NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hippie Jewelry Returns to Taos, New Mexico for the
2009 Summer of Love Celebration.
El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa Announces a “Love Beads” Contest.
Taos, New Mexico (March 25, 2009) – This summer Taos is celebrating the 2009 Summer of Love and 40th Anniversary of actor and director Dennis Hopper’s film Easy Rider. To commemorate the 1960’s hippie culture that settled in communes around Taos in 1969, the AAA Four-Diamond El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa has announced a Love Beads contest.
“The psychedelic philosophy of free thinking, free expression, free love and rock-n-roll music all marked the counter culture of the late ‘60 and ‘70’s,” said El Monte Sagrado’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Denise Bina. “At the same time, fashion was becoming more unconventional, yet one piece of jewelry stood out. Love beads seem to stamp the generation.”
Love beads, of course, are the accoutrement most often associated with the Hippie’ culture. The post World War II generation was influenced by a number of movements including, anti-Vietnam War, anti-nuclear bomb, civil rights, and the wider peace effort.
Taos quickly became a prime destination point for young people during the era because of its rural isolation, natural beauty, historic significance, and spiritual pueblo surroundings. Hippies migrated to the area, started multi-family communes, and began stringing love beads to wear as jewelry.
Now artists, and fans of the hippie culture, can enjoy the craft of the era by entering their bracelets and necklaces in the El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa’s love bead contest.
Love beads entered in the contest must be made from the following materials:
crystal
glass
metals, including wire
plastics
clays, including polymers
seeds, stones and wood.
-more-
Love Bead Contest – Page 2
The jewelry must also be created by using one of these techniques:
stringing,
crimping,
basic knotting,
wire working with simple loops, wrapped loops, or wrapped-loop bails
jump ring techniques.
*All materials must cost less than $25.
Official Judging and prizes
The public is invited to judge the Love Bead contest. El Monte Sagrado and De La Tierra Restaurant will host a love bead judging contest and reception on Saturday, May 23rd from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Attendees will enjoy “Hippie Hour” for 4pm – 6pm at the resort’s Anaconda Bar.
The contest winner will receive a $500 prize from Griffin and Associates. The winner will become the “official beads” maker and allowed to sell “official beads” at El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa throughout the Summer of Love.
The winner will be announced after “Hippie Hour” from 4pm-6pm Saturday, May 23rd in the Anaconda Bar. Dinner specials will be offered in the De La Tierra Restaurant.
For full contest rules visit at: http://www.taossummeroflove.com
Entry deadline is Friday, May 22nd 2009, and submissions may be delivered to the El Monte Sagrado sales office weekday from 9am to 4pm.
For more information contact:
Denise Bina
denise.bina@elmontesagrado.com
El Monte Sagrado
317 Kit Carson Road
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 758-3502
