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Museum

Recognized Near and Far: Abiquiú Staff Accept Local and Regional Awards

December 18, 2023

Agapita Lopez named an Inspiration by Girls, Inc., Giustina Renzoni nominated for an Emmy

Agapita Lopez

A fixture in the life of Georgia O’Keeffe and now a mainstay of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Home & Studio, Agapita “Pita” Lopez was honored by Girls, Inc., of Santa Fe with an Inspirations Award. More than 80 women were recognized with the award for embodying and exemplifying Girls Inc. values of strength, intelligence, and leadership.

Agapita “Pita” Lopez

Lopez comes from generations of family in Abiquiú. Like her grandfather, mother, and brothers, Lopez worked for Georgia O’Keeffe, serving as a caretaker and secretary while attending college. After O’Keeffe’s death, she continued to work for the artist’s estate and served as the Executive Director of the Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation between 2001 and 2006. In 1998, Lopez was a key asset in accrediting the Home & Studio as a National Historic Landmark and, in 2012, Lopez co-authored the book Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiú with Barbara Buhler Lynes. Today, she continues her work at the Home & Studio as a Projects Director. She facilitates the Abiquiú Garden Project where Northern New Mexico high school students learn leadership and teamwork skills while tending to O’Keeffe’s garden. The program produces hundreds of pounds of fresh produce donated to local food banks annually and welcomed its ninth class of interns in 2023. Lopez was also recognized for her work as a member of the Abiquiú Acequia Association and the Abiquiú Land Grant.

“No one is more deserving of this award than Pita,” Museum Director Cody Hartley said. “Her insight into O’Keeffe’s life has been invaluable to the Museum and her incredible contributions to the Abiquiú community have made an impact on many families in Northern New Mexico.”

Lopez was honored at a ceremony at Bishop’s Lodge along with other Inspirations Award winners from New Mexico including Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, and Santa Fe City Councilor Signe I. Lindell.

Giustina Renzoni

Giustina Renzoni, the Museum’s Curator of Historic Properties, is now Emmy-nominated! Renzoni was credited as a writer and producer on Todd Ballantyne’s short film Georgia O’Keeffe: Abiquiú, garnering her two Rocky Mountain Emmy nominations for Historical/Cultural Content and Writer Short Form.

Georgia O’Keeffe: Abiquiú centers on O’Keeffe’s time in Abiquiú, with extensive footage of the interiors of her two homes. The result is an engaging orientation video for the Museum’s Welcome Center in Abiquiú introducing O’Keeffe’s life to visitors. The film is currently shown in the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Welcome Center. While Renzoni did not take home a gold statuette, she called the experience exciting and an honor.

“There were a record number of award submissions this year,” Renzoni explained. “There were only three nominees out of 20 submissions for one category alone. Being nominated among the best journalism and documentary work in the Four Corners is an accomplishment. Although we didn’t bring home an Emmy, it was exciting to bring O’Keeffe to a wider audience.”

Ballantyne, the owner of ACB Films, previously won two Emmys for his work on a 2022 project titled, Georgia O’Keeffe: The Far Away, focusing on the landscapes of Northern New Mexico. Georgia O’Keeffe: Abiquiú can be seen on the ACB Films YouTube page.

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