Thank you to AAA Explorer Magazine for allowing me to share about Flux Tufa Works in Gallup and Squash Blossom in Santa Fe.
Out and About: Flux Tufa Works
AAA Explorer: New Mexico Summer 2021
A fifth-generation silversmith, Jude Candelaria is continuing his family’s craftsman traditions at his new Flux Tufa Works gallery in Gallup. His great-great-grandfather, Juan De Dios (1882–1944), was one of the first Zuni silversmiths. “He learned from the Navajo,” says Candelaria, adding that Dios was known for tufa casting, which uses tufa or volcanic stone as a mold for the silver. Candelaria’s 92-year-old great-grandmother, Effie Calavaza, started making jewelry in the 1950s with a trademark design of a silver snake curling around turquoise and coral stones. “Everything I know has been taught from generation to generation,” Candelaria says. At his gallery—the only Native American artist-owned in town—Candelaria creates custom pieces with light-green Royston, the two-toned Kingman, and soft-blue Golden Hills turquoises. Each month, the gallery will also highlight a different visual artist and musical guest. Artwork, jewelry, and make-your-own jewelry kits are available online. (505) 870-7235; fluxtufaworks.com.
Out and About: Foodie Finds: Squash Blossom
AAA Explorer: New Mexico Summer 2021
Renew your commitment to healthy eating with a subscription to Squash Blossom’s “Blossom Bag.” Each Thursday, fresh, local-grown produce from dozens of farms located in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range are assembled in canvas tote bags, ready for pickup or delivery. Founder Nina Yozell-Epstein says she created Squash Blossom to provide regular income to local farmers so they can steward traditional farming practices and bring healthier food to the community. In each bag, you’ll find Nina’s Notes, which include recipes and stories about the famers. Learn how kohlrabi can be transformed into a hearty side dish or how two brothers from Corrales grew hydroponic tomatoes in the middle of winter. The bags are available for pickup at El Dorado, Nambe, and six Santa Fe locations. squashblossomlocalfood.com.
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