Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Checking back? Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again.
Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
Unlimited access to the Taos News website for a full year! Plan includes access to our e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
Unlimited access to the Taos News website for 30 days. Plan includes access to our e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
Unlimited access to the Taos News website for 30 days. Plan includes access to our e-edition print replica online. This is a one-time purchase. Your subscription will not renew.
We offer home delivery of the Taos News in selected areas within Taos. Click Here to See if you Qualify (Shaded area on map only). (this subscription option includes unlimited digital access). Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for 26 weeks! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for a full year! For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 26 weeks! For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 26 weeks! For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 13 weeks! For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your New Mexico state residence every week for 13 weeks! For readers who live in New Mexico but outside of Taos County. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for a full year! Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 26 weeks! Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 26 weeks! Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 13 weeks! Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
The Taos News mailed to your out of state residence every week for 13 weeks! Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
You'll receive FIVE of our top national magazines, including Discover Taos Winter Edition, Discover Taos Summer Edition, Taos Gallery Guide, Fall Festivals, and Best of Taos, delivered to your home address anywhere in the US for the special low rate of $55.
In addition, you'll receive access for a full year to all content on TaosNews.com, including the e-edition digital replica, and a weekly digest of what's happening in arts and entertainment in Taos!
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for 26 weeks! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.
Promotional Rates were found for your code.
Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..
Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Bumstead brings a vast array of experience to the task.
Bumstead brings a vast array of experience to the task.
The Taos Art Museum at Fechin House (TAM) has a 'Garden Angel' who has vowed to enhance the curb appeal of the museum and fund ongoing preservation and upgrades to the Fechin house, studio and gardens.
Richard C. Bumstead, a retired University of Chicago Landscape Architect, moved to Albuquerque a few years ago. He said he has fond childhood memories living next door to the Fechin House many years ago — and now plans to lend his professional expertise. This month, he visited the museum and established The Richard C. Bumstead Facilities Fund in memory of his mother, Vivienne C. Bumstead, who dearly loved Taos.
Christy Coleman, TAM's executive director said "Fechin's legacy is important; Richard's gift will provide the museum stability to preserve and maintain Fechin's hand-crafted buildings and property for future generations to enjoy."
Tempo asked Bumstead to tell us about his history in Taos and details about the facilities fund — here are the highlights.
Please tell us about your history in Taos and relationship to the Fechin House.
My father, Roger Bumstead, worked for the Forest Service as a Wildlife Biologist and was transferred to Taos in 1962 from Flagstaff, Ariz. It was a significant move for his career, but once we were house-hunting in Taos, he felt he was bringing his young family to the far reaches of civilization. He and my mother both grew up on the northwest side of Chicago, so you can imagine his reaction to the adobe houses in Taos. We ended up moving into a rental house between El Chico Court and the Fechin House that was so overgrown, you couldn’t see much more than glimpses of white stucco. But it was an idyllic setting for three young Bumstead kids — there were two other houses on the lot owned by the Martinez brothers, Palemon and Paul, and their wives. Paul's wife, Rowena Martinez, was the widow of Ralph Meyer, an early Taos painter, who worked for the Forest Service, and I suspect that is how we learned of the house’s availability.
The site was deep, so it was a self-contained playground for young kids. During the summer months, Palemon entered the neighboring Fechin property to access irrigation water for the three houses from the acequia. When the irrigation waters ran through the ditches around the site, I used to build small houses from the mud and gathered the cottonwood sticks to use for vigas and latillas.
One day, I noticed what looked like a spear of asparagus growing on the other side of the fence in Mrs. Fechin’s yard, so I reached through the wire mesh and picked it. My mother confirmed that it was what I suspected, so I kept a vigilant eye open for more popping up through the leafy compost. It never was over one or two spears at a time — but I felt I had discovered a great secret treasure. It never amounted to enough to serve to the family, but my mother cooked them just for the two of us to eat for lunch.
Each day at lunch, we saw Mrs. Fechin walk north on Pueblo Road to the Kiva Café at the Kachina Lodge to have her meal, and I usually just ducked behind the wall that ran along the front of the Martinez property to avoid being seen.
What are the details about the Richard C. Bumstead Facilities Fund in memory of your mother, Vivienne C. Bumstead?
My mother loved Taos, its unique cultures and people and the arts community. She was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Taos Winter Sports Club, Cub Scouts, bowling and golf teams, Forest Service Wives Club, and bridge clubs. I have fond memories of tagging along with her when she visited friends and was so taken by the art collections of her friends – it inspired my own collecting, especially of Pueblo pottery.
I set the funds up as an endowment that is to be used strictly for the ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the Fechin house, studio and gardens. I felt that this is often an overlooked area of giving to art museums, but without a suitable environment, most museums can’t function. And the legacy that Nicolai left with the house and studio is a national treasure that needs to be maintained in perpetuity.
Please tell us more about your vision for the grounds and gardens.
The house sits fairly far from the street, and the front area outside the fence is actually part of the Wyndham hotel, so it can be missed as you drive by. My planting plan will draw attention to the house by the use of mass plantings of perennials and flowering shrubs and, hopefully, increase both foot and vehicle traffic for the museum. The real design challenge is that it can’t ‘overtake’ the house, but has to subtly catch one’s eye and beckon you. I am a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and worked with some of the most notable landscape architects in the country at the University of Chicago, so I bring a vast array of experience to the task.
In walking the site with Nicolai and Alexandra’s granddaughter, Nikki Donner, she pointed out many trees that have survived since Nicolai’s day, and I want to make sure they are well taken care of and remain a part of the overall design.
Bumstead said he’ll be working on the landscaping design “through the end of summer and into fall, hoping to take it to the Board of Directors during the winter, and hopefully we can start some work next spring of 2023.”
For more details about the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, visit taosartmuseum.org.
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
All comment authors MUST use their real names. Posts that cannot be ascribed to a real person will not be moderated. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.