ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ

A brief history of the Harwood Museum

In the early part of the 20th century, many artists were drawn to the Taos area to pursue a new, truly American art devoid of industrial influence, inspired instead by New Mexico’s Landscape and light and the traditional Native American and Hispanic cultures of the region. The Harwood Museum collection brings to the public a unique record of this artistic convergence fro it’s beginnings to the present day. The Embracing spirit of the harwood was set by the artist Burt Harwood and His wife Elizabeth. In 1916, The Harwood’s left their residence in France to move to Taos. They immediately purchased the Ledoux Street property which contained several small adobe buildings. By 1918, significant development had taken Place under Burt Harwood’s direction. He remodeled the buildings using many local traditional construction techniques. The Harwood complex, then called El Pueblito was on the forefront of the Pueblo/Spanish Revival and restoration movement in New Mexico. The two story Harwood home became the first residential adobe in Taos to have its own electrical generating system.

The University of New Mexico

In 1953, the Harwood Foundation was given to the University of New Mexico (UNM). As a part of UNM, the Harwood received core support from the University and functioned as a base for University programs in Taos County. The Harwood’s potential as an educational institution had interested the University as early as1929 when it opened its Field School of Art at the Harwood, a program which continued for twenty-six years. In 1937, UNM and the Works Projects Administration (WPA) working in cooperation to create and enhanced facility, embarked on a major expansion and renovation project of the Harwood complex. Designed by John Gaw Meem, one of the best known architects of the southwest, The Harwood addition, which became one of the tallest adobe structures in Northern New Mexico included and auditorium and stage, exhibition space and a library facility.

Community Service

Elizabeth Harwood died in 1937, just before the Carnegie Corporation appropriated a $4,000 Survey Grant for Adult Education to the Harwood, which gave the foundation a greater role in the life of the community. The Plan that developed fro these funds was an idealistic venture called The Taos County Project, which coordinated the resources of fifty-three pubic and private agencies to meet the needs of the County. Two books were written on the project: Forgotten People, by Dr. George I. Sanchez, and It Happened in Taos, by Dr. J.T. Reid. It also established two craft shops—one for furniture making and one for textile arts. After World War ll, Taos and the Harwood entered a new phase of their artistic history with the influx of established artists fro the East and West Coasts. These artists were influenced by the European and American avant garde, and any ere eventually acknowledged nationally for their contributions to the development of American Modernism. The Harwood responded by providing a venue for the new work thorough rotating exhibitions and in its permanent collection. In 1976, the Harwood was listed on the National Register of historic Places in order to save the Alcalde building from possible destruction. Two major structural improvements to the complex took place in 1977 and 1981. In 1984, the library came under the jurisdiction of the Town of Taos and in 1996, moved to a new Town building and became the Taos Public Library.

Cultural Center

During the past eighty-five years, the Harwood has brought educational opportunities to the northern communities through classes, lectures, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and performances. In 1997, the Harwood Museum underwent a major renovation project, expanding from two to seven galleries. The Museum Continues to serve as a valuable resource for the region by its exhibition program and its growing permanent collection; by providing a research facility for many scholars, educators, educators, authors and student; and by offering a cultural center and residence space for visiting artists, scholars and faculty. Today the Harwood embarks on a further expansion plan to create new galleries, art storage and a dedicated auditorium. Since its creation in 1923, the Harwood has enriched the lives of many people and has played a vital role in the cultural life of Taos and Northern New Mexico.