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Paris has always embraced and even defined modernity, which Santa Fe rejects in an effort to maintain its historic "Style". Paris' style could be called grandiose and forward-looking, with skyscrapers, monumental architecture, grand boulevards, and dozens of buildings over 30 stories high which could never exist in Santa Fe. By contrast Santa Fe looks to the past and focuses on maintaining a very humble, low profile through its small, low adobe-style architecture--totally different from Paris to me.
Santa Fe is Santa Fe, there is no place like it and it does not need to be compared to a European city.
As for Santa Fe being an "art center" equal to Paris, it has been said it is second only to NYC in art sales and NYC may well outsell Paris - or close. I have my doubts. Lots of hype involved.
No, what is said is that both NYC and SF are 2nd in art sales after Paris, but that NYC is 2nd in terms of sheer volume of art, while SF is 2nd in the value ($$) of art sold.
No, what is said is that both NYC and SF are 2nd in art sales after Paris, but that NYC is 2nd in terms of sheer volume of art, while SF is 2nd in the value ($$) of art sold.
Actually, China has dominated the art markets in recent years, vying with the U.S. in volume of sales via art auctions.
Quote:
Artprice.com: Defying all forecasts: China upped 18%, dominated the global Art Market in the first half of 2016
Here is a recent ranking of 15 world cities most influential in the contemporary art markets, and Santa Fe doesn't even make the list.
You are all focused on numbers... this is not an economics lesson. Nor is it that the criteria for my comparison. I don't travel to be impressed by statistics, I go to soak in the spirit and passion of the place and its people. The creativity that I see in Santa Fe, and the visual impression it makes, has a richness enhanced by borrowing from the past. It cares about aesthetics and has superb taste. These are two things that are often bulldozed over in the name of corporate interests in most American cities. In that sense, it reminds me of Paris, France which has the good sense to retain much of its historic architecture and culture (that is what draws the tourists after all) while certain sectors of the city serve the corporate sector. However, the focus on aesthetics and good taste are something I see Santa Fe and Paris sharing in common.
To each his own. It's alright if you don't share my sentiments. Yet, I have found Santa Fe to be my first choice when I want to visit a local city that provides an urbane visual immersion in a historic culture in a way that moved me to visit Paris again and again. It satisfies my eye and my heart in the same way. Santa Fe has her classic Anasazi beauty, Paris her Baroque. They are both outstandingly beautiful in their own right.
To each his own...Santa Fe has her classic Anasazi beauty, Paris her Baroque. They are both outstandingly beautiful in their own right.
If I were to pick a city in the USA that rivals Paris, it would be San Francisco. On the other hand, most Europeans coming to the USA for the first time want to see NYC first. Coming in third, IMO, would be New Orleans with its Cajun cuisine/culture and seafood.
Not to diss Santa Fe by any means. It's unique in it's own right, but just doesn't cut it as a world-class destination for most folks. In a class with Santa Fe I'd put Leavenworth, WA - where the architecture must mimic traditional Bavarian and the Alpine setting is spectacular.
If I were to pick a city in the USA that rivals Paris, it would be San Francisco. On the other hand, most Europeans coming to the USA for the first time want to see NYC first. Coming in third, IMO, would be New Orleans with its Cajun cuisine/culture and seafood.
Not to diss Santa Fe by any means. It's unique in it's own right, but just doesn't cut it as a world-class destination for most folks. In a class with Santa Fe I'd put Leavenworth, WA - where the architecture must mimic traditional Bavarian and the Alpine setting is spectacular.
Europeans do tend to say that San Francisco feels very European. As to Leavenworth, unfortunately, forest fires in the area have severely affected the scenery from town. Santa Fe is much bigger than Leavenworth, too. Taos might be a better comparison to Leavenworth.
You are all focused on numbers... this is not an economics lesson. Nor is it that the criteria for my comparison. I don't travel to be impressed by statistics, I go to soak in the spirit and passion of the place and its people. The creativity that I see in Santa Fe, and the visual impression it makes, has a richness enhanced by borrowing from the past. It cares about aesthetics and has superb taste. These are two things that are often bulldozed over in the name of corporate interests in most American cities. In that sense, it reminds me of Paris, France which has the good sense to retain much of its historic architecture and culture (that is what draws the tourists after all) while certain sectors of the city serve the corporate sector. However, the focus on aesthetics and good taste are something I see Santa Fe and Paris sharing in common.
To each his own. It's alright if you don't share my sentiments. Yet, I have found Santa Fe to be my first choice when I want to visit a local city that provides an urbane visual immersion in a historic culture in a way that moved me to visit Paris again and again. It satisfies my eye and my heart in the same way. Santa Fe has her classic Anasazi beauty, Paris her Baroque. They are both outstandingly beautiful in their own right.
As to Leavenworth, unfortunately, forest fires in the area have severely affected the scenery from town.
Not that I noticed, and I was there earlier this month. There are some burned areas visible on the surrounding peaks but they don't distract from the ambiance, IMO. I mentioned the comparison with Santa Fe only because of the similarity with enforced architectural designs in both towns.
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