Larger-than-life closing
Nov. 1—More than five decades ago, Shidoni Art Gallery began as an idea.
Originally started as an artist community and foundry, owner Tommy Hicks Jr., and later, his son Scott Hicks grew the property from an apple orchard and egg farm into an art gallery and sculpture garden.
But after more than 50 years of showcasing larger-than-life art outside of Santa Fe, the Shidoni Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden will close its doors.
Sculptor Tommy Hicks Jr. co-founded the Tesuque art gallery in 1971 as a bronze foundry. He later became the sole property owner, and expanded the foundry into a place for artists to display and sell their work.
Currently, Shidoni represents approximately 70 artists from around the country. Hicks Jr. died in 2019, after passing the business to his son, Scott Hicks, over 30 years ago.
The Tesuque property was sold in February of this year. Gallery manager Lindsey Costlow said she hasn't been made aware of the new owner's plans for the space, except that they'll be taking over in April 2023.
"It was a very exciting place at the height of its time," said Debora Barrett, Tommy Hicks Jr.'s daughter. "It was a place that my father, Tommy, really loved ... he put his heart and soul into it."
Barrett, a ceramic artist, used to work at the foundry in the wax and molding rooms. She met her husband, sculptor Bill Barrett, on the property when he was showing some of his work at the sculpture garden.
"It was a great place for my children to be ... romping around the sculpture garden," Barrett said. "It was a glorious place to be."
The foundry closed in 2017 after financial difficulties, although the gallery and sculpture garden remained open. Before it closed, artists commissioned pieces to be cast in bronze at the foundry. One was an almost 10-foot tall, 2,800-pound bronze pentaceratops.
"There were years that it was profitable, and years that it wasn't," Costlow said. "With the rising cost of living in Santa Fe, the foundry costs increased and then the quotes for the casting jobs weren't competitive anymore."
Barrett, who splits her time between Santa Fe and New York, has dozens of pieces of pottery and ceramic art on display at Shidoni. She's been showing her work there for four years.
"Many, many artists have gone through the Shidoni foundry and gallery onto their own careers," Barrett said. "It's been a very important place for the arts in Santa Fe."
There are about 700 pieces in storage and on display at the 5,000 square foot gallery and 5-acre sculpture garden. Much of the art is for sale at reduced prices until the end of the year, at which point Costlow and owner Hicks will return the remaining pieces to the artists who made them.
"If there's a piece that you really loved, now is the time to come get it," Costlow said. "For a fair amount of these pieces, this is going to be the last opportunity."
Costlow herself is an artist with four works on display at the gallery right now. When Shidoni closes down, she's hoping to find other galleries where she can show her work. Costlow said the owner, Scott Hicks, plans to retire after closing the gallery.
"The business has sort of been winding down for a few years now," Costlow said.
Barrett said she hopes the property remains a place for the arts.
Santa Fe is losing an "artistically inspiring environment" with the closure, Costlow said.
"Since we've been here for 52 years, a lot of residents of Santa Fe and Tesuque have been coming here for literally decades," Costlow said. "This is something that they assume is going to be here. They rely on being able to come here."
The gallery and sculpture garden is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the end of December. The last day to visit the gallery will be Dec. 31, although Shidoni will not officially close its doors until March 2023.
