Spanish Market is about tradition, and one Chimayó family hopes to start a new one.

This year marks the first time artists Shawna and Patricio Chavez and two of their three children, Steven and Theresa Chavez, are showing at the market.

The couple have been trying to get into the market since 2003, and this year Patricio Chavez got into the market for his relief carvings and Shawna Chavez for her colorful retablos. Steven, 13, and Theresa, 10, are showing relief carvings and retablos, respectively, in the Youth Market.

"We're excited," Shawna Chavez said as she stood in a booth on Palace Avenue surrounded by her and Patricio's artwork. "I was hoping I'd get in, but what are the odds of a husband and wife getting in at the same time for different categories?"

Near the bandstand on the Plaza, their two children were hard at work getting their art out into the community.

"I'm happy because this is the first year I've ever been in Spanish Market, and I want people to recognize me and say my art is nice," Theresa said.

The siblings said their biggest inspirations are their parents, who taught each of them their craft.

"My dad influences me the most," Steven said. "He's the best artist in my book."

"My mom and dad are the ones that most inspire me," Theresa said.

In addition to teaching their own children, the couple mentor other young artists through a leadership program in Pojoaque called Connecting to Courage.

"We get them to develop pieces like this," Shawna Chavez said as she motioned toward her retablos, "and we go out and donate them to organizations to be auctioned off or to senior homes."

They've also offered mentoring services to the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of America. They are hoping to keep the traditional art alive.

Both children said they hope to pass down the tradition when they have children of their own some day.

"It's a dying art form," Steven said. "We've got to keep it alive."

Patricio and Shawna Chavez were inspired to get into art by family members.

"My father was a big inspiration for me," Patricio Chavez said, referring to his father, Dennis Chavez. "He used to do New Mexico-style furniture, and he just kept showing me and introducing me to people. I met some of the old santeros in the area."

Because his father created furniture, Patricio Chavez learned how to do relief carving on his own.

Shawna Chavez is also self-taught. She wanted to learn to create religious art because her grandmother, the late Doña Augustina Martinez, was very spiritual.

"I grew up with my grandmother in Alcalde, and she was real involved in her church and her community," Shawna Chavez said. "The saints were a huge part of her life so this is all natural to me to be able to connect with my grandmother."

Patricio and Shawna Chavez have been artists since they were both students at Española Valley High School. The high-school sweethearts continued creating art after they were married 15 years ago.

They have always enjoyed going to the market for inspiration, Patricio Chavez said.

"We always went back home and would start carving and painting some more," he said. Now they are happy to be settled in booth No. 150 on the Plaza. Steven and Theresa are sharing booth No. 176.

The couple owns Chavez Gallery in Chimayó, where they showcase the family art — including bultos, retablos and relief carvings.

The family hopes to return to the market in the coming years.

They are among the more than 160 artists showing at this year's market, which continues today until 5 p.m. Thousands of people braved the heat just to get a glimpse of the artwork and chat up the artists.

Judi Hadfield has been attending the market for the past six years. She said talking to the artists makes the experience more meaningful.

"They're so accessible," she said. "You can talk to them about their work and have them describe how they create these beautiful pieces."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.