Category: ArtSpace

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Tech Savy and Art: An awkward combination?

So, after a year or so, okay, emphasis on the “so”, I moved my old blogspot blog to this site, en toto.  I did the first steps all by my not so big self, though it did require an hour and some minor cursing from my tech guru husband.  At any rate, it’s done! Wahoos are in order for me, as I left the old blog unattended while I was working on this website. So, for those of you who were following the old blog via RSS, the links in RSS will now bring you right here, and you can even look at the old posts and photos contained in them.

Now, with a few more tweaks, I can return to painting.  Yes, being an artist is hard work. While skill and passion is a known requirement, these days, so is discipline and marketing savy.  Ouch.  It’s a work in process.  Of course.

There will be some notable changes coming here.  While the emphasis of being a gallery has lingered, it will be changing soon, to my personal work. However, there may be “popUP” times when I’m promoting someone else.  We’ll just have to see how it goes. I get it, you follow me for me. For who I am and what I do, and from here, I’m beginning again, starting anew. I hope you’ll come along.  And let me know what you’d like to see?  I’d love that!  Thank you!

 

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Must be Fall

The leaves have just begun to turn. I don’t know how long they’ll last or if they will all turn before they fall, thanks to the early snow we had. For sure the nights are cold enough to turn them all, but we’ll see soon enough. I know it’s fall even without color on the mountains…the gallery is still and quiet.

This evening we (the two galleries) are hosting a private reception for some traveling writers who are vising the area on a “famtour” (familiarization). Following the reception, I’ll join them for dinner. I’m looking forward to all of that, but in the meantime it is really hard to sit here and have the gallery open with me, myself and I to chat with. I already cleaned up from last night’s fourth Friday event, and the gallery looks beautiful, if I do say so myself. I need to paint, but I’m wearing these fancy clothes so I don’t have to go home and change before the reception/dinner. I’m a messy painter, so I won’t risk it.

The Artisan Expo I went to last Sunday was a blast, thought I spent my accumulated wad in a heartbeat. I bought all the supplies I need for the new class that is coming up beginning next week…and then I bought a moderate supply of a brand new product…Ultra Soft Pan Pastel. Check it out here….it’s going to be a blast to play with! (and paint with). I’d probably be getting dirty right now, but they were sold out before i got there. They are shipping me what I ordered…and I can hardly wait!

Guess I’ll go play on facebook for a bit. See ya!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Great way to start the Day!

Wow! Driving to the gallery today I got a great surprise! I mean, I knew it was coming, but didn’t know it was here. So there I am driving along and Wowza! My eyes are caught by the sight of a new and bold billboard! MY billboard! Take a look:I hope its as bold to all the drivers heading down HWY 64 between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire so they’ll turn on to 434 (Mountain View Blvd) and to my Gallery!

YAY!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Been a busy bee this morning!

Rising out of the funk I seem to have been in. Not sure what put me there, but I’m done with that now that I see it. Yesterday was cathartic. I did the laundry, mowed the lawn, pulled the weeds, watered, and trimmed the dead branches from the rose bushes and potentias. I think the winter killed the giant chamisa next to the house…sad about that. I’ll find a way to chop out the dead in hopes the roots will thank me. In the mean time, John and I sat outside on the porch, sipping drinks for the first time this year. The dog (Grace) went for swim in the neighbors pond and we all went to bed last night with a smile and slept! Yahoo! You never appreciate a good nights sleep till you have one after a long spell of being awake from 2am -4am every morning.

Real Spring is finally here (now that the calendar says it’s almost Summer!). The aspen are leafing out with that brilliant chartreuse of spring green. The breeze is finally almost warm and the columbine are a few days from blooming. Ahh.

So this morning, I realized it had been more than a month since I updated my squidoo lenses. Spent a few hours doing that. Check them out: http://www.squidoo.com/katherinemcdermott
http://www.squidoo.com/ArtSpace http://www.squidoo.com/AngelFireNM

We’re still in a quandry what to do about the cell service since T-Mobile lied to us about being able to use their service and now they are cancelling our contract. Talk about bad business!
We’re working with our Village Councilor Stuart Hamilton to try to find a good solution. It’s not just important to us…but to the whole community and to our customers, our visitors and those who own second homes here. It’s a common complaint. “My cell works everywhere but here”. AT&T is apparently our best hope. There is room on a cell tower on the ski mountain….Please, please, AT&T…put your cell on it! I’d bet that the vast majority of cell phone users here would switch in a heartbeat. We (John and I) are not the only ones being cut off by T-Mobile. I know dozens of people in the same boat.

In the mean time, now that my head is out of the fog I’m working on catching up all the web 2.0 stuff, and giving the gallery a thorough once over and cleaning. It smells good too! It’s been completely rearranged. If it’s been more than a few days since you were here, you’ll hardly recognize it! The MVAC’s Reflections show is up till June 22. It looks great! Thanks to all the artists who entered, and congrats to the lucky (skilled) winners! Second Place went to a cool photo by Michael Blassone, from Taos. It was the first time he ever entered a show! Way to go! First Place winner is Jeanne Green, a lovley work on canvas “Reflections of a Coot”. And Best of Show went to our own Jacqui Binford-Bell, for “Past Reflections”, mixed media on canvas. Take a look at that one! It’s Stunning!

Wow, this post has turned into a book! At any rate, Kat is Back! Yay!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Looking up & Forward

Ever have one of those days when everything seems to be against you? The wind blows the car door shut on your leg. You trip over your shadow and the mail you just collected from 5 different boxes goes flying. Once safely esconsed at your desk, you find that the latest blue screen crash made more of a mess than you thought and you can’t open Quickbooks. Nor can you open Corel Draw. In the middle of typing, no words appear, because the batteries in the wireless keyboard have died.

Such has been my day. Beaten? Well, bruised, but not defeated. But I’m too stubborn to give up now. Though these April days are quiet (save the wind), and our locals who sought respite in the warm breezes of destinations further south are just trickling in, I am busy working on preparations for the chaos of summer. Specifically, laying the groundwork for the big events of July.

Progress on the advance work for the Moreno Valley Arts Council’s 26th Annual ArtsFest is nearly complete. The Premier Reception on July 13, will be catered by The Roasted Clove, and Christoff Brownell will make you want to tapp your toes as you wander the booth’s of this year’s juried fine artists from around the southwest. For more info about the Arts Council or ArtsFest, please visit www.morenovalleyarts.org

The big job is getting everything ready for Angel Fire Mountain Theatre. This year the Resort cleaned out the ski school for us (YAY!) since hauling skis, boots and snow boards out and upstairs nearly was the death of me last spring! Ads are placed, housing to arrange, volunteers to coordinate, and on and on and on. We have a great line up shows this season (our 11th) opening on July 5th. Please go to www.angelfiretheatre.org for details.

Then theres the “sprucing up” of the gallery. New Artists, new art. I’ve been rearranging, and though I won’t likely get the floor repainted, it will sparkle when the next Fourth Friday Reception opens at the Angel Fire ArtSpace. If you’re in town, head for the gallery at 5:30 on the 27th for tasty treats, fine art and fun. Did you know that we have literally 100s of items under $100? And I just signed artist number 31! (Yes, I’m out of my mind).

Word is that my video is progressing and ready for a first pass approval next Thursday. I’m really excited about this…it was way fun filming it. Right up my alley, you know. Two disciplines that I love…painting and performing! It makes me smile to think about it.

I just finished another painting on canvas…watercolor. Another Poppy. I couldn’t resist. There’s just something about how they “put it all out there” when they bloom. Here’s a photo of it. I love painting on the canvas. It’s way more versatile than traditional paper…and I’ll finish it with a coat of acrylic varnish to protect it so it can actuall be hung with out a frame. It’s painted around all the edges.

It’s time to close the gallery for the day. Closed, but you can always visit the online gallery. www.angelfireartspace.com Happy painting!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Hello Everyone!

Well, I’ve gone and done it! Perhaps a late bloomer but here goes with the blogging thing. As I type this first post it is snowing like mad…mostly horizontally from all the accompanying wind. April 13th and ooohh for spring time to really arrive! The gallery is quiet, the streets bare sans the blowing snow and ice. Once I press publish, I think I’ll venture out and head home for a quiet evening with husband and dog.

While I’m new at this, I surely have plenty to say….those who know me, know that well. I am an artist, gallery owner and passionate about the arts. My gallery is the only one in this tiny but growing resort town, some 8500 feet in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. This winter (supposedly past, but reluctant to release us from its frosty grip) was a series of blasting storms. Great for skiers? Yes, if they could get here…or get out of their driveways. The first hit dropped some 58 inches and if you were here, you were stuck, if not, you couldn’t get here. Winter roared in like a lion…and hasn’t really been satisfied to a purr…at least not yet. What’s good for the mountain is apparently not good for the gallery. To say it’s been rough would be an understatement. Three weeks in January we were closed simply because no one could get here to open!

More on that later. Time for me to turn out the lights and head for home. If you find this, then please check out my gallery website at www.angelfireartspace.com

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM