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TLAQUEPAQUE - "the best of everything"
2011.04.04
Back in the seventies, Sedona, Arizona had one stop light and most of the land was still open range.
Abe Miller, a successful Nevada businessman, started coming to Sedona on vacations. Abe was a traveler and he loved Mexico. He also fell in love with Sedona and specifically a beautiful property on Oak Creek.
Under the influence of the lively creative arts scene in Mexico, it struck him that Sedona was a natural location for a living arts community…a village where artisans work out in full view and live on-site as well. It worked in Mexico; it could work here. He'd call it Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) after the colorful Mexican city on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Tlaquepaque is a word from the Nahuatl Native Indian language - the ancient language of the Aztecs meaning the "best of everything".
The conceptual history of Tlaquepaque is truly a story of this man's love for beauty and perfection.
"Forget the plumb, use the thumb," was a favorite saying on the construction site. Very little of Tlaquepaque was sketched out on paper. Abe always allowed his workers a lot of latitude, sometimes as much as plus or minus 24 inches!
The unconventional approaches to architecture and building at Tlaquepaque resulted in a fascinating coming together of tradition and innovation. Thick stucco walls accented with delicate wrought iron, magnificent arched entryways, stonework and patterned tiles clearly define space and movement within the village. Landscaping was a special challenge as Abe had promised that the beautiful sycamore grove would always remain untouched. So as structures went up they were built around the tall sycamores. Plans were modified to incorporate the tree's natural form. The entire complex has a natural organic feel that gives one the impression that this place has been here for centuries.
Abe Miller, a successful Nevada businessman, started coming to Sedona on vacations. Abe was a traveler and he loved Mexico. He also fell in love with Sedona and specifically a beautiful property on Oak Creek.
Under the influence of the lively creative arts scene in Mexico, it struck him that Sedona was a natural location for a living arts community…a village where artisans work out in full view and live on-site as well. It worked in Mexico; it could work here. He'd call it Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) after the colorful Mexican city on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Tlaquepaque is a word from the Nahuatl Native Indian language - the ancient language of the Aztecs meaning the "best of everything".
The conceptual history of Tlaquepaque is truly a story of this man's love for beauty and perfection.
"Forget the plumb, use the thumb," was a favorite saying on the construction site. Very little of Tlaquepaque was sketched out on paper. Abe always allowed his workers a lot of latitude, sometimes as much as plus or minus 24 inches!
The unconventional approaches to architecture and building at Tlaquepaque resulted in a fascinating coming together of tradition and innovation. Thick stucco walls accented with delicate wrought iron, magnificent arched entryways, stonework and patterned tiles clearly define space and movement within the village. Landscaping was a special challenge as Abe had promised that the beautiful sycamore grove would always remain untouched. So as structures went up they were built around the tall sycamores. Plans were modified to incorporate the tree's natural form. The entire complex has a natural organic feel that gives one the impression that this place has been here for centuries.
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Thanks for this sharing Joe! Sweet shots and your explanations are interesting !
josy63 · 2011-04-04: 02:06
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very interesting set and i like the point of view and angles in yours pictures!
tomie · 2011-04-04: 04:51
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Great set Joe! #6 is excellent.
RayNvb · 2011-04-04: 07:09
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Sounds like a wonderful place!
????? · 2011-04-04: 09:10
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Wow All these pictures are really wonderful Great angles, colours, lightings, perspectives:)
helys · 2011-04-04: 13:25
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Amazing, just amazing. I love them all !! Great work, fantastic place!
????? · 2011-04-04: 17:21
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very nice, #6 is my personal fave
urmysunshine · 2011-04-04: 22:16
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Love #4 the most..great shots.
NellyBly · 2011-04-05: 12:16
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I like the concept of Tlaquepaque very much....
lafff · 2011-04-05: 13:11
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