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04-19-2006, 02:40 PM
Gallery Features Local Artists
By: Magdalena Reporter
© 2006 SONewMex.com - Reprint Permission Granted

[Editor's Note. When this article was first published, the gallery opening was still in the future. On May 5 the new gallery was opened to a large crowd of roughly 300 visitors, fans and supporters. For details on the opening see our second post about this new gallery below.]

Magdalena may be a bit off the beaten path, but its growing cadre of artists is putting this small town on the map as a vibrant arts community. Now more than a dozen Magdalena artists are banding together to display and sell their works to the public in a new gallery located right on Highway 60.

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Left: Weaver Linda Giesen working at her loom
Right: Potter Lia Lynn Rosen forming a pitcher on her wheel

Set to open in early May, the Magdalena Arts Gallery will offer a wide array of arts and crafts, reflecting the members’ diverse styles, media, and artistic and cultural backgrounds. Artworks for sale, all locally produced, will include paintings, wood carvings, bronze sculptures, photography, glass and metal work, pottery, beadwork, and fiber arts such as quilts, knitting, and hand-woven rugs. Among the gallery’s award-winning artists are Gail Miller, awarded "Grand Champion" at the 2004 Taos Wool Festival for a cape she designed herself and knit using Mill Canyon wool; and Linda Giesen, who earned third place in the 2005 Taos Wool Festival’s rug competition. Vanessa Quinones earned an award at the 2004 Off Center Arts "We Art the People" folk art festival for a mixed-media glass and tin sculpture entitled "Just Folk." Visitors will also see bronze sculptures from Geraldo Kirwin, whose work appears in the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art’s permanent collection.

"The variety and number of artworks presented will be unrivaled in this market," says Harry Kroyer, a woodworker and organizer of Magdalena Arts, Inc. In addition to the regular exhibits of all members’ works, special exhibits will highlight individual artists’ works or common themes across several members’ works. Gallery receptions will bring artists and patrons together for conversation, demonstrations, and sharing of ideas.

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Left: Wood carver Harry Kroyer working on bas relief
Right: Vanessa Quinnones fusing element for glass jewelry with her torch

The Magdalena artists emphasize that this gallery is more than a place to showcase and sell their work. Customers can meet and interact with the artists, who will staff the gallery every day. Many artists will bring their works in progress to the gallery, literally bringing the art to life as customers get a glimpse into the creative process. Linda Giesen, who with Vanessa Quinones is another of Magdalena Arts’ organizers, sees the gallery as "a place where the community and arts intersect."

Bringing these diverse artists’ works together also lets patrons see varied interpretations of common themes and even common materials: several gallery artists use wool and other fiber, for example, from member Shelby Campbell’s Mill Canyon Wools. "Their yarns have such rich, luxurious texture that you rarely find with commercial yarns," says Gail Miller, a fiber artist. She fashions scarves, capes, sweaters and other garments from Mill Canyon yarns, which is processed in town and often includes fiber from locally raised sheep, alpacas, goats, and llamas.

Other fiber artists favoring Mill Canyon fibers include Linda Giesen, Anna Sanchez, and weaver Betty Campbell, who has even built her own looms. "They are modeled after the early Spanish settlers’ ‘walking loom,’" Campbell says. This style of loom has been used in New Mexico since the 1600s. They are indigenous to this area and seldom seen or heard of in other parts of the country."

Magdalena Arts members include Gallery Director Betty Campbell, a fiber artist (weaving, knitting, garment making); Diane Allen, painter (watercolors); Russ Baker, fiber artist (costumes) and pencil drawings; Nicole Beaudoin, tie-dye artist (clothing, Mandalas); Colette Boyer, fiber artist (mini art quilts and sewn objects); Shelby Campbell, Mill Canyon Wool Processing, fiber artist; Bette delGuidice, painter; Linda A. Giesen, fiber artist (weaving, garment making); Laurie T. Gregg, painter, printmaker, paper maker and bookbinder; Geraldo Kirwin, bronze sculpture; Harry Kroyer, carver and woodworker; Tom Mandeville, photographer and painter; S. Gail Miller, fiber artist (knitted garments); Vanessa Quinones, glass artist (lampworking and fused glass) and pen and ink drawings; Lia Lynn Rosen, potter and ceramic artist; and Anna Sanchez, fiber artist and beadworker.

The Magdalena Arts Gallery, located at 604 W. Highway 60 in Magdalena, will be open daily from 9:30 to 4:30. For more information, contact Gallery Director Betty Campbell at 505-854-2729 or magarts@gilanet.com (magarts@gilanet.com).

webmaster
05-08-2006, 07:04 PM
Magdalena Gallery Launch is "Smashing Success!"
By: Socorro Reporter
© 2006 SONewMex.com - Reprint Permission Granted

It was Friday May 5. The long awaited day had arrived. After months of hard work, struggle and frustration the new Magdalena Arts, Inc., Community Art Gallery was finally ready to be to be launched. Everyone waited with bated breath... Would anyone show up? Would it be a busy evening or a slow one? And for those who did come, what would they think?

It didn't take long to answer those questions. By 6:00 p.m. every available nearby parking spot was taken and the line waiting for snacks, drinks and hors d' oeuvres had already gotten long. As the evening went on it provided a constant parade of art lovers, fans, and well-wishers from Magdalena and throughout Socorro County and the valley who wandered in -- in groups of 2 to 5 -- to enjoy the art and the new gallery space. By the time the doors closed late that evening at least 300 and probably more well-wishers had wandered through the gallery, saying nice things, enjoying the exhibits, oooohing and ahhhhing at the impressive collection of art the artists had assembled and -- most importantly -- pulling out their wallets and purses to actually buy art too.

Jewelry was popular. Rugs and wall art were too. Tye-dyed t-shirts also seemed to do well. We saw no bronze sculptures sell. But bronze is an expensive medium to work in and those inclined to buy such art are likely to be slower to shell out the prices involved. All in all, there were definitely sales made -- and quite a few of them too. But it did look to us like most of the artists were not disappointed.

Of course, the artists will be the final judges; but based on what we saw, this reporter calls the gallery's opening a smashing success. No one seemed unhappy by what they found as they enjoyed the collected work of over a dozen talented artists. The artists didn't seem disappointed either.

The selection of art was impressive. The space was creatively and tastefully decorated. After all what could one expect from a group of creative artists? Perhaps most important ... we didn't hear a single negative word or remark all evening -- or since for that matter (it's our job to listen for such things) -- about anything the group had done with their new gallery. In short, we had the distinct impression everyone present felt the group had done a great job.

Frankly, we agree. Indeed, we're betting Magdalena Arts, Inc. and the group of artists that joined hands to create it has found a winning formula that will serve the Magdalena Arts Community well in the months and years ahead.

So, for our part, Steppin Out has decided to call the gallery's launch a "smashing success". We congratulate Magdalena Arts, Inc. on a highly successful gallery launch.

We warmly wish the member artists and their jointly-owned corporation the best as they boldly go where no Magdalena arts group has gone before. Our sole concern is that the devil is in the details here. We hope the members of the group are able to continue to cooperate, compromise and work together toward their common goal of promoting Magdalena as an art marketplace It will naturally be hard for so many talented and creative people to continue working together amicably. It was already evident on Friday that the new gallery is more than the sum of its parts. That shows the group's cooperation and collaboration has already produced synergy. They have made a commendable start and we wish them well in their endeavor.

If you did not get a chance to drop by and browse the new gallery during their opening, make sure to do it soon and do it often. There's no question. You'll enjoy the visit and you might just find that perfect piece of art you've been seeking for your home or office. One thing is certain. You're not likely to walk away with sticker shock. The prices we saw seemed quite reasonable for the quality of products offered. Most important this home-grown group of art entrepreneurs deserves your support and your best wishes too.

For those who missed the festivities of the new gallery's opening Steppin' Out has created a gallery of 40 photos which attempts to capture some of the excitement, the magic, the fun and the craziness that prevailed on Friday evening, May 5. As you'll see, the artists "did good" and their invited guests seemed to thoroughly enjoy the evening as well.

Visit our Magdalena Artists Gallery by clicking here (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/pp-514/showgallery.php/cat/565).