Santa Fe Indian School celebrated graduation on Friday at the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater without a hint of a proposed demonstration to save the structure.

A Facebook page started last week by an alumnus of the school implied that plans are in the works to tear down the earth-cast concrete structure built about 50 years ago.

One posting called for wearing white to the graduation as a "silent protest to the destruction or closure of the Paolo Soleri."

But there appeared to be no more white-clad people than normal among the approximately 2,000 attending the commencement for 102 seniors.

The amphitheater, completed 45 years ago, looks shabby, with cracks and spalling visible on its concrete arches and towers. Santa Clara Pueblo eagle dancers performed precariously on the arches during Friday morning's ceremony.

Santa Fe Indian School officials, who have not responded to messages asking if the amphitheater might be razed, did not make any reference to the issue Friday.

But in her valedictory address, Amelia A. Caté, Acoma/Kewa, seemed to refer to the 2008 razing of 15 buildings on the campus, some of them dating to the 1800s.

"The structures that surround us were just that — buildings, buildings comprised of brick, mortar and steel," she said. "The old buildings were silent as they were torn down to nothing. But I can hear them now. They are telling me how proud they are that yet another class has reached that zenith called graduation."

In her keynote address, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish encouraged the graduates to study architecture.

Superintendent Everett Chavez spoke of how new buildings on the campus are leading Native Americans to "educational sovereignty."

"To the credit of our tribal leaders, we will have spent over $50 million demonstrating to the world that we are building a nation and taking control of our education at all levels," he said. "I am proud to note that recently Santa Fe Indian School has been able to capture $5.1 million from the American Recovery and Investment Act to finish the recreation portion of the Wellness Center."

But the highest praise was reserved for the new graduates. Schools officials said the 2010 graduation class has the highest grade-point average and more scholarships than any previous class.

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.

Bushee to push for preservation of Paolo

Santa Fe City Councilor Patti Bushee has introduced a resolution calling for preservation of the Paolo Soleri Amphitheater.

The earth-cast concrete structure was designed by Italian-born architect Paolo Soleri when he lived in Santa Fe in the 1950s.

The leaders of the Santa Fe Indian School decided to increase the amphitheater's size in mid-construction, so that it was not completed until 1965.

Since then, the amphitheater has become one of Santa Fe's most popular music venues. The semi-circular seating area faces a stage framed with graceful arches and a backstage area bermed into the hillside. Metal bleachers have been added in the last decade.

Soleri, 90, a founder of the green-building movement, now lives in Arizona, where he founded two experimental communities — Cosanti and Arcosanti.

Bushee's resolution goes to the city Finance Committee on Tuesday