Aware of Many Blessings

We've had a blizzard! Our highway was closed Thursday evening at 6:pm as the blizzard blew in with a fearsome speed... stranding friends at friends and travelers here in town.

Temperatures dropped to the teens and visibility to 3 feet, no further than the hood of your car....

Now the highway is open again, traffic is flowing, and I am happy to have heat in the studio... even if it has not prevented my water pipes from freezing.

Our featured act is unable to make it tonight and with the frozen pipes to deal with I've decided to cancel tonight's Live @ Studio C! I'll miss all of your wonderful poetry and smiling faces. Thanks for calling in to check on tonight... it's been bittersweet to turn you away!

So, thanks to Mother Nature we will start our 2009 season for Live @ Studio C! on Saturday April 25th with Katherine Engel as our featured act. She will be performing her one-woman show: Two Women of Tennessee Williams. It will be an exciting night of live entertainment here. $3.00 cover charge gets you in the door. Proceeds from the door will go to support Art Plays Its Part! at Des Moines School. Show your appreciation for the entertainment when we pass the hat.

I'll let you know when we'll have Colfax Reunion here as soon as the band confirms the date... we've decided to make a Sunday afternoon event just for them so keep in touch.

In the meantime I've been working on the floor in the studio with the help of my Vital Roads friends who came over Wednesday evening and got me started with 80 minutes of concentrated effort and I'm anxious to get back to it.

My husband, Tim Keller, has been busy writing up a feature story about the travelers who ended up stranded in Des Moines, safely housed in the school while the blizzard raged on. So many wonderful people here in northeastern New Mexico taking care of strangers and keeping the roads safe even in the worst of conditions.

The snow has brought much needed moisture to our dry land and the sun shines brightly on it all now. There is so much to be grateful for.

Let's keep that strong in our hearts.

Blessed Be!

Christina

Learning About New Mexico

On Saturdays I come in and listen to NPR radio, which has been airing an amazing program about New Mexico's history, culture and land called: The Shift of Land. The project is funded in part by the New Mexico Humanities Council. It has been fascinating to listen to each weekend. It's so deep in its inquiry of New Mexico that I cannot turn it off or even down while the program airs. I wanted to share it with you all. I know you too will enjoy learning more about New Mexico and/or knowing that this information is being documented and made available to a global audience.

Today, Saturday March 14th, is my one year anniversary of opening Studio C with regular hours. Wow! I actually remember the anticipation and excitement I had on that day last year.

I can't contain my thrill at having made this mark in the work-in-progress that is Studio C and my own journey in building an arts business in this beautiful area of New Mexico. Thank you all for making this possible.

Blessings~

Christina

P.S. This is a special entry to celebrate the day so be sure to read on through the next post: One Year Anniversary. ~ Christina

One Year Anniversary!

Studio C celebrates its one year anniversary this weekend!

Last year on March 14th, I opened Studio C with regular hours. I have been blessed with wonderful customers ever since. It's so good that I've added Thursdays to the regular hours. Studio C is open Thursdays through Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sundays 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. Thank you to everyone who supports the gallery. I really appreciate your business and your spreading the word about Studio C.

Out here in Des Moines, New Mexico, some think that opening an art gallery & artspace is a nutty idea. I have found that there are so many artisans and artists here in our quiet corner of the state that it is a brilliant idea. When you visit Studio C you will see local and regional talent as well as artists I have met in this blessed life. I'm always looking for new art, gifts and treasures.

Studio C is a dream come true. I'm amazed that it's been a year! I'm thrilled about the day and the years ahead. To share my gratefulness I invite you to come by the gallery. Receive a 10% discount on your purchases for the month of March. It's my way of saying thank you!

I've added more bookings to our Live @ Studio C! calendar and I've finalized the gallery show schedule. Scroll down to the Keeping the Faith entry to get the update for Live @ Studio C! and scroll down to the First Spring Rain entry to get the updated gallery schedule.

It helps my blog's statistics if you spend time on my blog... thanks for scrolling down to see the updated schedules. I appreciate you reading my blog, posting comments and sending email to me directly!

Under the heading of community news we find our recent efforts to bring recycling to Des Moines making steps forward. You can help our volunteer efforts by sending an email to Recycle Des Moines. Tell us that you want to recycle. Let us know what recycling you currently do. If you don't recycle now, what would you need to start recycling? Be sure to include your name and address so we can keep you informed as we make progress. Come into Studio C to sign a supporters list. We've also made a grant application for $10,000.00 with the Green Heroes Grant program. Beginning March 16th you can vote for our grant to win that money. You'll have to register your email address and I hope, for recycling in our area's sake, that you will do so. You can read more info about the grant program here. Vote for our grant to win March 16th - April 10th.

The annual Local Health Fair is coming up on April 8th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the EMS building in Des Moines. For more information or to request a screening "menu" email Tami.

Enjoy the oncoming spring weather, the new green that is poking out of the ground and your own creative pursuits! Be inspired with pictures from the blessing ceremony we held for Studio C even before we opened with regular hours. Inspire us by sharing your stories in the comments to this entry.

Don't forget that the coffee just arrived so now is the perfect time to stop by and pick up our fabulous organic fair-trade whole bean coffee. (10% discount this month... now's the time!)

See you soon!

Be Well!

Christina

First Spring Rain

We had our first rain today... the weather forecast had 0 chance of precipitation even as it first rained and then snowed. Just goes to prove that your own eyes are better than any weather prediction.

Coffee lovers come on by. I just received a new order of coffee which was roasted the morning it shipped to Studio C.

I've been out in the world searching for items to outfit the gallery and am thrilled to have found the glass display case of my dreams. Finally I can bring in wonderful things to fill the case. I'll be working on this in the coming months so be sure to stop in and see what is new. I also brought in some wonderful vintage and antique treasures... this business adventure is expanding even as I work to contain certain aspects of it.

I'm so excited about Live @ Studio C!

March 28th is our first show of 2009. Kathryn Engel shines in the spotlight and Dino Cornay is the featured act, bringing his band Colfax Reunion - Unplugged to entertain us for the evening. We start each evening off with our open mike so be sure to sign up and share your inspiration with us! Thrive in creativity, sharing and discovery.

I've booked harpist Karen Anderson to feature for our November Show of Gratitude and as a spotlight act for the upcoming May show.

2009 GALLERY SCHEDULE ~This is a work in progress so check back for updates

MAY - JUNE
Sunday May 5th: 3rd Annual CreativiTea!
May 21 - June 21: Featured in the gallery: Cimarron photographer Yvonne O'Brien.
Artist reception for Ms. O'Brien will be Friday May 22, 2:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.

JULY - AUGUST
Farmer's Market begins in July
June 25 - August 30: Featured in the gallery: Local artist Nathanial Franklin.
Artist reception for Nathanial Franklin TBA

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
September 26th: September Fall Harvest Arts Street Fair:
Saturday 9:00 - 4:00 *sponsored by Vital Roads
October 8 - November 8: Student Artists' Show featuring the work of students in
Summer Art!, Places of Wonder & Des Moines Schools
Artists' reception will be Sunday October 11, 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER
November 27 - December 27: Holiday Show: Miracles ~ Small Works/Local Flavors
Reception for the artists will be Friday November 27, 1:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.

I'm working on the Summer Art! and Places of Wonder schedules and will be posting them soon. Thanks for keeping in touch and sending me email. I love to hear from you and am looking forward to visiting with you soon.

Blessings!

Christina