Once Within a Time takes its title from the most recent film by Godfrey Reggio, the legendary experimental filmmaker who has long resided in Santa Fe. Reggio’s Once Within a Time (2022) intertwines fairytale atmospheres with apocalyptic landscapes, pursuing a form of storytelling that blends the fantastical and the mundane in a moving portrait of the existential condition. Inspired by the film’s circular narratives, the 12th SITE SANTA FE International places storytelling at its heart, exploring New Mexico’s multilayered histories through the lens of more than ninety participants.

The exhibition revolves around a collection of twenty-seven characters—or “figures of interest”—with close ties to the Southwest. This diverse cast encompasses local heroes, mythical beings, unassuming residents, reclusive artists, distinctive writers, and charismatic healers. The biographies of these people—incarnated here in a collection of artifacts, documents, images, and objects—function as catalysts for seventy-one local, national, and international artists. Many of the featured artists have created new work that responds, directly or indirectly, to the experiences and lore of these figures. The commissions are shown here alongside contemporary works from around the world, offering fresh insights into the region’s rich history and its artistic and literary heritage.

In a first, this iteration of the International extends beyond SITE SANTA FE to more than a dozen locations across the city. These varied locations set the tone for novel dialogues between figures, artists, and places, prompting visitors to explore different corners of Santa Fe. Conceived as a vast family album, Once Within a Time centers people—specifically, those who have inhabited, traversed, or left their mark upon the Santa Fe region over centuries. Transcending a singular theme or narrative, the 12th International manifests as a symphony of voices, engaging with the city of Santa Fe and its myriad identities and tales.