Authenticity ~ Finding Flow

The sun shines on a beautiful day here in northeastern New Mexico.... though inside my hands are stiff with the cold.

Today is typical New Mexican spring time... cold in the shadows and warm in the sun. So, as it is a magical day and upstairs Suite B's porch is warm and sunny, I'll move outside to warm up these flying fingers.

Mucho better!

I'm feeling rejuvenated after a mini-holiday with my love (he's on Spring break this week) spent at Heart's Desire B&B in Raton New Mexico.

We stayed in the Victorian room for two days and had a wonderful time. Barbara Riley is the owner and hostess at this most cozy & charming inn. We highly recommend it to all who travel though the area.

Friday evening is the reception for The 4th Annual Ralph Solano Memorial Photography Show. Photographers, artists and the public will be on hand to congratulate the award winners as they are announced during the event. I'm looking forward to being there and to seeing who takes home what award. The show has a strong mix of images which gurantees that everyone will find something to enjoy. I encourage you to plan on being there to mingle and support the arts in our region.

Saturday the West Gallery in Studio C will transform into a photography studio as Tim Keller brings in a client who has commissioned some portraits. I'm thrilled to see the space being used in so many different ways to support the arts and artists in our community. If you are interested in booking an event at Studio C send an email to studioc@bacavalley.com and we can work it out.

Sunday is another exciting event: our second Open House for Guest Vendors. Come by from noon to four to see what we have in addition to our regular art & crafts. Margaret, Nicole & Marsha are looking forward to sharing their wares with you. We might have a couple more vendors show up so do stop by for a visit.

Thanks!

Christina

P.S. About the photograph: A pastel I did several years ago to help promote the Art & the Volcano project which partnered The Mandala Center, Capulin Volcano National Monument and the Des Moines Schools.

Adventure!

This life is such an adventure! I've been riding my bike regularly for two months now. New strength, calm and the start of a new poem has come to me as the wind resists or assists me in the stunning terrain that we are blessed to live amongst.

I've been enjoying a lovely stream of visitors in the gallery this week. Victoria came in early to pick up copies of the Chronicle News which has been reporting on the Herzstein Memorial Museum's recent Old West Days. Janet came by to drop off some items she knew I'd make good use of. Both went off into their days with chocolate to sweeten things up.

Later, Sandra & her husband John stopped in for the first time. They are building a home east and north of here and Sandra is looking to bring together a vocal ensemble to sing classical music. She gave me an impromptu voice coaching which synchronistically answered a question I had about my own vocal training (I just started taking lessons with my dear friend Carmen who lives in Albuquerque). I am looking forward to hearing Sandra's group! Maybe they'll debut a song at one of our open mikes in the future!

Tomorrow, Saturday August 29th, is Live @ Studio C! I am proud to present Gabrielle Louise and her partner David Rynhart as our featured act. For more information read Tim's article about Gabrielle Louise in the Chronicle News: page 1, page 2. Kathryn Engel is in the spotlight and presents a dramatic reading to warm us up.

Kicking it all off, as is the tradition here at Studio C, will be the open mike. All forms of performance and presentation are welcome at our open mike. Traditionally, open mikes provide a nurturing time and space for anyone brave enough to step in front of those assembled to share their talent. They provide you an opportunity to grow and the audience an opportunity to get to know more about you. I hope you'll come see the show Saturday and even sign up for a spot on the open mike. Send me an email and I'll add you to the list. Abbie did!

We are gearing up for another fall full of events....

Calling all types of creative people! Come set up to sell what you have at our 2nd Summer Arts Street Fair here in Des Moines New Mexico on Saturday September 26th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Click vendors for more information. There will be food, fun, and stuff to buy. Support your local economy in the truest of senses... buy from friends and neighbors. Your money will be circulating in our community which is GOOD thing! I also encourage you to spend some time developing your own crafts and harvests for sale. We often have more than we need in our gardens... this is a perfect opportunity to share and make some money. I'm drying herbs myself! It's fun to see my shelves begin to show signs of abundance beyond my own household needs. I'm keeping things simple; living by the credo to "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" so overhead is low even while I'm producing high quality herbs and plants to sell. I wonder what you have that could provide you with added income and our Summer Arts Street Fair shoppers wonderful choices for their hard earned dollars. Questions? Let's open this up for discussion. Leave a comment with your ideas. Let's grow our creativity together!

Next month in September, Live @ Studio C! will be a little different~ It's a field trip! We'll meet at The Mandala Center for their fall evening concert: September Sizzle. The Mandala Center presents Randi Whitman, Eileen Terry and Valerie Powell. They are a very accomplished trio comprised of flute, piano and soprano voice. The event is free and includes a wine & cheese reception. The Mandala Center would love an RSVP and donations are greatly appreciated.

If you want to hear about what is going on in our area, one of the BEST things to do is to tune in to KRTN, 93.9 FM radio out of Raton, New Mexico and listen to the dynamic duo of Billy D and Buddy Springer. They do a wonderful morning talk radio show called This, That & The Other. Sponsored by several local businesses, Billy and Buddy welcome any and all who come to the studio Monday through Saturday to talk about... well, this that & the other! Thank you Billy & Buddy for a terrific show!

Wes, on his way back to Durango from San Antonio is sitting out front with a cup of organic fair trade Guatemala Maya Ixil coffee, freshly ground and brewed, enjoying the sound of water running in Nathaniel Franklin's two water sculptures. He's in a blessed time in his creative journey and knows that there is plenty of time to get to Colorado. He's taking time to stop and smell the roses and savor the delicious coffee grown and picked and purchased at fair living wages. A nature lover and nutritionist in training, customers like Wes are part of why I love growing Studio C!

I hope you will come by the gallery to see what we have to offer. Studio C is growing and changing as we all do. Life is rich with Joy and discovery for all of us. I send you vibrant bliss!

Cheers!

Christina

Facing West

Actually.... we're facing north in this view of Studio C but we are looking directly at the works of sculpture by Nathaniel Franklin, our currently featured artist, lit up in the early evening sky.

Tim and I just returned from a mini-vacation at The Little Tree B&B in Taos where we took advantage of the lovely accommodations to rejuvenate. Yep. We did pretty much nothing but read, sleep and eat in celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary, my recent birthday, and 23 years of joyful journey together. It was a perfect time in the busyness of our lives to step back and reflect. We wandered back to Des Moines via the 3 T's Art Trail yesterday. Thanks to Sasha who helps me out on occasion. She is a fine artist and lovely person to have in the gallery.

We just received a new shipment of hand batiqued and tie-dyed T-shirts which I'll be putting out as soon as I get this blog update published. Nono Espejo is the artist we continue to import after meeting him at the plaza market in San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas Mexico. The colors he works with are rich and exotic, perfect for the fall palate. They are further embellished with Mayan inspired images done with the batique process. We love them and continue to import them as they have proven to be very popular. This new collection comes to us just in time for your back to school shopping!

I'm keeping it short today since there is so much to do... Tomorrow afternoon Studio C will be the place to be between 3 & 6 with a reception for the artist, Nathaniel Franklin. Come by to enjoy the festivities, visit with Nathaniel and see the work we are all raving about. We'll be christening the west gallery "The West Gallery" and Nathaniel will discuss his work. It will be an arts event not to be missed! Want more information? Read Tim Keller's review of Nathaniel's work: p. 1, p. 2.

Are you craving chocolate? We just received a new shipment of Endangered Species Chocolates in assorted styles and flavors... come on in to support your happiness and better health through chocolate... I'm just about to open the box now!

Life is indeed full of pleasures that I am blessed to be able to offer here at Studio C!

Blessings and Songs of Joy!

Christina

P.S. Do leave a comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

C

Switching Lanes

Today is a perfect summer day. Warm and sunny with a breeze blowing the scent of honeysuckle across the land.

I'm getting ready for tomorrow night's show with Tim Keller and Karyna Cragin. Karyna is coming up from Santa Fe to share her wonderful musicianship with us. She plays the African balafone, marimbas, piano, guitar and her lovely voice. It's her first show as the lead act and I am honored to have her grace our ArtSpace with her talents. It's always a great evening with wonderful stories told, laughter shared and sometimes even tears shed. I invite you to come on out with a friend or two.... Sign up for the open mike and tell us what you did for Fathers' Day or how your family celebrated last week.

It's looking like the fancy colored corn seeds that friend Tom brought me are doing well here at Studio C! Knee high by the fourth of July is looking good!

I've cut mint and am about to brew some tea for the iced mint tea that I'll have out tomorrow evening... I love the smell of mint tea as it brews... it is so uplifting!

I've also got some empty walls to fill! Yvonne O'Brien came to pick up her show leaving three pieces for the gallery. We had a nice visit while she waited for the light to get lower in the sky... she was looking forward to driving across Johnson Mesa and taking pictures on her way home.

So, that's what I mean by switching lanes! We've got change all around and love to make it all good.

Hope we see you here soon, or hear from you soon. Drop an email, come by and read tomorrow evening during our open mike, or just come on by to enjoy the gallery.

Good Road!

Christina

Skipping Across Streams

Convergence and conjunctions abound as I figure out how to balance my ambitions with my aspirations and inclinations. My cousin Debbie sent me this YouTube video of an amazing young pianist... watching him play inspires me.

The gallery is vibrating with Yvonne O'Brien's photography show: light, structure, space. Her work hangs through June 22nd. If you've not seen the show please come by to see these images. I know you will be glad you did.

We'll be hanging a new show next week: Facing West. Local artist Nathaniel Franklin brings his sculpture and paintings into the gallery. We're still discussing the date for his artist's reception and I'll let you know what date to put aside as soon as I can.

I'm really proud of the work I've been doing with Des Moines Schools. We're working on funding efforts and just completed an application to the NEA for Learning In the Arts funds. The grant reads well and the program samples look great. I'm impressed with how much we've progressed since our first attempt last year. The NEA is looking at receiving an increase in it's budget of $15 million which would be very helpful. Please support the arts and let your legislators know that you are making arts your priority.

I want to thank Russ Ballew and Karen Anderson for coming out to entertain us last Live @ Studio C! The theme was Compassion and we enjoyed a great show which left everyone talking about the roll of faith in their lives and also celebrating our many blessings. Thank you too to everyone who came out to hear these wonderful musicians. If you've not heard Karen play her harps you simply must plan on coming to our show in November when Karen will be our featured act.

Our June theme is Dear Dad. The date is June 28th and the show starts at 5:30. My sister Karyna Cragin is the featured act and returns with her African balafone, her marimba, and hopefully a guitar and some songs for our piano. Tim Keller is in the spotlight singing his songs and reading poetry or stories from his growing collection. Bring your stories of and for your fathers or father figures in your life and sign up for our open mike. Remember there is a piano here and we welcome all forms of creative expression. It will be a fine summer night to bring a friend with you too. I'm making some nut breads and will have great coffee freshly perked and iced-mint tea. Should be a great evening! Come on out.

Summer Art! class schedule is now available. Next week we will be working with pastel on paper.... this is one of my favorite mediums. Some of my current "in-progress" work can be seen on my Flickr site here. I like to call my pastel work painting since the chalk moves so well on paper and is easily blended. Working with the sticks of pastel usually leads to smudging with my fingers. Edges are places to explore as colors meld or bounce off of each other depending on the desired effect. Call 575-278-3517 or email to enroll or to ask questions.

Chocolate is back in stock. We've got 77% humidity and a 21% chance of rain so we are getting on our rain dancing shoes and looking forward to a prime rib dinner at our annual EMS FunFest dinner & dance tonight.

Life is Beautiful!

Christina

Dream Time Coming

I've been inspired by the Garden Club ladies and the rows of new plantings ready to put into the ground with fresh smiling faces. As I rode my bike by the school earlier today Janet & Janice had me determined to be outside on this beautiful spring day.... now, late afternoon and I am finally here to share the news.

I'm just about to begin hanging the next featured artist's show: light, structure, space. Yvonne O'Brien's fine art photography will be featured in the gallery from May 21st through June 21st. Yvonne lives in Cimarron, New Mexico. Her work is dramatic and her connection to nature is deeply felt. Her images will be a joy to have in the gallery. Join us next Friday from 3:00 - 6:00 when we host a a reception for the artist. Come celebrate and have an opportunity to visit with Yvonne. Plan to return several times to be with her work. I hope you'll let one of her framed archival pigment prints work its way into your heart. We have made blank art gift cards for purchase... and of course we have lots of wonderful art and crafts for your shopping delight.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow because it is my mom's 75th birthday! She is such an amazing person and I am so very blessed to have her in my life. Her visit two Sunday's ago, when she came up here with my sister to attend the 3rd annual CreativiTea!, was a gift. Her faith in me keeps me buoyant as I continue to work on how to make this gallery out here in the middle of nowhere work.

Last Sunday we had a fabulous meal at the Capulin Country Store during their annual Mothers' Day brunch. The chicken alfredo was perfect. The buffet table was laden with abundant and delicious fare. We'll definitely plan to be there next year as well as holding the 4th CreativiTea! here the Sunday before.... so, for you advance planners out there May 9 & 16 are the dates to save for Studio C & Capulin Country Store. In the meantime keep your eyes peeled for great arts venues, experiences, and ideas. Share them here if you can't wait for next year's CreativiTea!

Live @ Studio C! is just up ahead. May's show features Russ Ballew, local singer & songwriter from Clayton. He's got a new cd out titled Recovery Music Vol. 3. Check him out at his website.  In the spotlight will be Karen Anderson with her celtic harp. Two friends have already signed up for the open mike list. Tom and Linda will be traveling though and will join in the fun. The date is Saturday May 30th and it all starts at 5:30. Send me an email and I'll put your name on the open mike list too.

This weekend, Saturday May 16th, is your opportunity to join the annual Folsom Archaeological Tour. Two times are available, the morning trip leaves at 8:00 a.m. from the Folsom Museum and the afternoon trip leaves at 1:00 p.m.. A free chuck-wagon lunch is available at the museum. Your donations will be gratefully accepted. All donations will support the Folsom Museum. This tour is amazing! Call 575-278-3664 or 575-278-2122 for more information.

Tim's review of the Des Moines Elementary School's spring program I wrote of two posts ago can be read here and here. (It's two pages so be sure to click both to read the full story) I'm beginning to upload photos from sessions we've had this semester at my Art Plays Its Part! photo gallery here. You can tell I'm proud and excited about working with the school to develop this program.

I'm also excited by the future. Studio C is a work in progress. There is a lot to do before I can call it "done" but I offer my artists a lovely space to show and I offer art appreciators a place to stop and visit and take home something special from the heart of an artist. Thursday, Friday and Saturdays I'm open 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sundays I'm open noon to 4:00 p.m. I am happy to open by appointment Monday - Wednesday. Call the gallery at 575-278-3517 to set up an appointment... or plan on coming by Thursday - Sunday. Let me know you read this blog with a comment and I'll give you 10% off your purchase over $10.00. I've got free wireless internet for my customers. I appreciate your business and look forward to growing into a must stop destination ArtSpace here in Des Moines, NM.

Happy Birthday Mom! 

Blessings of Health, Longevity and Prosperity to all~

Christina

Making Wings

Last Sunday Studio C was the site of nurturing and guidance during our 3rd annual CreativiTea! I'd like to thank everyone who gave of their time and heart right here for all the world to hear: Thank you very much for your kind words of support and wise ideas for growth and continued improvements. Your presence is felt as I plan out the Summer Art! calendar and the shows for the rest of the year. We all enjoyed the green chile stew that Kelly taught me to make. Thank you!

Mark your calendars for next year: May 9th which is, again, the Sunday before Mother's Day. We do that because the Capulin Country Store opens their Summer restaurant season with a Mothers' Day brunch and we want to eat there. Mothers' Day is tomorrow and we'll be at The Capulin Country Store enjoying a wonderful brunch buffet. Maybe we'll see you there!

We will be hanging our next featured artist soon! Yvonne O'Brien's photography show: light, structure, space will hang May 21 - June 21. We will be having a reception for the artist on Friday May 22 from 3:00 - 6:00. Mark your calendars and join us for a festive event. Refreshments will be served.

Classes for this year's Summer Art! season: Mask-making, Pastel on Paper, Mural Painting on Canvas, Painted T-Shirts, Papier-mache Sculpture, and something new: ShowTime! ~Putting it All Together. This class will be for the few, the brave, the proud who take more than two classes during the season. We'll be creating a show, a performance showcase, with artwork created by participants. What we come up with no one knows...... yet! Does this sound like fun to you? Let me know in the comments.... I'll be creating my brochure this week so your input may be included. Those who've participated in Summer Art! in the past know that classes are mixed. Youth and adults are equals at the art table and we all have a lot of fun learning together benefitting from the freedom of the innocent and the wisdom of experience. I'm planning on holding morning and afternoon sessions (9:00 - 11:30 in the am and 2:00 - 4:30 in the pm). Yes, I'm shortening them to two and a half hours. Each class will meet three days in a row for a total of seven and a half hours of instructed time per session. I am happy to have students enroll in both sessions if they want to have more time to explore their artwork. Tuition is based on $10.00/hour and there is no materials fee. I am excited about this year's class offerings and look forward to a great season of learning and growing together.

It was my pleasure to drive to Trinidad yesterday to see Tim Keller's photography at the A.R. Mitchell Museum. I car-pooled with Kelly who also wanted to see the show. You can take a virtual trip of the show. It is thrilling to see an artist really take off. Read Laura Brewer's preview of the show here.

Speaking of taking off, read Tim's article about the recent school clean-up (p1 & p2) sponsored by the Des Moines School Rural Revitalization Initiative. Kelly is on the steering committee and helped organize the event.

So, having taken an art break to go see Man of La Mancha at The Schuler Theatre in Raton, I can say good night with a smile on my face and a glow in my heart... I love art and the creative life!

Dream Good Things~

Christina

Listening is an Art!

Live Poetry has changed to Live @ Studio C! and is getting started this weekend! 

Join us for an exciting twist of theatre as Kathryn Engel, from Raton, NM, presents her one-woman show: Two Women of Tennessee Williams right here on Broadway Avenue in Des Moines!

The show opens with our open mike where we give anyone brave enough 1-3 minutes to share their talent. I have a young sax player signed up already so don't be shy. I've invited Tim Keller to give us a short reading of some of his recent works. He's been writing almost daily for the Trinidad Chronicle as he's also writing another article for Western Horseman and preparing for his second photography exhibit at The A.R. Mitchell Museum in Trinidad, Colorado in May.

Spring has sprung here in full force... Tulips are gloriously bright harbingers of the coming green; butterflies of all sorts of colors and patterns have begun to flutter all about and one of my strawberry transplants here at the studio is already blooming!

May is almost here and that means our annual CreativiTea! is near at hand. This year it moves from Mothers' Day to the Sunday before: May 3rd. We meet in circle to brainstorm and review the state of the arts @ Studio C ~ ArtSpace & Gallery on the 3rd. I'll have green-chili stew and corn bread to nourish and sustain the idea exchange. This event is another opportunity for me to say thank you to all the wonderful people who really care about the success of Studio C. All supporters are hereby cordially invited. Please RSVP so we have plenty of stew to go around. Wear your spring hats and bring a sweater... sometimes the gallery is still a bit chilly in May. By having our CreativiTea! a week early we support the Capulin Country Store in their annual Mothers' Day Buffet which opens their summer season of delicious lunches available from 11:00 - 2:00.

Where have I been? 

I know, I've been remiss in keeping the blog current... but, like a dog on a bone and happy too, I've been working with with Des Moines Schools to develop a curriculum-based arts program. We've been working tirelessly to make several projects happen and with the end of the current school year at hand I've been "submerged" in the business of arts program management and teaching... so much so that I've let my blog suffer... even the gallery at Studio C has been feeling neglected (if galleries can feel?! :-))

It's all about art and it all ties together though: I've completed a mask-making class with the 3rd & 4th grades who have been studying a unit on "Self". Dino Cornay has been working with 5th & 6th grade classes on pencil drawings of President Lincoln. Inge Bobek is currently artist in residence and working on a mural project the 7th grade science class. They have been studying plant life and seed germination. Next week Tecolote, NM artist Martin Montoya, will be teaching K, 1st & 2nd grade students painting. They will work with spring flowers and Mothers' day pictures. We've been working with the elementary teachers on their annual Spring Program. Their students have been practicing songs, square dances and the lines for an original production which brings it all together: Spring Flowers for Skinny Horse. Parents and community members are volunteering their time and talent in support of the show which will be on Tuesday May 5th at 7:pm at Des Moines Schools.

So, there it all is... and I'll update you next week with more news.

Hope to see or hear from you soon. Leave a comment here or send me an email and let us know what is springing up in your life.

Joyfully Yours,

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

Feeling New

What a lovely day today has become!

I have a free ticket to Post Comedy Theater, playing this coming Sunday afternoon at The Shuler Theatre in Raton New Mexico.

Send me a joke and be the first to make me laugh and I will give it to you. See how easy that is? Come on, make me laugh!

That said, I promised that I would give you the show schedule in this post but I've still got work to do on it... so I'll keep this entry short so I can get to it.

We have some beautiful glass jewelry in the gallery and more on the way and I am getting closer to being at the shawl factory. Thanks to Elissa for showing off some samples for us!

Tim Keller, photographer, writer, and now journalist has been expanding his horizons even further with his review of the Raton Youth Theater's latest performance. Check out his blog for the latest details.

Avery Christy, Union County Leader reporter, stopped into the gallery this afternoon looking for stories. He said that his door is "always open" for your stories. Send him an email with your news.

Are you feeling the spring in the air and seeing the green popping up from the earth? If not I encourage you to put on a jacket and go outside to peek at all the new growth beginning to show. I've noticed that there are tulips on the way.

Would you like a little inspiration? Check this out for cool, as in, "Cool as a cucumber."

Keep checking back this weekend since I'll decide the schedule and update this post rather than wait till next week.

Cheers for now,

Christina

Keeping the Faith~

Cold weather has come back to Des Moines and my gallery is chilly so wear a big fuzzy sweater when you stop in this weekend.

I've been really busy during the week working for Art Plays It's Part! at Des Moines School and am in the midst of forming an ArtsTeam to help build the program. Several people are already committed to help and we are still looking for more arts lovers to rock art! We will meet next Wednesday @ 3:30 at the school. If you want to support the arts for our students you are welcome. Send me an email and I'll give you details.

I've also been working with a group of citizens and students to bring a recycling program to our community. We've been making the rounds to our village and the school board to generate support and partnerships.

Then too, I've been thinking about Studio C's Summer Art! classes and the Places of Wonder program which partners Studio C with Rainbow Ranch in Folsom. Please send your suggestions for classes so I can know what you are interested in before the schedule gets set.

Now, last week I promised to let you know our line-up for Live! @ Studio C so here it is:

Our open mike starts each night so bring your contribution and give us an opportunity to shower you with applause. The sound in the gallery is so good we've dispensed with the microphone but I'm still calling it an "open-mike". Ideas to rename it are welcome!

March 28: Features Dino Cornay with his new acoustic group with a Spotlight: Kathryn Engel
April 25: Features Kathryn Engel & her one woman show: The Women of Tennessee Williams
May 30: Features Russ Ballew with a Spotlight: Karen Anderson
June 27: Features Karyna Cragin with a Spotlight: Tim Keller
July 25: Features Tim Keller
August 29: Features Gabrielle Louise
September 27: Feature and Spotlight TBA
October 31: Features Peter Burg
November 22: 3rd Annual Show of Gratitude: Features Karen Anderson

I'm keeping the cover charge at $3.00. We'll also be passing the hat for our featured acts. I'll ask you to consider the price of live entertainment and give generously. Let's build Live! @ Studio C into a great gig that entertainers love to come to. Think of the gas money you're saving! We can look forward to years of wonderful entertainment coming direct to downtown Des Moines, New Mexico as we show our appreciation generously.

Now do you see why I'm so exited about the upcoming Live! @ Studio C? I'm working on the Spotlights and September - November so let me know if you want to be an act or know a great act that I should know about!

Did you know: Studio C carries Western Horseman now! Stop in for a copy and a cup of coffee and I'll let you in on the gallery shows I've got planned. (I'm saving that for next week!)

Till then, or till we meet here, Walk in Joyful Song!

Christina

Weekend Slice!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Blessed Yule, Merry Merry!

Anyway you slice it, the warmth and joy in your heart that this time of year brings is a great feeling to have. Here's hoping all of you have had some wonderful quality time with your family, friends and community.

I've got a great sale going on here at the gallery! Everything in the gallery is 20% off for this weekend only. Over 30 artists are represented in the gallery. All the artists at Studio C are known to me either locally, regionally or by way of my friends' or my own travels.

We have local landscape art cards, JR Gilstrap prints and the memorial 18 month calendar(2009-2010), leather gift tags, natural goat milk soaps, naturally scented soy based candles, stained glass mobiles, wind chimes, a gorgeous stained glass window, antique bottle ornaments, fused glass earrings & window hangings, slumped glass candle screens, hand blown glass ornaments, and vases, bead bracelets, necklaces and earrings, pottery, poetry, books, music, pastels, imported hand-batiqued t-shirts, star flowers, archival photo prints, fresh-roasted, freshly ground fair-trade gourmet coffee beans and chocolate, Father Christmas dolls, accent pillows, incense(Nag Champa), sweet grass braids, watercolors, landscape prints on canvas, and…more!

Your patronage supports an array of artisans and artists and of course the dreamer who believes that an ArtSpace in the middle of nowhere is a great idea. That dreamer just happens to be an artist too. Thus, I'm building my model on an artisan/artist-first framework. What I'm building here, with the help of so many talented individuals is an oasis for the imagination. Can you think of a finer reason to choose to shop here? By shopping here you are making a stand for beauty, innovation, independence, freedom and creativity! You are actively engaged in community and economic development here in Union County New Mexico. Studio C is where creativity grows. Come on in and feel it yourself.

I'll be stoking my own creative fires in January. Studio C will be open by appointment only for the first 4 weeks of 2009. We are taking a winter break. That will give me a chance to work on some ideas I've had percolating for months now but haven't been able to attend to. It all feeds into the ongoing plans for creating a thriving business here in Des Moines, New Mexico, the place my husband Tim Keller and I have adopted as our home. We've been here over nine and a half years. Each new day is an affirmation of the rightness of our move.

Speaking of Tim, his gorgeous framed archival prints are currently hanging in the gallery. This would be a great weekend to come visit the gallery and take one home with you!

My friend Nancy the nurse stopped in on Tuesday and asked me how Tim & I ended up in Des Moines. She heard the whole story and the telling reminded me of the faith in dreams that brought us to this beautiful landscape. It comes as no surprise to me that so many of the people who live here are blessed with a deep respect for the land and its beauty. Nancy is a relative new-comer too and has been very successful in helping to bring a school-based health center to our town. There is so much opportunity here. It is great fun to be part of a new blooming that is happening in the area.

As you can imagine, part of the bloom involves the arts. The Raton Arts & Humanities Council is one of two local arts councils in our area. Drive 38 miles west of Des Moines to get to Raton, New Mexico, at the crossing of I-25 and highways 64/87. It is a small town of just over 6500 people. There is a bustling arts community which is striving to bring arts-based economic development to our area. They are currently engaged in application for Arts & Cultural District designation for the downtown area. Gaining this status will be a big step towards increased visibility on the arts map. I invite you to visit their gallery in Raton: The Old Pass Gallery. Then come on east to visit me here. I will be here all weekend after which I'll be happy to open by appointment during my winter break.

One last bit of news... I am expanding our regular hours! When we open on January 29th our regular hours will be Thursday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday's noon - 4:p.m. I'm always open by appointment if you are coming through town Monday through Wednesday.

I plan on keeping my blog updated weekly during my break so keep watching for news and cool links to follow... use your browser's back button to return to the post. I'll keep you updated with what I'm up to. Don't forget that I'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment.

Blessings & Beauty,

Christina

Thank you!

Thank you! ~ Thank you to everyone who has had a part in growing Studio C! To all the artists, teachers, students, parents, visitors, customers, performers, suppliers,
advisers, student business consultants, interested professors, family, neighbors and especially this wonderful country where it is all possible! Studio C opened its doors to guests for the first time in May of 2007 to host a poetry book launch for Tim Keller. We've gathered together every month since then on the last Saturday for Live Poetry!, our open mike and performance event. We held Summer Art! classes during the summer months on my days off (I was still working full time for Baca Valley Telephone Company then). All this led us to take the step of creating a gift shop & gallery which previewed last year during the holiday season to great support from all our friends and neighbors here in Des Moines, New Mexico. Thanks to ongoing support for this ArtSpace in the middle of nowhere, I quit my job at the phone company and opened Studio C on March 14th three days a week, regular hours: Fridays, Saturdays 10:00 - 6:00, and Sundays 12:00 - 4:00. We expanded our Summer Art! class offerings and started a new arts and environment conservation summer class series: Places of Wonder. We've been "regular" for just 9 & 1/2 months now and it is a wonderful gift to know that we are headed towards a brilliant future for Studio C!

Last Saturday's Show of Gratitude was marvelous! Sharon Niederman's poetry painted vivid portraits of people she has known. Laughter and recognition spread through our audience as people recognized friends, family and even themselves in the poems. Roni Duran came out with her whole family to read her personalized version of the famous monologue from Shakespeare's Hamlet To Be or Not to Be. Her version is an amazing testament to difficult choices in our youths' lives these days. All of this was preceded by my sister Karyna Cragin's wonderful playing on the African balaphone which inspired a spontaneous standing ovation. Thank you everyone for coming out to Des Moines, bringing delicious food and sharing a meal together here in the gallery. We are all blessed to enjoy creativity, talent and community.

So, the holiday season has begun. What better time to receive and put out new wonderful arts for you to see in the gallery. The cute horse in the photo above made by Amy Caldwell "drinking" from the hand-blown glass bowl (made by her partner Keith Stuart) was here only a short time before going home today with a happy holiday shopper!

What is your gift giving pleasure? What are your holiday traditions? I invite you to share in the comments here. Let's strike up a conversation about this special season. All around the world people are engaged in honoring the great traditions of community and devotion. I love getting to know about the myriad cultural celebrations that are celebrated around the world!

We are thrilled to announce that Tim sold five of his framed archival prints from the gallery during his show. He has just launched his new website: www.timkellerphotography.com. You'll be able to buy prints directly from him. Be sure to visit it as you make up your holiday gift lists.

I'm listening to Little Sharon's Country Cafe right now... another great afternoon of classic country music, history and storytelling on the best local radio station in our area: KRTN Enchanted Air @ 93.9 FM. Check out their morning show: This, That & the Other Monday - Saturday 8:am - 9:00 or longer depending on the visitors who stop in to share their news with the community. It is talk radio at it's best!

I am putting out a call for Holiday art to artists and artisans!

Small Works, Local Flavors ~ A Holiday Show of small works and holiday gifts.
Call or email for details.

Finally, a couple of announcements:

Live Poetry! is changing its name to Live @ Studio C!
It will also be going "off-line" for the next three months. December – February will be “dark” on the last Saturday of the month.
Dark is theatre-speak for: Let’s take a break.

It's time to honor the cycles of creativity. Give your muses permission to dance, play, nap, read, eat good food, experiment with new media, laugh, sleep, watch sad movies… enjoy the rest of a nice long winter sleep… Do whatever it takes to stay cozy and nurture your creativity. Come back in March full of wonderful “stuff” to share at our open mike. The New Year is packed with great entertainment for you. Mark your 2009 calendars' last Saturdays for Live @ Studio C! ~5:30 pm in the gallery starting March 25th.
I'll give you the line-up next week!

So, that wraps it up for this week... a whole lot of thanks and news.... thanks for your comments and for sending people to visit the blog.

Keeping it FRESH!

Christina

Weekend Inspiration @ Studio C

Fall is in the air and the gallery is full of wonderfully weird creations made by students in this summer's Found Assemblage class in our Places of Wonder program, taught by Inge Bobek and sculptures made in our paper-mache sculpture class in our Summer Art! program, which I taught. See what our students created with things found on a day of wandering Rainbow Ranch in Folsom and plain old newspaper and flour paste and paint, all made right here in the classroom at Studio C. I'm still wrangling student work in from the egg painting class. If you're a parent or student reading this letter please call me and let me know when you can come by this weekend to drop off your work. Thanks! We will celebrate the students on Sunday October 12th from 1:00 pm -4:00 pm with a reception for the artists. Please come out to show your support of these wonderful students' creativity!

On the same day we will be holding our first Fall Harvest Festival and Street Fair at Studio C here in Des Moines, New Mexico brought to you by Vital Roads, Studio C and The Farmers & Stockmens Bank. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the fun and even to sell your crafts, art, services, and even your garage sale items... just bring a blanket or table to set up your goods on and plan to man your table.... or just come see what your friends and neighbors have. We'll have games and a costume drawing contest, and start a new community mural and it is FREE! It is the first day of our Harvest Festival Days....The second day to mark your calendars is Saturday October 25th for our Fall Harvest Festival “All Things Pumpkin” Party held at Rainbow Ranch in Folsom, New Mexico from 3pm - 9pm. We'll have more games, food and fun all afternoon and evening. Also, Live Poetry! will be gathering around the campfire that evening at Rainbow Ranch. Everyone is invited to wear your Halloween costume and tell your scary stories in the light of the fire. We may even give out prizes for the most original, scary and best impersonation costumes... let me know if you are interested in this idea!

Thanks to The Farmers & Stockmens Bank for their generous support of this new community event!

I know you don't want to wait that long to come by the gallery though! I have wonderful hand-batiqued, tie-dyed t-shirts that are perfect for these festival fall days. Come by this weekend, mention this email and I'll give you a 15% discount on these wonderful shirts!

Don't forget our Farmer's Market on Sunday. Come by for fresh produce, home baked breads and other goodies brought to you by Sunny of Rainbow Ranch in Folsom. She is here from 10:am - 3:pm and always has a variety of good foods to choose from.

I am just back in the gallery after attending the last day of the Santa Fe International Conference on Creative Tourism where I heard Becky Anderson speak to growing economically through place based creative and harvest based enterprise through trails and tours. She was warm and inspirational. If you are interested in her work check out this website: http://www.handmadeinamerica.org/about/mission.php
I want to thank Ruby Dorsey-Gonzales at Union County Community Development Corporation, Angela Garcia Lucero at The Farmers & Stockmens Bank, and the Village of Des Moines Council for their help getting me to Santa Fe. I'll be reporting back to the folks at UCCDC and will be happy to share my experience with you too. If you'd like to know more about the conference, check out this website: http://www.santafecreativetourism.org/

Studio C is open Fridays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Saturdays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Sundays 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Stop in for a visit and find something wonderful to go home with. Our organic, fair-trade coffee is always fresh and the endangered species chocolate continues to satisfy!

We have free wi-fi for our customers now!

Well, that does it for this week's news... call me if you have questions... or better yet, come by the gallery for a great cup of coffee, some chocolate and a fun place to be.

Thanks again to KRTN: Enchanted Air radio for their generous support!

Be Creative and have Fun!

Christina

Indian Summer Day

Hello!

It is a perfect Indian Summer day here in Des Moines, New Mexico. I am looking forward to a weekend full of fun. There are many new things to see and do here at Studio C ~ArtSpace & Gallery.

I am in the process of hanging our Summer Art! and Places of Wonder student art this weekend so the gallery will be full of wonderful youth art.

Tomorrow evening is Live Poetry! and we are stepping out. Some of us are meeting here and carpooling up to The Mandala Center for the Fall Evening Concert with Randi Whitman, flute; Eileen Terry, piano; and Valerie Powell, soprano. Others will drive directly to The Mandala Center; we are trying to conserve our gas on this outing. We are even picking one of our regular guests up along the way. There is a donation requested for the concert, after which there will be a wine & cheese reception, so bring some cash and enjoy something different while we support another wonderful business in our area.

I am currently fundraising for a new art program at Des Moines Schools called Art Plays Its Part! The normal $3.00 cover for Live Poetry! will again be split 50/50, after proceeds, towards this fundraising effort. Live Poetry! has raised $54.50 with the last two shows so far. We thank you for your generosity and will keep you informed about our goal.

Sunday we hope you will come by for fresh produce, home baked breads and other goodies brought to you by Sunny of Rainbow Ranch in Folsom. She is here from 10:am - 3:pm and always has a variety of good foods to choose from.

Studio C is open Fridays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Saturdays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Sundays 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Stop in for a visit and find something wonderful to go home with. Our organic, fair-trade coffee is always fresh and the chocolate continues to satisfy!

We even have free wi-fi for our customers now!

Come on by and sit a spell!

Thank you for supporting your local economy!

Christina