Nina Baldwin is Featured Artist at KISS Cafe

The above image is titled, "Gathering", from the series, "Women Gathering", about women supporting one another...it is an acrylic painting, 36" x 12" in beautiful saturated colors in a soft watercolor technique with patterns and textures added...prints available!

Nina Baldwin will be the featured artist in a solo show at KISS Cafe. The show is in conjunction with the annual big kickoff of the Christmas season, the Holiday Stroll, in Old Town, Albuquerque. The show will take place the weekend of Dec. 4th, 5th and 6th. Come meet the artist on Friday, December 4th at a reception from 5pm to 7pm. KISS Cafe is located in Old Town at 404 San Felipe St. on beautiful Patio Escondido.

Pig Out Palace

The following was submitted by Gordon Vanus. Are they not too much fun? Check out his website at the end of this post for more images.

Hi,

Priscilla and I got home late last week from our fall trip to Maryland. We managed to beat the storms on our return. We've driven by the Pig Out Place several times in our I-40 travels and have found the signs intriguing. We haven't got up the nerve to eat there yet but maybe someday. Online it is rated 4.5 stars out of 5. If you interested it is located midway between Oklahoma City and Fort Smith Ark.

I've updated my website with trip pictures. You'll find them under "What's New".

Gordon

Unbroken Journey, A New Mexico Fiber Arts Collection

Nancy Kozikowski's embroidery piece entitled "Pear Still Life"

Rio Rancho's first all-fiber arts show, featuring several of New Mexico's outstanding
hand weavers with national and international reputations opens Friday, Dec. 4,
with a reception from 6-8 p.m. at the gallery of the Inn at Rio Rancho and Conference Center.
Co-curators of the show, entitled “Unbroken Journey, A New Mexico Fiber
Arts Collection,” are Rio Rancho weaver and Rio Rancho Art Association member,
John Curran along with Espanola rag rug weaver Sandy Voss.

“Since this is the first such exhibit in Rio Rancho we wanted to showcase examples of the diverse weaving styles for which New Mexico is famous along with some of the contemporary work flourishing here, “ said Curran. “It simply wasn’t possible to show examples of every weaving style in New Mexico, so we settled on a collection of styles which we reflect in the invitational show’s title.”

Among the weavers taking part in the show, are Nancy Kozikowski and Susan Klebanoff, both tapestry artists with work in collections around the world. Also participating is Lisa Trujillo, owner with her husband, Irvin, of Centinela Traditional Arts Gallery
in Chimayo specializing in Chimayo and Rio Grande weaving styles, Donna Contractor, Pat Dozier, Connie Enzman-Forneris and Letitia Roller.

A video of Nancy Kozikowski demonstrating some of her weaving process.

Mixed Media and Me

I've been working in various art forms for years, and I have been involved in Mixed Media work for the last ten years or so. I think one of the reasons I like Mixed Media is that it can include anything and everything so if I get bored with one thing, I can change to challenge myself with other materials. Working in Mixed Media lets me explore techniques in painting, sculpting, sewing, and soldering (to name a few), as well as work in paper, fabric, canvas, wood, polymer clay, glass, whatever I can think of. Going to the hardware store, for example, and finding materials to work with in my art turns a boring shopping trip into a creative challenge. Try it some day and you'll find that a bag of nails will never look the same to you!

When I get stuck on one idea and I feel like I can't get beyond a preconceived notion, I can transfer the skills and techniques from one medium to another. One of my favorite expressions is Collage and I have explored Collage techniques with paper, fiber and metal. What makes a composition interesting? What kind of composition moves your eye so the whole piece becomes more than the sum of its parts? How can I use color, form and texture to my advantage in expressing myself and my work? I find the answers to these questions in working with the assets of a certain material as well as its limitations. I also find that answering these questions in one medium can, and does, transfer to other media. So an answer to one may be an answer to all.

An important part of my artwork is playing. I put on good music and lay out some materials and just fool around seeing what materials will do -- when used together, when heated, when covered up and then exposed -- anything that comes into my mind. I have found techniques that have worked for me countless times by this type of directed play. I also find that play lends itself to group endeavors. It can get awfully isolated working by myself all the time so I asked two friends to come over last week. We worked for two afternoons playing around with making little 3-D projects. I put out paints, glitter, rhinestones, paper, small wooden shapes, oil sticks, and pencils. Not only did we have a ball, but we made some pretty fun things. Give three artists the same materials and watch what different art we can come up with! The laughs and camaraderie in working together and watching what each other does makes it fun and inspiring. A technique one uses inspires us all in different ways.

So to end my first blog entry, I say go forth and multiply (those art supplies and ideas)! Best to all of my new friends at RRAA, Annie Onderdonk

My Work On Display

Sorry about the first post. accidently hit return and it posted simply saying "art".

Anyway, just wanted to post that my photographic work is on display for sale at the New Mexico Rail Runner/Santa Fe Southern train depot in Santa Fe, Also at the Range Cafe' in Bernalillo and at the New Mexico Veteran's Artists Association's Gallery in the BX on Kirtland AFB. If you happen to visit any of these venue's sometime soon please stop by and check them out.

Kristian Thompson

www.kristianthompsonphotogrpahy.com

Art

Maggie Cordova's Kids ROCK!!!

I just finished up showing a class of fifth graders some of my art. I have to say that I am amazed at how well behaved and intelligent they were. They asked some great questions and loved my art. I am deeply humbled by that last fact.

Mersad, the art teacher, was very generous letting me talk for almost an hour about recycling objects and learning to design with them. Her class is going to be making a dragon sculpture for the front of the school out of recycled aluminum cans. She has asked me to help her with this project. I think it will a lot of fun working with these little rapscallions ( that's another word I use like "Yea big" to describe something or someone).

Talking up my art really gave me motivation to finish other projects that I am working toward. I feel energized and excited to get back to creating. I have enough styrofoam to do just about anything I can dream up, and enough molds to make everything I can imagine.

Imagination is a great device for producing something wonderful. Even if it sits inside your head for years and years. You can build it up layer by layer until the finished project is completely imagined, then begin to create it in reality.

Sometimes you will need outside help to finish a project if you don't have all the understanding and tools at hand. I have had to ask others for help with something I want to create so I can make it just the way I see it in my head. There is a lot of trial and error involved in the creating process, but if you try something and it doesn't work, don't throw it out-it may work for something else later.

The biggest problem with recycled art is storage. But thankfully, I have a storage shed out back. I am not worried about anyone stealing my stuff...it's all trash anyway ;o}

Thank you kids for making my day! Can't wait till we start on the dragon.

Thank you Mersad for calling me to work with the kids.

Thank you Melissa Martinez for helping me schlepp all the stuff in and again to the kids for schlepping it all out again (that's another word that fits what I have to do with all this stuff).

Thank you God that You have helped me overcome my intense shyness! (I bet no one really believes I am very shy and timid)

New Works Juried Show 2010

Hey, everyone it is time to start planning for the second New Works Juried Show. I'm seeking volunteers to help plan and execute a hugely successful show. Please let me know if you are interested in being on the committee.

Linda Laitner