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.

Busines of Art - Art Vita or Ribbons are Important

My painting with the Red Ribbon

I won a Red Ribbon at the Moreno Valley Arts Council Winter Exhibit last night. I was thrilled but more for my friend Laura Holbrook. She won her first only prize - a 1st Place Blue Ribbon for her jewelry.

Jewelry by Laura Holbrook of Juniper Jewels

Robert Wilder Nightingale of Wilder Nightingale Fine Art was the judge for our show. The bio of the judge is important. It was an honor to have Rob as a judge. A visit to his gallery in the heart of Taos or to the linked website is proof of his eye for art.

My friend, Laura Holbrook, had not had the joy of winning a ribbon before. She finished in the money as the saying goes. But more than the ribbon and the check is the ability to add that new line under Awards and Honors on your art vita or biographical sketch. Keeping up your artistic resume is every bit as important as maintaining that portfolio of your work. Some fairs ask for it for press releases, all potential galleries want one, any gallery you are in wants it updated, and it is nice to have it on hand when a publication wants to feature you in an article.

Winning awards and ribbons is one of the reasons for entering exhibits. And art fairs that have awards figure higher in the "which show to apply to" shuffle. But is is also the opportunity to have your work evaluated by a professional in your field and not just by the buyers, though they are really important. I try to enter edgier new work in exhibits and the the Moreno Valley Arts Council Winter Exhibit was a great place to debut my new dark side work. I was very pleased that The Long Walk received a ribbon.

 

 

Judge Robert Wilder Nightingale and best of show piece by Wanda Rodgers