Recent addition to the Workshops’ front office, Laura Solomon spoke with Susan Hayre Thelwell about moving to Santa Fe and where to find the best chile rellenos in town. Susan: Where are you from? Tell me something about your family.
Laura: I was born in Albany, NY the first child for my parents. My grandmother called me "Queenie." Thankfully, it never stuck. Every birthday, I got a singing telegram from her which thrilled me to no end!
S: Sounds like she was a creative nature herself! Tell me about your own interest in art.
L: It became evident that I was not going to be a concert pianist when I developed a nervous twitch every time I sat down to practice my lesson. I do recall, however, being "caught" drawing a nude woman during first grade. The teacher asked me why I was doing that and I told her that I was going to be an artist when I grew up. And I am an artist today.
S: Did you go to school to study art?
L: I went to Syracuse and Boston Universities to study art, but I was restless at the time and didn't complete my studies. Later, I took secretarial classes and later still, I took classes to learn bookkeeping, accounting, computer programs and art classes.
S: So, how did you make your way to Santa Fe?
L: I first moved to here in 1999 from San Jose, CA, where I worked in Silicon Valley. I got very weary of the smog, congestion, and high tech environment. As the fickle finger of fate would have it, I left Santa Fe after four years as I became a grandmother for the first time and finding a good job was difficult. I went back to California for a few years and then lived in Sedona. After a couple of trips back Santa Fe to visit, I decided that this is really where I belong and moved back a little more than a year ago.
S: You mentioned being a grandmother. Can you tell me about being a mother?
L: I have three boys: two from my marriage and one son before I was married. Almost six years ago, I was reunited with my first son who I had given up at birth. He had been looking for me for a long time and I also made attempts to locate him. Our reunion was very joyful and we are very close to this day. This has been a great blessing in my life!
S: That is a beautiful and powerful story.
Laura began looking for work last summer and says that when she found the workshop’s ad she sent in her resume with “a great cover letter.” Now she works in the front office with Anne, Dodie, and Mignon.
S: What do you like best about your job?
L: The variety of tasks. The Workshops is a great, creative place to work and I am so very thankful to be here. It's a place where, thanks to Reid, people work hard but in an environment of harmony, trust and co-operation. It's a fun place, too! I love meeting the people who come in to take workshops.
S: What do you like most about living in Santa Fe?
L: There are so many things that I love—the natural beauty, the clean air and pristine skies—no smog, the art, adobe houses with fresh snow on them, lilacs in the spring, hollyhocks in the summer, the smell of pinon wood burning on a winter night, the food, the Plaza, the different cultures, to name the most important things.
S: What do you do for fun in Santa Fe?
L: I used to go out on Friday nights to El Farol to dance. I love music and am so sorry that the Paramount is gone. I saw some good shows there—Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks and Lucinda Williams. I saw Judy Collins recently and I will be seeing Bruce Cockburn soon.
S: Red or green?
L: Sometimes, it's green and sometimes it's Christmas. I love both, really. My favorite place to eat is Gabriel's which is about half-way to Espanola. I think they have the very best chile rellenos and margaritas! I also go to the Plaza Restaurant for their meatloaf and mashed potatoes—yum!
S: Have you had any nicknames other than Queenie? And what were they?
L: My mother called me Lolly. My high school friends called me Solly. My brother calls me Lolita or Lolita Conchita. I just like being called by my name but not Laurie.
S: Tell us something surprising or something we don’t know about you.
L: I used to date Burt Reyonolds……..only kidding! But, I was at the very first Love-In that took place in Los Angeles at Griffith Park. I was stunning in my pink bell bottoms!
Thank you for your time Laura! We are lucky to have you as a permanent member of our staff!
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