Hispanic Culture Celebrated On Postal Service’s New Mexico Rio Grande Blanket Stamps.
July 5, 2005
The rich Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico was celebrated as the U.S. Postal Service issued the New Mexico Rio Grande Blankets commemorative postage stamps at the 54th Annual Traditional Spanish Market on the Plaza Community Stage. These stamps are fifth in the American Treasures Series and feature the beauty and richness of Spanish American weavers.
As host to the event, Santa Fe holds the unique distinction of being the only city in the nation where the stamps will be available July 30. The stamps will be available at Post Offices and Philatelic Centers nationwide July 31.
“We’re very pleased to honor the historic tradition of weaving,” said Mary Anne Gibbons, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the United States Postal Service, who dedicated the stamp. “These colorful blankets, with their beautiful and unique designs, are wonderful additions to our American Treasures Series.”
Featuring traditional art, music, dance, pageantry and food, the 54th Annual Traditional Spanish Market provided an opportunity to enjoy a taste of New Mexico’s vibrant Spanish culture, both past and present. More than 200 native New Mexican artists — many of them nationally recognized — exhibit and sell their handmade artwork at Spanish Market, which features over 3,500 art objects covering four centuries and five continents. This event is sponsored by the Spanish Art Society and attracts the local community, tourists and collectors from around the world.
“I am pleased the U.S. Postal Service has chosen to recognize New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and will be sharing it with the rest of the country through the Rio Grande Blanket commemorative stamps,” said Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Senator (D-NM).
The four Rio Grande Blankets self-adhesive stamps feature photographs of blankets from the collections of the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, both in Santa Fe, and the Taylor Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs, CO.
