Conchita L. Lopez

TAKING THE ART OF MOTHERHOOD ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Honored October, 2007

Conchita L. Lopez

Conchita Lopez’s first great creative expression came when she was the mother of five young children--a role she elevated into an art. A skilled seamstress, she made most of their bright, fun clothes when they were little. She made Halloween costumes for them each year. She packed wonderful picnic baskets, filled with delicious surprises, and took her brood on outings that were adventures as well as feasts. As her children moved on into high school and began playing in the marching band, she wanted snappier uniforms than the customary blue jeans, white shirts and cowboy hats, so she spearheaded a “Band-Aid” drive that resulted in crisp tuxedos with an overlay vest, designed by a local artist.

In 1960 her family decided to enter the Santa Fe Christmas Lighting Contest. Conchita’s husband installed a big tree in their front yard. But when store-bought ornaments proved both expensive and fragile, Conchita chose instead to adorn the tree with absolutely unique decorations, fashioned with her own hands from used tin cans. With tin snips, pliers, punches and other tools, she cut, curled and shaped the pliable metal into stars, swirls and other designs, many illuminated with lights. Her efforts won an honorable mention, and also caught the eyes of neighbors, who wanted similar objects.