraced every aspect of this market. It’s amazing.”

This year’s event will take place from 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 31; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 1; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup.

Con Corazón: Twenty-five artists to take part in Sacred Heart Spanish Market in Gallup

The market is scaled down a bit this year, Montoya says.

“We’re going to have about 25 artists,” he says. “Usually there are between 30-32 artists. I’ve had some artists cancel because of graduations and family events.”

Montoya was at the helm of “La Fiesta de Colores” in Grants, which featured New Mexico artists. When that ran its course, Montoya was asked to curate another arts festival — this time in Gallup.

In 2015, the Sacred Heart Spanish Market was born.

Montoya says when he curates the show, he wants it not only to have quality work, but feel like a family.

“Most of the artists are from Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in Santa Fe,” he says. “While it’s mainly all santero-type art, there are contemporary pieces.”

Though it’s through invite-only, he wanted to make it worth it for the artists.

“There is no booth fee,” he says. “We get each artist a room for a night in a hotel. We feed them. These are all things that used to exist for shows like this. It was really nice to be able to give these accommodations to the artists.”

Montoya is also grateful to Gallup and the surrounding communities for supporting the market. He says when it started, there was no blueprint for what would happen.

“The community came out not only to the market, but to the fiesta that is held with it,” he says. “It’s been amazing to see the support from all the communities. There are people who drive in from Arizona and California specifically for this show.”

Montoya says the artists will take advantage of the Sacred Heart Retreat Center, where there are 30 rooms.

“We are going to stay there and it will be fun,” he says. “Because we all know each other, it feels like a family getting together. It will be very cozy and spiritual. It’s a nice retreat center. We’re going to have to be like monks because there are no TVs in the rooms.”

Montoya works in tin.

“I’ve been doing shows for over 25 years now,” he says. “This show was designed to not be like selling in Santa Fe. It’s more family-oriented. All the artists are good friends and we actually have the time to chat with people that are buying or looking at the art work. It’s a more mellow pace.”

During the event, there will also be a car raffle which will benefit the V8’s for Vocations, which was started in 2014 by the Rev. Matthew Keller.

The organization helps those called to the priesthood, a long and expensive process requiring a four-year bachelor degree followed by several years of graduate-level study at out-of-state seminaries. New Mexico has no Catholic seminary.