Snow Drift Art Space houses not only Dan Lutzick’s sculptures, but also works by other artists. Lutzick and his wife Ann-Mary also host a number of community events in the building, such as the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, which will be held this year from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Winslow is showing signs of becoming an oasis for renowned artists as plans are revealed for the construction of a museum on the grounds next to La Posada Hotel and buildings are being converted that will house galleries to feature the works of artists throughout the country, including Tina Mion, James Turrell and Ed Ruscha.
Winslow is a town with many faces, growing from a Western town to a railroad town to a Route 66 tourism hotspot and a place for Standin’ on the Corner and now, a gathering place for a select group of very talented artists. This latest direction began with the arrival of Allan Affeldt and Mion after their purchase of La Posada Hotel in the 1990s.
The hotel was once part of a string of Harvey House hotels built along the railways of Arizona. Designed by famed architect Mary Coulter and built in 1930, the hotel eventually closed and fell into disrepair until Affeldt and Mion brought their vision of restoration to life there.
Today La Posada is recognized as one of the finest hotels in the state, with the property serving not only as a hotel with fine dining, but as a museum and a gallery of the works of a variety of artists, including Mion, who has gained fame with an exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., as well as at other locations throughout the country.
Affeldt and Mion have made Winslow their home, but travel extensively and have many creative friends they have filled with stories of the life and beauty of Arizona and the West, swaying several to open studios in Winslow.
When Paul Ruscha, the brother of artist Ed Ruscha, purchased El Gran Garage across the street from La Posada, it was Mion’s brother Keith Mion who designed the interior, which includes a glass house inside the garage. The garage originally opened in 1930 as the garage for La Posada’s Harvey Car Indian Detours, but like the hotel, eventually closed and fell to neglect. It now houses Ruscha’s large collection of West Coast art.
Further down the road sculptor Dan Lutzick and his wife Ann-Mary bought the old Babbitts Brothers Mercantile that had fallen into disrepair and lent their talents, time and money to converting it into Snowdrift Art Space, filling the 22,000-square foot building with Lutzick’s sculptures and hosting community events. Lutzick is also the manager and part owner of La Posada.
Across the street from Snowdrift Art Space another renowned artist, John Suttman, is renovating a building to use as a studio for his unique functional sculptures that display his remarkable skills as a designer, sculptor and furniture maker.
The most recent excitement, though, is happening back at La Posada Hotel. After some challenging efforts Affeldt was able to secure a Department of Transportation grant that will allow for the renovation of the train station adjacent to the hotel.
“The grant was waylaid for awhile, but we will be able to begin work on the train station early this next year,” stated Affeldt, adding that he expects the museum to be open to the public by the end of summer.
The plan is to convert the station building into multiple art galleries under the name of Route 66 Museum, but the focal point of the museum will be an exhibit by Turrell. Known as a master light artist, his art installations can be found throughout the world, but his most prominent piece lies northwest of Winslow at Roden Crater, where Turrell is turning this natural cinder volcanic crater into a massive naked-eye observatory, a project that has taken decades and is still in the making.
While access to the crater is limited to a very few, those who are personally invited by Turrell or who can afford the entry fee of $6,500, the museum to open at La Posada will make one of Turrell’s light installations and insight into the Roden Crater project available to everyone.
“We will have a holographic image of Roden Crater on display in the museum, with the ability for the observer to use an interactive display to see the different aspects of the crater,” explained Affeldt.
The museum will feature items ranging from the kitschy to what Affeldt called the “Steinbeck,” referring to the novel The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, that tells of the travel from Midwestern farmlands to California during the Dust Bowl era.
In an effort to ensure that La Posada, the adjacent Route 66 Museum, Snowdrift Art Space and El Gran Garage continue to provide quality experiences in the arts long after those who currently own them are gone, the owners have formed the Winslow Art Trust. Through the trust, they have made arrangements to ultimately donate their properties to Northern Arizona University.
“We are working toward greater integration with NAU and through that will determine how to manage the collection (at the museum). Honestly, we’re artists, not hoteliers or curators. We want to be able to focus on our art,” commented Affeldt.
Despite that statement, Affeldt and Mion recently purchased two more hotels in Las Vegas, N.M., the Plaza and La Castenada, the first Harvey House built by Fred Harvey, which is in need of as much renovation, if not more than La Posada required. The hope is to provide a connection via rail, and also through the light art installations of Turrell and another well-known sculptor and light artist, Charles Ross, who Affeldt hopes to feature at La Castenada once renovations are complete.
The community of Winslow will undoubtedly benefit from the efforts of Affeldt and his artist collaborators, as it not only brings more visitors to the area, but also provides more exposure to the arts to the residents themselves.
Allan Affeldt (standing) addresses visitors from Northern Arizona University regarding the renovations to the train station east of La Posada Hotel. La Posada Hotel, Snowdrift Art Space and El Gran Garage have all been placed in a trust that will eventually go to Northern Arizona University.
La Posada Hotel was originally built as one of Fred Harvey’s hotels along the railway. Today it has not only been restored, but has become known as one of the finest hotels in the state.
El Gran Garage was originally built as a garage for the vehicles used in La Posada’s Harvey Car Indian Detours. Today it houses the art collection of Paul Ruscha and includes this unique dining arrangement.
