Native American Flutes - La Fonda Indian Shop

H A U N T I N G L Y .  B E A U T I F U L

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

If I had to compare the sound of a Native American flute with nature, I'd say it

is like hearing a loon's solitary call - mysterious and haunting.

.

So it was a treat to capture photos of some beautiful flutes at the

INDIAN SHOP & GALLERY at La Fonda on the Plaza.

This wonderful shop is filled with Southwest treasures, but their offering of Native American Lakota-style flutes is truly worth a visit.

 Kyle Smith, a professional flute player and son of the shops owner, is a

font of knowledge when it comes to these handsome hand-made flutes. And, while

I snapped away, he played music. It was lovely...

The flutes that they carry are made from a melange of wood - eastern red cedar, Alaskan yellow cedar, walnut, and gorgeous burl woods - the most expensive and hardest to work with.

The designs are simple, functional and beautiful. And each has a distinctive fetish that sits on the flute's block wrapped with a strip of deer hide.

"Building Native American flutes is pure physics," says Smith, explaining that

the 'key' of each flute is determined by several design factors. The flute is not just one long chamber, - it has two - and the breath  blown into the flute is forced into a flue (see opening below shown when ornamental fetish/block is slid back). That air then hits the far side of the hole and is split in two which causes it to vibrate. 

These two vibrating currents enter a second section called the

sound chamber. The player's fingers then cover or uncover the finger

holes which change the length of the tube and the pitch.  And, says
Smith, the diameter of the flute opening and the thickness of the walls
 can determine the sound as well.

I N D I A N   S H O P   &   G A L L E R Y

La Fonda on the Plaza

www.lafondaindianshop.com

100 East San Francisco Street Santa Fe, NM (505) 988-2488

Listen to R. Carlos Nakai

Simply Beautiful - Traditional Spanish Crosses

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

 Artist Robert Duran is a native Santa Fean and his roots run deep. "My family has been here since the 1600's," says Duran who works with metal and iron

but also  creates traditional Spanish wooden crosses fashioned from

re-cycled old growth pine.

Their simplicity caught my eye...

This beautiful cross was made by Robert Duran Sr.

At The Flea - El Museo

Booth - NW Corner

Saturday & Sundays



Dancing their Passion - Belisama Contemporary Dance

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

When I told a friend I was going to 'shoot' a contemporary dance group, she

 told me to capture their faces.  They're doing what they love to do - dancing their passion. Their faces will be glowing.  She was right.

The Belisama School of Contemporary Dance offers instruction in ballet, modern, jazz, and Irish dance technique and choreography, as well as performance opportunities to students age 3 to 18.  On Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14, twenty-five students will be presenting their Spring Repertory Concert at James A. Little Theater at 7pm.  It will be eclectic, colorful and fun.

THE  TALENT  BEHIND  THE  TALENT

“This spring performance will present an eclectic mix of choreographers and styles, to let the dancers experience many different ways of working and gaining exposure to variety,"says Belisama Artistic Director, Annie Kohn (lft). Versatility of expression, says Kohn, is vital for a dancer to achieve and maintain throughout their career. 

"Belisama's mission is to create a professional quality show from a nurturing environment," says Adrienne Bellis (rt.) Director and Founder of Belisama. "We want this to be a positive, all-around experience for both our dancers and the audience."

BELISAMA CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY

For tickets call: 505.670.2152 

or e-mail: belisamadance@aol.com

www.belisamadance.com

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