The Guardians of the Violins

"W i t h o u t   m u s i c   l i f e   w o u l d   b e   a n   e r r o r."

Nietzsche

Don't expect to be invited to a dinner party at Harriet & Karl Schreiner's

   home anytime soon. Why? Because their lovely dining room table and every

other surface in this airy room is filled with magnificent, one-of-a-kind violins -

all created by 53  highly-collectible New Mexico and

 International artists for the Santa Fe Symphony's

P A I N T E D   V I O L I N S   G A L A  

Photos & Text by C. Whitney-Ward

This delightful and diligent couple share a love for both music and art, and this combined passion made them the perfect pick for Co-Chairs of this unique Symphony fundraiser.

No dinner parties here...

Each artist was given a violin to transform into a work of art, and every artist, note the Schreiners,  graciously embraced the project both for its creative possibilities and the incentive to raise money for the Symphony's talented musicians and community engagement projects.

"All the Symphony musicians are residents of New Mexico," says Karl Schreiner," and eighty-percent of the money raised through this Gala supports these talented musicians and in turn the musical excellence of the Symphony." The remaining twenty-percent, according to Karl, goes to fund children's programming - mentoring, musical instruments and children's concerts - as well concerts for retirement and nursing homes.

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I was invited to photograph the violins for CHASING and it was a remarkable experience, like stepping into a rare and precious museum.

MARIA ROMERO CASH 
Madonna of Music

LAWRENCE BACA

The Silver Violin "Apres un Reve"

KEN WILLIAMS  .  DALLIN MAYBEE
Music from the Plains

CAVAN GONZALES   .   AMADO PENA

                                               Stars in the Sky    Dos Artesanos

"We've gotten to know all of the artists and have received wonderful e-mails and comments from them," says Harriet Schreiner. "They feel honored to be chosen and are humbled by the whole experience."

IVAN  BARNETT     .    MARCUS AMERMAN

                                        Wired for Sound    The Marcus Touch

DAN NAMINGHA
"untitled"



DAVID BRADLEY (middle)    .    TERRI GREEVES & DENNIS ESQUIVEL (rt)

              Song of the wind                                          Ode to the Metis Fiddlers

The violins reflect the unique spirit of each artist and are carved, painted and fashioned from beads, silver, feathers and even cast from glass.

 There is a wonderful story 'woven' into each one.

JUSTIN GALLEGOS MAYRANT
 Vie

MIGUEL MARTINEZ  .        PASCAL

 Winter Symphony    Homage a Arman

SPENCER  NUTIMA
"May you all play with a happy heart"

ROBERTO CARDINALE 

 St. Cecilia Shrine Violin .  Patron Saint of Musicians

RAMON JOSE LOPEZ   .    NANCE LOPEZ

Sinfonía de San Ysidro

NICHOLAS HERRARA

 Para Ti, Mi Amor

GREGORY LOMAYESVA 

 A Study of the Letter F

RICHARD WHITELEY

 “Silent Blue”

JIM VOGEL 

 Serenade of the Deadly Nightshade

ROBERT TENORIO 

 Music of the Great Thunder Bird

"Music is a universal language.Without music there is no foundation for life."

JD CHALLENGER

The white gloves used by Harriet and Karl when they touch or move a violin.

A guardianship taken seriously. "We have been privileged to meet each of these talented artists and have gained many new friends." H & K

THE SANTA FE SYMPHONY

GALA AND AUCTION

OCTOBER 6, 2012

505.983.3530AINTE

TO SEE ALL OF THE GORGEOUS VIOLINS PLEASE CLICK BELOW

www.paintedviolinssantafe.org