Paolo Soleri Amphitheater
Encyclopedia
The Paolo Soleri Amphitheater was an amphitheater in Santa Fe, New Mexico
which was founded 1970 and closed in 2010. The structure, which was never finished due to design flaws, was designed by Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri
.
The amphitheater was built on the campus of the Santa Fe Indian School
in the mid-1960s. The concrete structure was created using Soleri's methods of earth-forming to create a surreal desert-scape. The venue's wing-like organic shapes emerge from a bowl-shaped depression in the high desert floor. Some evidence suggests that Soleri's design was influenced by Native American themes.
Seating only about 650, the small theater hosted notable performers including Carlos Santana
, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Leonard Cohen
. In later years, theater operations became unprofitable and as of 2011 the amphitheater is marked for demolition by the Santa Fe Indian School, which cites maintenance costs of about $100,000 per year and the fact that it only uses the structure twice a year. The venue hosted its last performance, a concert by Lyle Lovett
, on July 29, 2010. Because the amphitheater is owned by the nineteen Native American Pueblos of New Mexico, it is not protected by state or local preservation laws. The schedule of the structure's demolition is unknown.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
which was founded 1970 and closed in 2010. The structure, which was never finished due to design flaws, was designed by Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri
Paolo Soleri
Paolo Soleri is an Italian-American architect. He established Arcosanti and the educational Cosanti Foundation. Soleri is a lecturer in the College of Architecture at Arizona State University and a National Design Award recipient in 2006.-Early life:Soleri was born in Turin, Italy...
.
The amphitheater was built on the campus of the Santa Fe Indian School
Santa Fe Indian School
The Santa Fe Indian School is a secondary school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It was founded in 1890 as a boarding school for Native American children from the state's Indian pueblos. But in the course of its history, the school has also served as a major cultural catalyst for the...
in the mid-1960s. The concrete structure was created using Soleri's methods of earth-forming to create a surreal desert-scape. The venue's wing-like organic shapes emerge from a bowl-shaped depression in the high desert floor. Some evidence suggests that Soleri's design was influenced by Native American themes.
Seating only about 650, the small theater hosted notable performers including Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
. In later years, theater operations became unprofitable and as of 2011 the amphitheater is marked for demolition by the Santa Fe Indian School, which cites maintenance costs of about $100,000 per year and the fact that it only uses the structure twice a year. The venue hosted its last performance, a concert by Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Pearce Lovett is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man"...
, on July 29, 2010. Because the amphitheater is owned by the nineteen Native American Pueblos of New Mexico, it is not protected by state or local preservation laws. The schedule of the structure's demolition is unknown.