Tumbleweeds Then & Now
Tumbleweeds has been growing for 20 years, as have the beautiful children and families we write for and about. We celebrated all that growing with a photo exhibit this summer at Rock Paper Scissor Salonspa, coupling Tumbleweeds’ photos from the past 20 years with images of those children and families today. We called it “Tumbleweeds: Then & Now.”
The show was a delightfully collaborative affair. The idea came from Melodi Wyss-Feliciano, owner of Rock Paper Scissor, whose son Eli was on Tumbleweeds’ cover several years ago. Ana June, Scott Caraway and Jennifer Esperanza, cover photographers over the years, contributed new photos, as did some of the families. Ana’s oldest son, Soren, helped me hang the show. Melodi’s daughter, Sylka, made amazing appetizers for our opening night reception, with friends, family, Tumbleweeds staff, advertisers, and relatives of kids in the photos. My husband, Charles, and our son, Ariel, provided legwork and moral support. The staff at Rock Paper Scissor deftly transformed the salon into a party space for the evening, and back again.
Twenty years pass one day at a time, and we can lose sight of how much changes in that time until we see the change in our children. The photos brought giggles, smiles, tears, gasps, reminiscences and some notable losses for words. The show was up until the first week in September, and we are glad to share some highlights with web visitors now.
For me, as Tumbleweeds’ mama all this time, the exhibit and reception were a touching indication of how much Tumbleweeds has become a part of the Santa Fe parenting community. I didn’t start with a 20-year plan; I started with my usual sense of “Hmm, what if....” Twenty years and, now, 81 issues later, I look around at how many wonderful people have been a part of this project, as readers, writers, advertisers, photographers, photo subjects, subscribers, designers, editors, proofreaders, distributors, webmasters, fans and critics. I feel incredibly grateful to have come this far with you and look forward to going together into our next decade.
- Claudette Sutton
The show was a delightfully collaborative affair. The idea came from Melodi Wyss-Feliciano, owner of Rock Paper Scissor, whose son Eli was on Tumbleweeds’ cover several years ago. Ana June, Scott Caraway and Jennifer Esperanza, cover photographers over the years, contributed new photos, as did some of the families. Ana’s oldest son, Soren, helped me hang the show. Melodi’s daughter, Sylka, made amazing appetizers for our opening night reception, with friends, family, Tumbleweeds staff, advertisers, and relatives of kids in the photos. My husband, Charles, and our son, Ariel, provided legwork and moral support. The staff at Rock Paper Scissor deftly transformed the salon into a party space for the evening, and back again.
Twenty years pass one day at a time, and we can lose sight of how much changes in that time until we see the change in our children. The photos brought giggles, smiles, tears, gasps, reminiscences and some notable losses for words. The show was up until the first week in September, and we are glad to share some highlights with web visitors now.
For me, as Tumbleweeds’ mama all this time, the exhibit and reception were a touching indication of how much Tumbleweeds has become a part of the Santa Fe parenting community. I didn’t start with a 20-year plan; I started with my usual sense of “Hmm, what if....” Twenty years and, now, 81 issues later, I look around at how many wonderful people have been a part of this project, as readers, writers, advertisers, photographers, photo subjects, subscribers, designers, editors, proofreaders, distributors, webmasters, fans and critics. I feel incredibly grateful to have come this far with you and look forward to going together into our next decade.
- Claudette Sutton
Click the images below to see a larger version!
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Then
Braedon Sanchez, age 2, and his sister Isabel, age 6, Winter 2013
Photo by Ana June 
Daniel Estrada and Savannah Bolleter, age 7, Fall 2006
Photo by Ana June 
Eli Feliciano, age 13, Fall 2010
Photo by Ana June 
Hera Elise Chavez, a month old, in the arms of mom
Krista Valdez, Spring 2014 Photo by Ana June 
Arnold and Olivia Twocrow, 6 months old, Winter 2011
Photo by Ana June 
Zach Caraway and Susie DeLapp, age 4, Spring 2003 (from a photo taken earlier)
Photo by Scott Caraway |
Now
Braedon, age 4, and Isabel, age 8, today
Photo by Ana June 
Braedon, age 4, and Isabel, age 8, today
Photo by Ana June 
Eli, age 18, today
Photo by Ana June 
Bridget Valdez, 11; Giselle Valdez, 6; Hera Chavez, 18 months; and
Krista Valdez, today Photo by Ana June 
Arnold and Olivia, age 4, today
Photo by Ana June 
Zach and Susie, age 26, today
Photo by Scott Caraway |