Sacred Heart Spanish Market celebrates local artists during three-day event

Tradition is important to Jerry Montoya.

The Grants-based artist has dedicated his life to Spanish Colonial tinsmith practices, all while bringing a modern flair to it.

He is also the mastermind behind the Sacred Heart Spanish Market in Gallup — which is now in its 11th year.

“We’ve kept this tradition going,” he says of the market. “It’s something that we bring to Gallup so that it’s an extension of the artist community.”

The three-day Sacred Heart Spanish Market takes place from 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 414 East Green Ave. in Gallup. The free event will feature music and food, in addition to the art market.

“It’s our 11th year in Gallup,” Montoya says.

He says the market is an extension of the now-defunct “La Fiesta de Colores” in Grants which ended in 2014.

“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 which give options to those who attend.”

When Montoya is curating the show, he wants to have top-notch quality. Montoya said the event is invite-only for artists as he wanted it to have a family feel.

He says each artist invited gets a booth with no fee, as well as a room for one night in the hotel.

“It’s really nice to be able to give these accommodations for the artists because each one works hard in the medium,” he says. “Back in the day, many of the markets or shows did things like this for artists. Today, it’s a rarity.”

With more than a decade in existence, Montoya says the market has become welcomed in the community.

“Gallup has embraced us with open arms,” he says. “We get people from all over New Mexico and Arizona at the market. Since it’s small, we get more time to have one-on-one interactions.”

On Saturday, V8’s for Vocations will be raffling off two vehicles.

The cars being raffled off are a 1967 Chevy Camaro or 2010 Chevy Camaro SS. To learn more about the raffle, visit v8sforvocations.org.

The organization was started in 2014 by the Rev. Matthew Keller and it 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.

According to an organization spokesperson, the Diocese of Gallup serves predominantly Native American and Hispanic populations across New Mexico and Arizona.

“Due to persistent financial difficulties, it does not own a seminary, and thus is obliged to send seminarians to another state or overseas, ensuring that future priests receive the education they deserve,” the spokesperson says.

Sacred Heart Spanish Market celebrates local artists during three-day event