It's Framed!

I've been doing a lot of traveling lately; alas, my promise to update the blog weekly has not been met. However, I am home now for a while and have lots of news. I thank you, loyal readers and visitors for checking in on me while I was out and about.

I also want to thank Karen Anderson who graciously agreed to reschedule her harp concert to November as the featured act at our upcoming 4th annual Show of Gratitude. Because the Juan Siddi Flamenco Dance Company was bringing their concert to the Shuler Theater I asked her to reschedule so we'd be sure to have a good audience for her. Turns out that several people were indeed planning on coming to hear her and we would have had a good night... However, in hindsight, it appears that it was my deep love of flamenco that was key to the decision to reschedule. I LOVE flamenco and was thrilled to accompany my husband on our 11th anniversary to see this absolutely brilliant show. Tim Keller was reviewing the show and so you can see some of Tim's photos from the show here at his blog.

It's a beautiful New Mexico Indian summer day here in Des Moines New Mexico.... the sun is bright and there is a crisp breeze fluffing the leaves in the trees and on the vines. I'm grateful to call New Mexico my home state and to have such a deep love for the land, weather and people of this enchanted land.

I had a very productive and informative time at the recent New Mexico Arts ArtsLink Conference. It was inspiring to hear experts in the field share their experiences and wisdom. This conference represented another example of the excellent services to art councils, art educators and artists that our state provides through the dedicated work of New Mexico Arts.

New in the gallery~ I've brought home four pieces of newly framed work. Two are awaiting the jurors' decision for the 34th annual International Art Exhibit and Sale coming up in Raton, New Mexico, one is already hanging in its new home in Las Vegas, New Mexico and two currently hang here at Studio C in the main gallery. I started the series in 2003 with photographs and a color pencil drawing. The series of five pastels was begun in 2007 and in 2010 has come to completion. It's been a long journey but the work comes in its own good time. I call the series The Road to Kindness. It's for the journey I'm embarked on as I strive to live my life authentic to my soul's creative voice and the gifts I want to honor.

There's new chocolate! In addition to the endangered species chocolate bars I carry I've added endangered species new line of covered morsels... nuts, berries, toffee and mixes. They have been tantalizing visitors and enriching home-made ice creams too. Yum!

Coming up at the end of September, Live at Studio C! looks to be a wonderful show. We have a spotlight presentation on local history given by Jaecke Hughes-Daniel and will feature the inspiring poetry of George Greco. The evening starts at 5:30 on Saturday September 25th on the eve the 3rd annual Capulin Volcano Run. I'll blog Wednesday about George who wowed our Live Poetry! campfire gathering in 2008, inspiring me so much that this year I asked him to come entertain us. I am thrilled to present him as our featured act.

Coming up soon, just three miles east of Studio C ~Gallery & ArtSpace, at The Mandala Center: International Day of Peace 2010. Studio C offers its sincere thanks to The Mandala Center for bringing a week full of wonderful, inspiring and special events promoting peace in the world to Union County New Mexico. What an amazing opportunity to experience Tibetan Mystical Arts in our neighborhood! A heartfelt welcome to the Buddhist monks and all the visitors, from far and near, who will come to our area to share in the experience.

And this labor day weekend I turn my attention to the west face of Studio C.... the paint cans will be opening soon, beginning phase two of my mural painting process. Having bit off a giant chunk of wall to paint, it will be a huge rush to finally see Galardias in full gargantuan bloom on the gallery. They are blooming now and their bright cheerful native blooms are my muses.

I hope you've enjoyed the news and invite you to prepare to share your talent, inspiration and stories at our open mike on the last Saturday of the month. Send an email to StudioC@bacavalley.com to let me know you want to sign up. I appreciate all who tell friends and family about the fun we have and the magic that happens when we listen to each other in a warm and welcoming circle.

May you experience bliss this weekend!

Christina

Living Large ~ Learning, Listening, Loving & Leaping!

Lightning strikes! I'm ready to listen.

Studio C will host Live @ Studio C! this Saturday starting at 5:30. We'll have our monthly reading from Mrs. Click's "Us Nestors" and our open mike and then take a break to refill our coffee cups, tea glasses and maybe take another slice of banana bread and then we'll turn the stage over to Tim Keller. Tim sent out a humorous email earlier this week promoting his show telling folks that I force him to play every summer as one of our featured acts. Maybe you don't know that Tim was just about to record an album, No Stranger to Wishes, when I first met him... so in my heart he is a musician. The fact that he has turned his creative and artistic expression to writing and photography does not end my admiration for his music. I ask him to take a show each summer and he always accepts. I know you will enjoy this show and look forward to sharing this evening of live entertainment with you.

I'm feeling excited about August coming up. It'll be a busy month with inspiration flowing and art happening. I'm not quite done with the Road to Kindness series but I am excited to report that I've already sold one of the images to a collector of my work.

I'll be spending time at Ponder refilling the well of inspiration. I cherish the time I spend on our place south of Kiowa. The absolute beauty of this land heals my heart and gives free range to my soul.

I've got a new order of luscious Endangered Species chocolate bars coming in this Friday with more coming in next week. Endangered Species chocolates have added a new line of dark chocolate covered nuts and berries... yum!

So many reasons to come by the gallery and spend some time enjoying the creativity of all the artists and artisans showing in the gallery... and a great cup of organic free trade coffee.

August's Live @ Studio C! will be on Saturday August 28th. Karen Anderson will bring her harps for a show she is calling "Cha cha cha!: A World of Dance on the Harp". We'll be going up against The Shuler Theater's presentation of Juan Siddi Flamenco Company. I mention this because I LOVE flamenco dance. But I also LOVE Karen Anderson's harp performance. So it's not that hard to choose. In fact it's really wonderful to have such wonderful choices to make here in the northeastern corner of New Mexico.

And so I leave you with loads of love and leagues of joyous laughter ~for that is good medicine we can always take benefit from.

Leave a comment here at the blog or send an email to StudioC@bacavalley.com.

I'd love to hear from you!

Christina

Bringing in the Light ~ Thank you!

Are we happy now? I am and I hope you are too.

The Thanksgiving holiday was nearly perfect with family coming up to Des Moines, New Mexico to join us for a 24 pound turkey dinner with all the sides... except the green beans which we forgot to make... probably because there was already so much being prepared for the dinner table.

The weekend before Thanksgiving at our final show for the season, Live @ Studio C! ~ 3rd Annual Show of Gratitude, Steven F. Havill and Karen Anderson provided us with a night of mystery and music to remember. Guests made it a night for me to be thankful for as we sold art & chocolate off the walls. Read Tim Keller's review here: page 1 & page 2. Read his recent blog about it here.

It's now well into December and the gallery is filled with wonderful art and new treasures. Our holiday show, Miracles, Milagros & Wunder is up and there is room for more. We got a late start on the call for work but that doesn't mean it's too late. Remember the old saying, It's better late than never. Mom was here for the weekend and brought a new item for the shelves: Helen's Shop Sacks, so we all can quit using paper & plastic, and a sweet collection of international folk art. I'm expecting some Christmas trees, pinon, the New Mexican standard in today. We'll be selling them from the gallery and per order. Jodi is working with me to make this an annual tradition. So there's lots to see this year and to get inspired about for next year.

I've been working to make my studio, behind the gallery here, a place to make art rather than a giant closet. I'm excited to see my current series of pastels: The Road to Kindness is taped up and ready for me to spend time as an artist. My gallery director, accountant, and groundskeeper hats are ready for a break and I'm close to putting on my artist's beret.

That is a good summary of what I have to be thankful for! Lots of wonderful friends, devoted and supportive family, multitudes of creative people, performers and gallery visitors who all contribute to the magic that is Studio C ~ A dream we are all building together.

Last weekend Dana came through town and stopped again to see what we have. She also brought me a jar of the raspberry jam her mother makes. Yum! And yes, I was charmed. Matt from Colorado stopped in again and did some shopping for his daughter and enjoyed the freshly brewed coffee while we caught up.

It's been an amazing journey and now that I have visitors returning it's beginning to feel really grand. The gallery continues to improve, slowly but surely and the visions I have for the future get clearer and clearer. It's such a blessing to have this opportunity to grow a business slowly and with love.

I thank you, dear reader, for keeping up with me here and for spreading the word to help me succeed in the crazy adventure of opening an ArtSpace deep in rural America where the sky and land fill the view and become the heart of the viewer.

Thank you gallery visitors and customers... without you some would say this is just a pipe dream... but hey, those folks aren't here to see the beauty or experience the magic. You art lovers and appreciators make my world rock! Thank you so much for a great year!

Come see the gallery. I'll be open extended hours this month before Christmas. Then we take a winter break for two months. I've not decided about the blog... I may not take a break from it. After all, I wouldn't want to let the google crawler see that the site is dark.... now would I?

Cheers!

Till next week!

Christina