Artistic Vistas and Treasures Trail - Taos Canyon Leg

We didn't have the best of weather for our tour of the Taos canyon studios on the Artistic Vistas and Treasures Art Trail. But perhaps that was what is particularly nice about an art studio tour - the welcome is always warm regardless of the weather. And you can view fine art in a studio whether it is hailing outside or not.

Enchanted Circle Pottery

We were coming from Angel Fire Artspace gallery, the hub of the trail, and so Enchanted Circle Pottery was our first stop in Taos Canyon on US 64. Jo and Kevin DeKeuster were preparing to load up and fire their wood burning kiln. Rolls of green ware waited in the studio to be fitted into the proper spot to maximize the output. Green tags denote the space requirements. Jo does the slab sculptural pieces and Kevin the large hand thrown vases.

Kevin explaining the 40 hour firing process

Jo showing us the gallery

 

And yes, they also do functional pieces for your kitchen in the same wonderful warm earth tones. A great place to stop in and shop.

Alden Sculpture Gallery

The Alden Sculpture is right in the middle of Taos Canyon - 12 1/2 miles from either end but just a mile closer to Taos than Enchanted Circle Pottery.

Alden working studio

Future Victorian Fountain

The studio was full of work in progress. I fell in love with this Victorian couple that will grace an octagon base for a fountain. The separate gallery featured the finished products artfully arranged.

Our last stop before the weather got really bad was the Laurie Hill Phelps Studio just before Taos Canyon opens into the Town of Taos. I always want to append the words And Gardens to Laurie's Studio because in the summer the terraces leading up to the studio are a riot of colorful flowers.

Laurie Hill Phelps Studio

The interior of her studio is no less colorful either. And on this gray snowy day the warmth was most welcome.

Artist Laurie Hill Phelps

We had no sooner gotten into our cars then the storm really hit with high winds and hail. I had planned on stopping on the way back and recording some of the unique sights and vistas in Taos Canyon. I did get one or two when I had to pull over and wait to be able to see well enough to continue my journey. But clearly I need to return when Laurie's flowers are blooming and the huge cotton woods have leaves.

Rural Route

Miner's Cabin

Magpie 63 - The Magic Gone

Photo courtesy of  Magpie Tales

The Magic Gone

She lay for hours entranced

Captive of the couch

And chicken pox

Holding the cardboard tube

To the light from the window.

Twisting this way and that

The magic continued unrepeated

Patterns like rose windows in cathedrals

Flowers, and colored snowflakes

Magical hexagonal entries to other worlds.

Then he came

The whirling dervish of her brother

My turn the monster yelled

Grabbing it from her hands

It flew across the room

Was smashed under his feet

Spilling its magic across the floor.

Just crumpled cardboard

Mirrors and shards of glass

Her magic window

Trashed

Because he could not see.

Jacqui Binford-Bell 

April 2011

Note: A kaleidoscope is a circle of mirrors containing loose, colored objects such as beads or pebblesand bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other end creates a colorful pattern, due to the reflection off the mirrors. Coined in 1817 by Scottish inventor Sir David Brewster, the word "kaleidoscope" is derived from the Ancient Greek καλ(ός) (beauty, beautiful), είδο(ς) (form, shape) and -σκόπιο (tool for examination)—hence "observer of beautiful forms." 

Magpie 62 - Lost

Lost

Brunch with friends

Eggs sunnyside up

Memories dark

Trying to dial in the conversation

And tune out the images.

A childhood tea set

Sent home by a father at war

Pretty miniature china plates

Her mother distraught

Shattered pieces

Of blue and white.

One small plate saved

From the slaughter

Tucked away

Where did it go?

Why did she hate it so?

Sorry, no appetite I guess.

J. Binford-Bell April 2011

Artistic Vistas and Treasures Trail - Binford-Bell Studio

My Studio

Katherine McDermott just finished the video tour of my studio on the Artistic Vistas and Treasures Art Trail South Leg. I of course had to brag a bit about it.



Stop by and see it in person. Sit and enjoy the sun while taking in the art on the walls around you.

Artistic Vistas and Treasures Trail - South Leg

Katherine McDermott and I met at the Angel Fire visitor's center in Frontier Square at the major crossroads in Angel Fire. Our goal was to record the galleries and studios on the south leg of the Artistic Vistas and Treasures Art Trail on what was a beautiful spring day. First stop was the Rupp Gallery.

Carol's White Dog features her paintings on the walls and local potters and jewelers she has hand selected. And of course the white dog - Jimmy.

Carol and Jimmy

The artist's easel with work in progress

From the Rupp Gallery we headed south on State 434 toward Black Lake. The scenery begins to get really beautiful south of Angel Fire so allow time to take photos.

Monte Verde Lake

Our next stop was the Binford-Bell Studio just off 434 behind the Black Lake Winery

Binford-Bell Studio

One of the great things about the Artistic Vistas and Treasures tour is many of the stops are at the studios of working artists. So like the easel at the Rupp Gallery you get to see work in progress and talk to the artist.

Art in various stages of completion

Blue wall at Binford-Bell Sudio

Cozy Tea Corner

After the Binford-Bell Studio we returned to Hwy 434 and headed south to the historic ranching area of Black Lake. This area was settled after the 1862 Homestead act and at one time held some of the largest ranches in the state. The area was used for the filming of the Montana scenes in Lonesome Dove. To get pictures like the one below go just a bit further south on 434. But our studio tour continues on Hwy 120 to Juniper Jewels.

Wheeler Peak from Black Lake

Laura Holbrook's view from the window of her studio

Laura Holbrook and Juniper Jewels is our newest addition to are ever growing art trail. We are happy to have a jeweler of her caliber join us. She won 1st place in the recent Winter Invitational Show.

Blue Ribbon at Juniper Jewels

More of Laura's great treasures

We had a wonderful afternoon exploring the vistas and art and treasures south from Angel Fire to Beyond Black Lake.

Art Sunday - Success with Photography

Been There

Encouraged by friends I entered three photographs in the 2011 Ralph Solano Photography Show and Sale at the Old Pass Gallery in Raton. Been There won second in the amateur exhibit. I don't ordinarily take pictures of old trucks or farm equipment unless they are an adjunct to a landscape. I got out of my sister's Rubicon on our Christmas eve back road trip to record this treasure because it had tank tracks instead of wheels. No photographer goes to the problem of getting out of the vehicle to take just one photograph so I circled and took about 20. This image ended up first on my Epiphany card saying goodbye to 2010. Full title is Been there, done that, have the bullet holes to prove it. That does sum up 2010 quite nicely.

Morning of the Elk

Morning of the Elk was also entered in the show and sold. The strange tale about this one is that I was out on an errand without my camera, saw the elk herd, drove back home, dropped off dogs, picked up camera and returned. They had waited for me. How often does that happen? I think of this photograph as a miraculous gift. The camera comes with me far more frequently now.

Let there be Light

Let there be Light was the easy photo. It is the view out my front door. The sentinel tree gets photographed in all kinds of weather. It has been struck by lightning a few times, is the look out post for ravens and hunting hawks, and marks my location in the world.

My successes in this first outing with my photograph encourages me to try again in another show coming up. Compared to painting it seems easy. And with my studio on the Artistic Vistas and Treasures Art Trail it will be so easy to carry some of my matted and sleeved photographs in the studio. No looking for galleries to represent me. And it is just an adjunct of what I have always done - recorded the world around me for my use and enjoyment.

Mag 60 - Raindrops keep falling

Raindrops keep falling

Raindrops

Simple raindrops

Deadly raindrops

Keep falling

Falling on my greenhouse roof

The thin panes of glass

Between me

My food

And their killing radiation.

Water everywhere

And not a drop to drink.

J. Binford-Bell

April 2011

From Here to Raton

Last Tuesday found me and my friend, Katherine, off to Raton to pick up our paintings from the Old Pass Gallery. Both of us had been invited to be part of the New Mexico Women Artists Invitational Show there in March. And I had photographs to drop off for the amateur division of the Solano Photographic show.

 

Raton is the county seat for Colfax county which is one of the largest counties in New Mexico. Us mountain folk are inclined at times to resent the miles we must travel for jury duty or just simple tax, title or legal business. Especially in the winter when snow is flying. And it does fly in the plains where the buffalo roam, and the antelope play. But we had a fantastic weather day on Tuesday and had planned stops in Cimarron upon our return trip.

Lunch was at the restored historic and haunted hotel, the Saint James. Then it was off to tour the galleries in Cimarron that are on the Artistic Vistas and Treasures Art Trail. My studio is on another leg of that trail. And Taos Canyon galleries on another, so you can expect a tour of those in the near future.

Most of the gems of Cimarron are off the main road that sends tourists through the town. And I will admit to not stopping often when I am forced to run to Raton. But my day in Cimarron means I may plan another with it as my final destination.

 

And on the other side of the road by the St. James Hotel the Old Town Gallery, studio of Sherry Wolf and Steve Knight.

 

That is Sherry Wolf at the door welcoming us. It is hidden behind this quaint little gate which I had to of course record.

Us artists don't always get out and about to see the studio of others. Our familiarity with other artists is often limited to the works that wind up in the same exhibitions or when we are in fairs together. I found it a fantastic experience to walk through and look at the displayed work in the galleries and studios.

Plan a day in Cimarron and check out the historic buildings and museums while taking in the art. I didn't make it to the Aztec Grist Mill Museum and so it is on my list for the next trip east when I take a more leisurely tour of the galleries.