Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall are offering their assistance in preserving the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater in Santa Fe, should the All Indian Pueblo Council and the Santa Fe Indian School decide to do so.

In a letter to Joe Garcia, chairman of the AIPC, and Everett Chavez, superintendent of the SFIS, the Senators point to amphitheater's historic nature and value to the Santa Fe community as reasons to preserve it.  A text of the letter follows:

Dear Chairman Garcia and Mr. Chavez:

It has come to our attention that the members of the All Indian Pueblo Council and the Santa Fe Indian School Inc. are in the midst of internal deliberations about the future of the historic Paolo Soleri Amphitheater located on the Santa Fe Indian School campus.  We write today respectful of the fact that the authority to determine the future of the amphitheater rests with the 19 Pueblos for whom the land was taken into trust.  This historical landmark has been an important venue for a great number of activities that go on in Santa Fe, and in our opinion it would be a significant loss to the community if the amphitheater is not retained.  To this end, we would like to offer our assistance in preserving the future of the amphitheater should you decide that is the appropriate course.

As you know, this amphitheater has a long history in the community and it is valuable to recall the reason it was originally built at its current location.  In 1964, Lloyd Kiva New, president of the Institute of American Indian Arts, commissioned Italian architect Paolo Soleri to design the amphitheater at the Santa Fe Indian School campus.  It was because of Lloyd Kiva's vision, urging, and friendship with the architect that Soleri accepted the project and designed an open-air theater using natural materials that would reflect the local landscape and geology while also framing the moon and the sun.  Also, through construction of the amphitheater, Soleri worked with students and staff to create a venue that would launch students into the world of contemporary Native American art and theater.

Should the 19 Pueblos and the Santa Fe Indian School decide to pursue a course to preserve this important architectural landmark, we stand ready to assist to ensure it can be enjoyed by all members of the community for years to come.

We look forward to working with the members of the All Indian Pueblo Council and the Santa Fe Indian School on this and the many other important issues facing Indian country.