Press Release

Events will include 40th Anniversary celebration of Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider Movie May through September, 2009.

The Town of Taos has unveiled a new tourism promotion for its peak travel season in 2009. The Taos Summer of Love will feature a variety of art and film shows, festivals, concerts and other special events from May through September 2009. The promotion also includes a $4,000, 4-day travel sweepstakes for one lucky winner and guest.

“Everyone loves getting away for a summer vacation,” said Taos Public Relations Director Cathy Connelly. “We’re laying out the ‘tie dyed’ carpet for families traveling to Northern New Mexico during the spring and summer travel season.”

Taos will also commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Dennis Hopper’s movie Easy Rider (much of it shot in Taos by then resident Hopper).  Part of this commemoration will be the Harwood Museum of Art's two Hopper at the Harwood exhibits -- one show of  Hopper's own art photography, and the other for which he will curate -- a show of Hopper's Taos contemporaries including Larry Bell, Ron Cooper, Ronald Davis, Ken Price And Robert Dean Stockwell.  

Easy Rider marked a new direction for film -- and then, as now, mirrors not only the beauty of Taos, but its spirit. Taos has been a draw for travelers for over 1,000 years, and today sees nearly 2 million visitors annually ride away from their daily lives to explore the authentic in Taos.
 

Taos is celebrating this film, and Taos’ status as an international creative, cultural and historic destination, with the Taos 2009 Summer of Love.

Taos' Summer of Love 2009 kicks off with two Dennis Hopper events at the University of New Mexico Harwood Museum of Art beginning May 9th.

• Dennis Hopper is putting together a solo exhibit of his photography

• He also will curate an exhibit consisting of work from his private collection and from the Harwood’s collection created by artists in Taos during the 1960s

Other Events include:

• Taos art workshops and professional artist 'quick draws'

• 4th Annual Toast of Taos southwest wine competition and art tours (July 2-11)

• Taos Center for the Arts performances

• Taos Artist Organization (TAO) - will host "Taos Summer of Love: That Was Then, This Is TAO" - A Vintage 1960's Art Event".
• Springs Arts- Festival (May thru June)

• Village of Taos Ski Valley summer concert series

• KTAO Radio Solar Center summer concerts/outdoor films
• Southwest Wine Competition (June 24-25)

• 4th Annual Toast of Taos (July 2-11)

• 11th Annual Solar Music Festival

• Taos Pueblo Pow Wow
• Local businesses are planning Summer of Love specials, a 'love beads updated' contest, off-beat parades, tie-dye contests and other fun and unusual events.

Sweepstakes:
Travelers can enter to win a four-day trip to Taos, NM for the Summer of Love at TaosSummerofLove.com. The trip includes three nights’ accommodations for two adults, airfare/transportation, dining, spa services, Taos Pueblo and museum admissions, and other wonderful Taos treats, including dinners at the area’s best restaurants and a $1000 gift certificate for use at any art gallery or galleries. Sweepstakes rules are posted online.
 

Go to www.TaosSummerofLove.com for sweepstakes entry and to read updated events for this 'summer of luv' theme.  Ride away to Taos this summer and revisit what fun and relaxation is all about.