Paolo Soleri Amphitheater facts for kids
| Address | 1501 Cerrillos Road Santa Fe |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°40′20″N 105°58′04″W / 35.672358°N 105.967787°W |
| Capacity | 650 (est.) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Closed | 2010 |
| Architect | Paolo Soleri |
The Paolo Soleri Amphitheater is a special outdoor theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It opened in 1970 and closed in 2010. A famous Italian architect named Paolo Soleri designed this unique building. He never really thought it was completely finished.
Contents
Building the Amphitheater
The amphitheater was built in Santa Fe in the late 1960s. It stands on the campus of the Santa Fe Indian School. This school was once called the Institute of American Indian Arts.
Unique Design and Construction
The building is made of concrete. Paolo Soleri used a special method called "earth-forming." This means he shaped the ground first. Then, he poured concrete over it. This created a desert-like look. The theater's shapes look like wings. They rise from a natural dip in the desert ground. Soleri's design was inspired by Native American art.
Famous Performances
This small theater could hold about 650 people. Many famous musicians played there. These included Carlos Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Other popular bands like Crosby, Stills, and Nash also performed. Widespread Panic and Phish played concerts too. The singer Leonard Cohen also graced its stage.
Why the Amphitheater Closed
The theater was meant to be part of an arts training program. This program would have focused on Native American performance. However, this educational program was never fully started.
Financial Challenges
Over time, the theater became too expensive to run. It was not making enough money. The last concert was by Lyle Lovett. He performed there on July 29, 2010. After that, the amphitheater closed its doors.
Future of the Building
In 2011, the Santa Fe Indian School decided to tear down the amphitheater. They said it cost about $100,000 each year to maintain. They also mentioned it was only used twice a year.
Protection and Preservation Efforts
The amphitheater is managed by the nineteen Native American Pueblos of New Mexico. Because of this, state or local laws cannot easily protect it. No date has been set for its demolition. Many people want to save the building. Alumni from the Santa Fe Indian School started a group called "Save the Soleri Amphitheatre." They hope to preserve this special building.
Current Status
As of 2022, the building is still standing. However, people cannot visit it. It is not open to the public.
