Hearing the Light

I am so looking forward to Studio C's 3rd Annual Show of Gratitude! It's been an interesting and dynamic three years since I started this adventure.

Karen Anderson, shown in this photograph taken by Tim Keller, shares a double bill this Saturday with author Steven F. Havill. Books by Steven and CD's by Karen will be available for purchase and both artists will be happy to sign them for you. The Chronicle News ran Tim's preview about the show so we are getting a good buzz. I'll post some links soon so you can read it.

Right now the gallery walls are mostly blank... waiting for the new work I've put out a call for... yes, it's a little late, but we still look forward to a good response to the call for holiday arts and treats. I'm about to change those blank walls with some new prints Tim has brought in just for this show. I'm excited to see what else will come in from our community! And of course I'm anxious to get cracking on some of my own ideas!

There is much to do before the show Saturday... I feel like the Fezziwigs of A Christmas Carol... This business is a great journey for me and this special holiday is a great time to celebrate all the blessings that another year has brought. Thank you, dear reader, for being part of it!

In speaking of the adventure of learning to run a business I'll share with you one of my challenges. I am one of those people who live in the moment... so much so that I can lose all sense of time. One of my challenges with retail is that one has to live in the future!

Let me explain: It's Thanksgiving season for me... pumpkins, Indian corn, colors of rust and mustard and winter grasses flowing across the plains. I just can't rush past Thanksgiving and into the reds and greens and whites and blues of Christmas and Chanukah..... call me old fashioned I guess! I remember as a child that there were distinct seasons. Now Halloween shares shelf space with Christmas in the "real" retail world and somewhere in there Thanksgiving gets thrown in, almost as an after thought!

Here at Studio C I strive to be thoughtful in my choices... and to learn as I go what works best. One thing I do know, Miracles, Milagros & Wunder ~ Small Works & Local Flavors Holiday Show is a great opportunity to bring in new talent, to give artists and artisans an opportunity to grow, and to provide our community a place to shop local and support local artists. This will be an annual show and I'm open to ideas and looking to create a win, win, win event. I welcome your comments!

Last week Judy stopped in for some coffee for her parents. Nathan & Tim stopped in on their way to Boulder having been on a deer hunting trip in Texas... they bought coffee to go and chocolate and admired the gallery. Nathan's boots were very cool, and I, being hard-wired as a costume designer, complimented him which brought up the subject of a great boot shop in New Mexico: Joe's Boot Shop.

Speaking of gratitude, gratefulness and thanksgiving~ Feel free to leave yours in a comment. It will be good to read and share. I hope you will!

Christina

Giving Thanks

It's upon us! The holiday season is about to begin... Billy & Buddy are spreading the news with details for several gift bazaars and decorating parties. Listen to KRTN radio, 93.9 starting at 8:00 a.m. for all the local goings on.

Christmas, Chanukah, Muharram, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, New Years' Eve and Epiphany all fall during the winter months. It points out how connected we all are. The season guides us into reflection, celebration and an honoring of sacrifices made in the quest to realize the great dream of peace and good will on earth. Someday our struggles for peace and liberty for all will be realized; these holidays are part of our journey towards a loving and compassionate world.

I love Thanksgiving. Soon plenty of us will celebrate the blessings that our forefathers' and mothers' had in landing on this continent and finding the people here gracious and helpful. Remembering this, we gather together with good food and love in our hearts to express our gratefullness and gratitude for all of our bounty.

Studio C is celebrating it's third annual Show of Gratitude this year. It is amazing to me that life allows me to live my dream and has brought so many talented people together to celebrate the arts and creativity. Thank you for sharing in this wonderful way.

I am putting together our next show: Miracles, Milagrow & Wunder~ Small Works and Local Flavors. Call for information: 575-278-3517.

Coming up in the area:

* Friday November 13 - 15, at The Luna Theatre in Clayton, New Mexico:

Where the Wild Things Are 7:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

* Monday at The Schuler Theatre in Raton, New Mexico:

Juan Carmona Grupa

* Tuesday November 17th, 5:45 p.m. at Old Pass Gallery:

Raton Arts & Humanities Council's Humanities & Education Committee meeting: ~Bring your dinner, your planner & your ideas. If you are interested in promoting the arts through the humanities and education then you are welcome to join us.

Message of Hope

Celebrating the perfection of nature and striving to bring positive change to our world can only be a good thing. Here's to Billy & Buddy and all the crew at KRTN radio who do a fantastic job promoting local businesses and community events. Thank you so much for your support and your wonderful weekday morning talk show: This, That & the Other. The best way to find out what is going on in our area!

I've enjoyed having the student artwork hanging in the gallery these last six weeks. I'm glad that the students' get their work back after 5 months "On Tour". Here I show the photograph Tim took at last Wednesday's reception for the artists and the community. Thank you to everyone who came by to see the show and show their support for Art Plays Its Part!

Thank you to Ashley and Jalane for providing refreshments through the newly formed Parent School Organization. We appreciate you and hope to see this new organization grow and thrive! Read about the the show in Tim's article in the Chronicle News: page 1, page 2.

I am excited about our next two big endeavors! First is our Third Annual Show of Gratitude coming up soon on Saturday November 21st. This is our traditional potluck and entertainment night. No cover, just bring a side dish or dessert, Studio C supplies the turkey complete with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauces. It all starts at 5:30 here at Studio C where we'll share a delicious meal together.

This year we have a double feature: Karen Anderson on her harps and Steven F. Havill reading from his newest NM mystery novel: Red Green or Murder. Karen's CD's and Steven's books will be available for sale. Karen & Steven will be happy to sign them for you. As is our tradition, we will start the evening entertainment with the open mike. Bring your notes and stories, songs and pictures on the theme of gratitude and share your heart with this wonderful gathering of creative souls. Please email me if you have any questions~ I'll be happy to answer them.

The next endeavor is a holiday show: Miracles, Milagros y Wunder: Small Works & Local Flavors. I invite local artisans and crafters to bring work and goodies to sell in the gallery. Call for details: 575-278-3517.

Thursday was a really busy day! Mike came by to help out with lighting issues. Ray came by to see the student show. Abbie stopped in to ask about the holiday show on her way to the garden club meeting at the senior center. Susie came in to see what there is to do in town so I hooked her up with the ladies of the Folsom & Des Moines Garden Club who were in the gallery after their lunch at Des Moines Senior Center. It was pretty much non-stop with travelers and local folk stopping in, enjoying coffee and making the day fly by.... in fact, keeping me from this blog entry!

Friday Suzanne came by and we had a great visit. She is headed to the annual meeting of the Lariat Cow Belles' next Wednesday at 10:00 am at the Clayton County annex building. She invites any woman who is interested in joining this local chapter of the New Mexico Cow Belles to join them for this event. Lunch will be provided. Questions: Email.

Today, Mike stopped in with his two sons in on their way to Texas to pick up a new pickup. Jean Francois from Canada stopped in for coffee... he's on a 6 month bike tour from Canada to Peru & Chile. Sasha and Marcello were in too! Thanks for the pie-crust consultation Sasha!

So, we'll be bringing in Thanks Giving and Holiday Cheer... come by and add yours! Make your days fun and engage your creativity and your muscles. We are all born with the capacity to create beauty, each of us leading a life that is beautiful, rich and generous, striving to make a better world for all... remember that as we move forward in our days. There is more than enough to go around! Share your blessings with everyone you can... the way to peace is with each other.

Cheers!

Christina