2026 Fall Conference
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Santa Fe Woman’s Club
1616 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Join NMJHS for its 2026 Fall Conference, Jewish Life in New Mexico Through the Arts!
Journey with us as we explore the many ways Jewish life and identity have been expressed through the arts in New Mexico, featuring presentations and performances by Sara Novenson, Isabelle Sandoval, and Jacqueline Bell. The day will also feature artist tables showcasing artwork by local artists, with pieces on display and available for purchase.
Ready to join the journey? Click here to view registration information
Help us preserve the journey and support this years Fall Conference so we can continue sharing the history, art, and experiences of New Mexico’s Jewish community. Donations may be made online through PayPal or by credit card through our Square site. To donate by check, click here to download and print a donation form.
- 10:30 – 11am
Arrival & Welcome - 11:00 – 12:00
A Jewish Artist’s Spiritual Journey and Her 50 Year Romance with New Mexico
presented by Sara Novenson, Contemporary Artist & Author - 12:15 – 1:30pm
Luncheon - 1:30 – 2:15pm
Echoing Inquisition Fear: 1732 Heresy Investigation of Miguel de Quintana
presented by Isabelle Sandoval, Santa Fe Poet & Writer - 2:15 – 2:30pm
Refreshment Break - 2:30 – 3:15pm
Voicing the Land of New Mexico and Beyond
presented by Jacqueline Bell, Classical Vocalist - 3:15 – 3:30pm
Closing Reflections & Farewell
Sara Novenson
A Jewish Artist’s Spiritual Journey and Her Fifty Year Romance with New Mexico
In my talk I will speak about my personal journey as a Jewish woman and artist living in New Mexico. How and why I began the body of Jewish work, how my spirituality has affected my art and my life and how it all has amazingly “come full circle.”
Sara M. Novenson’s paintings captivate with rich, vibrant color — blues, pinks, purples, and yellows — many bordered by hand-painted Hebrew letters drawn from the Psalms and blessings. Her work spans the acclaimed Women of the Bible series and her luminous Landscapes of the Soul.
Novenson has exhibited for more than forty years across the United States, Europe, and Israel, with solo shows in New York, Zurich, Basel, Stockholm, and Germany. Her art has appeared on the covers of American Psychologist and Four Centuries of Jewish Women’s Spirituality, been selected by UNICEF, and published in The New York Times, The Jerusalem Post, and many other publications. She holds a B.F.A. from The School of Visual Arts in New York and is a Levinson Foundation grant recipient. Collectors include actress Fran Drescher, the late musician Frank Zappa, and the Pratt Institute.
“Painting for me is a prayer of gratitude,” Novenson explains. She lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she has run her own gallery since 1996.
Isabelle Sandoval
Echoing Inquisition Fear: 1732 Heresy Investigation of Miguel de Quintana
Miguel de Quintana, español mexicano colonist from Mexico City, was recruited in 1693 to resettle New Mexico with the Velasco-Farfán Expedition. He was reported to the Holy Office in 1732 for his creative writing. By 1735, The Inquisitors ruled that Quintana suffered from muddled mental thinking. Isabel Medina Sandoval, a descendant of Quintana, will read Converso poetry inclusive of her poem, The Contemporary Inquisition. Images of photographs of Carey Herz are included.
Isabelle Sandoval has served as a teacher/administrator/professor of Spanish, English, Literacy, and Bilingual Education. A Santa Fe poet/writer, she has researched her New Mexico roots. Isabelle studies materials regarding the experiences of the descendants of Iberian crypto-Jews grounded in genealogy, history, languages, traditions, and DNA. As a Portuguese citizen based on her ancestral connection to Portuguese Sefardita origin, her goal is to enhance a Jewish learning community engaging in quality clarification, exploration, and research.
Jacqueline Bell
Voicing the Land of New Mexico and Beyond
“L’heure Exquise” by Hahn
I chose this piece for the program because in New Mexico the sky is so gorgeous with its clear blue and bright stars. This beautiful French art song describes the feeling of being very at peace in nature, walking alone in the forest at night. The poem describes the indescribable awe one feels when in the silent forest surrounded by stars, a very complex and hard to capture moment.
“Hold fast to dreams” by Florence Price
Florence Price was one of the first African-American women to have their pieces performed by a major Symphony. In this piece, she set a Langston Hughes poem to gorgeous intriguing piano, as she was a pianist first before becoming a composer. The inspirational text of this piece continues to inspire me every day.
“Oseh Shalom” , “Mi Sheberach” by Debbie Friedman, plus additional Yiddish or Sephardic Folk Songs
Jacqueline Bell, a classical vocalist originally from Santa Fe, is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Vocal Performance from CU Boulder, where she studied under Abigail Nims and minored in Italian. Her operatic journey began in high school with the Santa Fe Opera Young Voices program, studying with Kathleen Clawson and singing with the Santa Fe Symphonic Chorus for three years. She appeared in Santa Fe Opera’s The Shoes of Santo Niño (2017), and the world premiere of Sweet Potato Kicks the Sun (2019). With CU Boulder’s Eklund Opera, Jacqueline sang in La Bohème and Cendrillon, and performed roles including the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel (2024) and Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance (2025). She competed in the regional NATS competition twice, placing 5th in 2022 and 2nd in 2023. Beyond music, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and climbing. Bell taught at the Santa Fe Climbing Center, and is a pinball enthusiast who often competes.
In addition to a day of engaging presentations and music, conference attendees will have the opportunity to meet three accomplished artists whose work reflects the richness and diversity of Jewish creative expression in New Mexico. Learn about each artist’s creative journey and purchase works directly from the artists. Whether you’re an art collector, looking for a meaningful gift, or simply enjoy connecting with local creatives, the artist tables offer a wonderful opportunity to experience Jewish art in New Mexico firsthand.
Click the artists name to learn more about them.
I have been sculpting wood or stone Jewish themes for as long as I can remember, going back to carving a dreidel out of a bar of soap with X-acto knives when I was a kid in the Bronx. I received no encouragement from my parents in pursuing “art,” who viewed it as a waste of time. Their opposition proved to be a blessing because it made me follow my muse, first carving realistic faces, then moving on to impressionistic themes. Musicians, dancers, acrobats, and simply people engaged in a conversation became my subjects. This was followed by purely abstract images, many based upon letters from the Hebrew alphabet.
Although Jewish traditions have severely limited artistic expression, I was drawn to the way in which Hebrew letters were rendered in Torah lettering, synagogue art, and even the carving of tombstones in 19th century Ukraine. In fact, one of my earliest commissions was the letters (“Yehi Or,” “Let there be Light!”) on the ark of Congregation B’nai Israel in Albuquerque.
Spanning a professional career of now over 50 years, my work has ranged from menorah, tzedakah boxes (actually, bowls), to bowls turned on the lathe with carved Hebrew (and sometimes, Yiddish) quotes, mainly from the Torah.
Each piece I sculpt, whether in wood or stone, is unique and blends my passion for Yiddishkeit and for the art of sculpture.
Sara M. Novenson’s paintings captivate with rich, vibrant color — blues, pinks, purples, and yellows — many bordered by hand-painted Hebrew letters drawn from the Psalms and blessings. Her work spans the acclaimed Women of the Bible series and her luminous Landscapes of the Soul.
Novenson has exhibited for more than forty years across the United States, Europe, and Israel, with solo shows in New York, Zurich, Basel, Stockholm, and Germany. Her art has appeared on the covers of American Psychologist and Four Centuries of Jewish Women’s Spirituality, been selected by UNICEF, and published in The New York Times, The Jerusalem Post, and many other publications. She holds a B.F.A. from The School of Visual Arts in New York and is a Levinson Foundation grant recipient. Collectors include actress Fran Drescher, the late musician Frank Zappa, and the Pratt Institute.
“Painting for me is a prayer of gratitude,” Novenson explains. She lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she has run her own gallery since 1996.
Ellen is retired as the Executive Director of the Denver Jewish Museum. She has been an art teacher, but is working in glass for seven years. Early in my art career, “I was not aware of the many methods of glassmaking because studying it in high school or a college course was not available. Over the years, when visiting museums or glass businesses, I could not understand how contemporary glass pieces were made. Now, after working in the medium, I can now take them apart with my eyes and know how most modern studio glass art is conceived.” I am blowing glass, fusing, casting and experimenting in the studios of Prairie Dog Glass, SFCC and the Institute of American Indian Arts. My work is carried at the Vladam Museum Shop in Santa Fe and the Wild Fire Glass Gallery in Madrid, NM.
Harvey Buchalter, “Shin Menorah”, 2025, Black walnut
Sara Novenson, “This is Blessing of the Sun, Violet”
Ellen Premack, “Graceful Letters”
Join the Journey
The New Mexico Jewish Historical Society’s 2026 Fall Conference, Jewish Life in New Mexico Through the Arts, is a special event will explore the many ways Jewish life and identity have been expressed through the arts in New Mexico, featuring presentations and performances by Sara Novenson, Isabelle Sandoval, and Jacqueline Bell. The day will also feature artist tables showcasing artwork by local artists, with pieces on display and available for purchase.
NMJHS Members & Sister Organizations – $75
Full event registration for current NMJHS members and members of sister organizations.
Includes all sessions, luncheon, and beverage breaks.
Non-Members – $95
Full event registration for non-members.
Includes all sessions, luncheon, and beverage breaks.
Not yet a member? Join today and enjoy member pricing!
How to Register and Pay
Choose one of the following methods:
Option 1: Register Online with PayPal
Register online through our website and pay securely using PayPal.
Option 2: Pay by Credit Card via Square
If you prefer to pay directly by credit card, use our secure Square checkout page.
Pay with Credit Card via Square
Option 3: Mail Registration Form and Check
Download and print the registration form, then mail it with your check payment.
Mail completed forms and check, payable to:
New Mexico Jewish Historical Society
5520 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Please register by October 14 to help us finalize catering and other event arrangements. If you need to register after October 14, late registrations may still be possible. Contact the NMJHS office for assistance.
You will receive a confirmation email once we receive your registration.
Preserve the Journey
Help us preserve the stories and traditions that connect generations. Your support makes the NMJHS Fall Conference possible and helps us continue our mission to promote greater knowledge and understanding of New Mexico’s diverse Jewish experiences within a broad cultural context.
Make your donation via PayPal.
Donate by credit card via Square.
To donate by check, download and print the donation form.
If you have any questions or need assistance, email us at admin@nmjhs.org or call 505-348-4471
Win a one week stay in San Miguel de Allende
Enter for your chance to win a one-week stay at a charming home in this amazing Mexican colonial village.
Mi Casa has a fully equipped kitchen, cable TV & WIFI, master bedroom with king-size bed, first floor bedroom with full-size double bed, terrace bedroom with double bed and 3 private bathrooms.
The home is a 15 minute walk from the town center where you can find art, music, shopping, and galleries.
Tickets are $36 and are available for purchase online and during the NMJHS Fall Conference on October 25, 2026. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted for tickets purchased the day of the conference.
Purchase tickets online via PayPal
Purchase tickets with a credit card via Square.
All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society. Thank you for your support!
Fall Conference Cancellation Policy:
You must email admin@nmjhs.org by October 14 to receive a refund, or to convert your registration fee to a tax-deductible donation.
Nearby Hotel Properties:
Kindly make your own arrangements directly with the hotel. No group rates or room blocks are secured.