Giving the Gift of New Mexico Art on a Budget This Holiday Season

As Seen on 2 KASA Fox "New Mexico Style"

Colorful  reclaimed wood and metal pieces
Ghost Town Furniture

Well, it's the holidays and times are still tough for most people.  Have you ever wanted to give art as a holiday gift but weren't sure where to start, where to go or what to buy?  Art can sometimes feel intimidating.  It shouldn't be, if you keep my number one piece of advice for buying art in mind--buy what you like!  Some galleries may try to convince you that it is important to buy for investment.  For most, though, who don't plan to buy a Picasso or Kandinsky, value is less important.  True, many artists' work will appreciate, but in a bad economy, you may not get your investment back if you decide to sell it. That's why it's even more important to buy something that speaks to you or something that your loved one will enjoy.  After all, you or someone will have to live with the piece day in and day out. It may even become a treasured family heirloom! 

With artists and galleries struggling, it is even more important to buy your art locally.  Every community is blessed with terrific artists, and New Mexico cities are no exception. Often times, people will spend upwards of $200 for framed prints by famous artists at the local hobby shop.  Did you know that for the same price or less, you can give a one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays in the form on original art made by a local artist?

New Mexico has some amazing original art that is available both directly from the artists themselves and galleries.  My experience as a New Mexico resident has allowed me to see a wide array of art. That's the reason I decided to put together my own comprehensive holiday gift guide featuring great art for people shopping on a budget.   From functional art to traditional Native American, contemporary and wearable art, I hope you find my picks as exciting as I do!

Functional Art:

Functional art is the kind of art that we can live with, enjoy, and use in our everyday lives.  Furniture is a great example.  Ghost Town Furniture in Nob Hill is one of the best purveyors of rustic furniture in the Mexican style in Albuquerque. Claudio Cruz and his family create beautiful pieces made from reclaimed wood and metal.  Pieces include colorful chairs for $135, this ranch shelf for $240,  nichos for $125 and holiday angels for $18 for small ones and $58 for the larger ones.

Ranch shelf
Ghost Town Furniture

Reclaimed wood and metal angels
Ghost Town Furniture

Micaceous serving bowl by Clarence Cruz
Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo potter Clarence Cruz creates beautiful functional pottery out of black and gold micaceous clay.  From bean pots to stew bowls to ollas, Cruz's work is stunning and can actually be used to cook and eat from because of the properties of the micaceous clay and the firing process involved with making the pottery.    Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery in Old Town carries a wide array of Clarence Cruz's functional pottery.  This is a wonderful idea for a holiday party hostess gift. It's a serving bowl that will only set you back $75.

Native American Art:

When it comes to buying Native American art, do your research and know the dealer from whom you are buying it.  Only reputable dealers will represent the art they sell as made by Native Americans.  Native art sales are highly regulated by the government.   Bob Andrews of Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery in Albuquerque's Old Town knows a thing or two about Native American art since he has been selling it for 38 years and you know that when you buy from Bob Andrews that it is going to be authentic.

Dreamcatcher  by Carrie Lucero

I really love the traditionally made dreamcatchers made by Carrie Lucero, who is a member of the Onondaga Tribe of the Iroquois Nation.  Did you know that the circle is not a traditional form? It came about when artists started using metal hoops to make them. Carrie utilizes natural wood with organic materials ranging from horse hair to quartz crystals to shells and feathers.  She also handwrites booklets that are attached to the dreamcatchers, which give the meanings of all of the materials.  This dreamcatcher painted black is available at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery for $62.

White marble and black jet bears
by Herbert Halate
Andrews Pueblo Pottery &Art Gallery

If you live in the Southwest, you are, no doubt, familiar with festish carvings from Zuni Pueblo. While it is forbidden to sell true fetishes that are used for religious purposes, many artists such as Herbert Halate, create fetish carvings that can be sold.  Pieces such as these bear carvings cut from jet and white marble are essentially miniature sculptures and are the perfect gift for those who love bears or sculpture. Both are available at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery for $69 and $95 respectively.

Contemporary Art:

"Our Lady of Sorrows" by Nicholas Herrera
Legends Santa Fe

 If finding affordable art by top contemporary Native American artists is your thing, look no further than Legends Santa Fe, a gallery that specializes in Native art and regional non-Native artists. On November 25, Legends Santa Fe opened its "Holiday Small Works" show offering pieces in the $300 to $1000 range by its roster of artists.  Famed non-Native American New Mexico artist Nicholas Herrera created "Our Lady of Sorrows" for the show. It's priced at $450, which is a bargain for this artist whose work is found in museums around the world.

"Untitled" by Frank Buffalo Hyde
Legends Santa Fe

Cool Nez Pierce and Onondaga Native artist Frank Buffalo Hyde created this awesome untitled piece featuring the Bat Mobile for the exhibition. It is currently selling for $300.  For more information on the show and the gallery, visit www.legendssantafe.com.

Day of the Dead ornanments by Amber Middleton
Mariposa Gallery

One of my favorite galleries in New Mexico is Mariposa Gallery in Albuquerque's Nob Hill. Since 1974, the gallery has been carrying funky and fabulous local art. Local artist Amber Middleton creates these cool Day of the Dead paper clay ornaments. They're not what you usually think of when it comes to the holidays, but they're quintessentially New Mexico and will make a wonderful addition to your holiday tree. They come in smaller and larger sizes ranging from $40-$45 in price.

Ariela Boronat is a Cuban-born, Santa Fe-based artist who creates beautiful mixed-media paintings that are based on her travels around the world.  Her works, which can be found in private collections around the world, can run upwards of $300.  This holiday season, Ariela is creating pieces such as "Musical (11" x 14")" priced at $175 and "Old Memories (8" x 10")" $85, a great way to make her work affordable.  They are available at www.arielaboronat.com.

"Musical" by Ariela Boronat
www.arielaboronat.com

"Old Memories" by Ariela Boronat
www.arielaboronat.com

Wearable Art:

Earrings by Priscilla Aguilar
Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery

Turquoise earring are a staple in New Mexico. Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery features gorgeous inlay earrings made by Kewa Pueblo jeweler Priscilla Aguilar.  Andrews carries a variety of colors and designs.  These earrings are authentic and are a steal at $165.

If you're in the market for wearable art, check out Studio 13 in Albuquerque's Old Town.  Owner and artist Daniel Ramirez, who is Saginaw-Chippewa creates original art on clothing based on his art.  Daniel is currently working on "The World's Longest Native American Painting," which features prominent tribal women, who are constants in his work.  While $800 to $5000 paintings are not in most people's budgets, prints can be had for around $18 to $95 and cards sets cost $28.  Original painted clothing such as the t-shirt below featuring a basic design ($40) are great affordable statement pieces. Cost is determined by clothing item and complexity of the art. Visit Studio 13 in Old Town in person or online HERE.

"Women of the Four Directions" by Daniel Ramirez
Studio 13

Original wearable art by Daniel Ramirez
Studio 13

Bra Shrinky Dinks ring by Kris Mills
Mariposa Gallery

When I was a kid, Shrinky Dinks were all the rage. Today, local Albuquerque artist Kris Mills creates miniature graphite drawings on Shrinky Dinks before baking them.  Then she sets them in silver making pendants, cufflinks and exciting rings like this "Bra" ring available at Mariposa Gallery in Nob Hill.  This is a unique and affordable gift at $135.  www.mariposa-gallery.com.

Men are often hard to shop for. For the man who appreciates unique and sleek jewelry, why not give him this tufa cast cuff bracelet and ring by Kewa Pueblo artist Dino Garcia.  The bear claw and tulip designs are traditional,  but they can be incorporated with the fashion-forward wardrobe and can be worn together or separately.  The cuff is $225 and the ring is $90. Both are available at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery. www.andrewspp.com.

Tufa cast cuff and ring by Dino Garcia
Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery

Street sign money clip by Peter Gilroy
Mariposa Gallery

For the man who hates a cumbersome wallet, give him this one-of-a-kind street sign money clip made by Northern New Mexico artist Peter Gilroy.  He retains the original patina of the signs that he uses in his work, but makes them cool and bold by polishing the sides and backs.  This is definitely not your grandfather's money clip, and it's a bargain at $50. Available at www.mariposa-gallery.com.







(*Paul Niemi is a compensated spokesperson for all of the products and services contained within this gift guide)

Get Ready to Shop and Stroll in ABQ's Nob Hill

If you are going to be in the Albuquerque Area, be sure to stop by Nob Hill to participate in the 2011 Nob Hill Holiday Shop and Stroll. 

The mission of the Nob Hill Main Street and the colorful annual event is to "promote the revitalization of Albuquerque's historic Nob Hill District through education, historic preservation, beautification, and promotion of community and civic pride."

Nob Hill galleries, retailers and restaurants will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 1 to entice shoppers to get into the holiday spirit and spend, spend spend!

So, get a head start on your holiday shopping in Nob Hill! For more information visit http://www.rt66central.com/shopandstroll.html.

Photographer Ray Belcher Returns to Santa Fe Art Scene with First Solo Show in Ten Years

To the average person, the name Ray Belcher is not familiar, but for art collectors and Santa Fe art insiders, the name is synonymous with New Mexico photography.  Having garnered several artistic awards during the 1960s and 70s, the artist arrived in Santa Fe from California during the mid-1970s.  While he began his photographic journey developing pictures for actors, Belcher has made his name as one of the few photographers who still utilizes the black and white gelatin silver printing process. Belcher's fascination lies in the mystery of the absence of color.

"Black and white is challenging because you don’t necessarily know what colors are.  Black and white lets you get a result which captures what you were feeling at the moment that you took the picture," says Belcher. 

While his photography exhibits an absence of color, it is Belcher's absence from the New Mexico art mainstream for an entire decade that has been on the artistic community's mind.  While Belcher's work has appeared at sporadic times in various Santa Fe galleries, it isn't until now that he has resurfaced with the intent of reclaiming his spot as one of Santa Fe's photographic geniuses.  "I am ready to reclaim my connection to my work and continue on as an artist, "he said.  "I am looking forward to the opportunity to show a broader range of art reflecting my interests."

On December 2, Belcher will open his first solo show in a decade at Legends Santa Fe.  The exhibition entitled "Castles and the Sky" will feature never-before-seen works featuring his favorite subjects—the Galisteo, New Mexico skies and remnants of film location sets dating back to the 1980s as well as rare portraiture.

Belcher admits that while the subject matter is broad, perhaps an overall unifying theme might be that the quality of the printing of all the pieces shown are on par with each other. Belcher is a stickler for capturing an image that reflects exactly what he saw at the moment of snapping the photo.  His artistic defiance results in a painstaking developing process, in which Belcher may find two out of ten prints acceptable.

"As to the overall unity of the show, I am uncertain," Belcher said.  "While I don't know what the show in totality will convey, my hope is that it will allow people to focus on the subject or a feeling of their choice."  Belcher's hope is that the spectator will discover something completed unexpected in his photos--perhaps something that he didn't see or even mean to convey.  Regardless, Belcher contends that "storytelling is inevitable in a photograph."

"Castles and the Sky" will open on Legends Santa Fe on December 2 with an artist's reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will run through the month of December.  Legends Santa Fe is located at 125 Lincoln Avenue.  For more information call 505-983-5689 or visit www.legendssantafe.com.

Taking a Walk Off the Beaten Path with Taos Potter Camille Bernal

Part of the fun of SWAIA Indian Market is seeing what's going on and off of the Santa Fe Plaza.  As a matter of fact, most stores and galleries have something going on that rides on the coattails of Indian Market.  On Saturday, I stopped into Keshi, a Native American art cooperative gallery, to see a friend and discovered the pottery of Taos artist Camille Bernal.

While Bernal uses traditional means to create her work, the end result is anything but traditional. As a matter of fact, her work is a tribute to ancient Egypt, Japan and Mesoamerica.  Her favorite subjects are insects and floral patterns.  She also favors shapes that deviate from the traditional "perfection" of pot shapes as one usually sees in Pueblo pottery.  Her deep, bold incised designs are very intriguing and beautiful.

While Bernal has never applied to have a booth at Indian Market, she is a regular at the Native Treasure show that takes place in Santa Fe every spring.  When she is not appearing there, her work can regularly be found at Keshi and online at http://www.keshi.com/.

Camille Bernal made time between talking with her admirers at her first one woman show at Keshi to talk about her pottery.  Watch my VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE:

Sur-Mound-ing Obstacles For Artistic Exploration with Public Donations

A greater awareness of ancient mound builder sites in the United States exists, especially amongst artists who use indigenous iconography in their work. But, do they really understand the meaning of the symbols they represent?

Two Native American art scholars and artists will explore ancient burial mounds in the United States to do just that--gain understanding.

What if you could help them? Well, it's funny because now you can. On Saturday, September 10, America Meredith, Swedish-Cherokee painter and great, great niece of legendary cowboy and actor Will Rogers, and Choctaw-Hopi artist Linda Lomahaftewa will take off on an amazing journey through the ancient Southeastern Woodlands.

The purpose of the trip is to connect with the lands of their people that they have heard about all of their lives. The two artists will also sketch and photograph approximately twenty mound sites, which will become subjects for works in two exhibitions--one at Tribes 131 Fine Art and Gift Gallery in Oklahoma and another at Ahalenia Studio in Santa Fe in May 2012. The photographs will also be posted online for other educators and artists to use in their research.

Now through September 27, you can help these ladies fulfill their passion by donating as little as a dollar to their cause on the Exploring Ancient Southeastern Woodlands project site located on Kickstarter.com.  You can also follow America and Linda as they post updates about their journey.

Watch a video interview with the artists/educators HERE:

2011 SWAIA Indian Market: Layering the Past in Beads with Emil Her Many Horses

Every year at SWAIA Indian Market, it seems that I am fascinated by another genre. This year, it was bead and quillwork. Having discovered this past year that my heritage may very well include an Eastern Woodlands tribal background probably has something to do with it. Additionally, the artistic vision and discipline of these artists is amazing to me. Naturally, I was instantly drawn to the work of Emil Her Many Horses.

When Emil is not working full-time as a curator at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., he spends the remainder of his day working on stunning pieces of art for Indian art markets around the country including SWAIA Indian Market.  Born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, Emil is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe.  He began learning bead and quillwork when he was in junior high school. He saw an item that he wanted to purchase, but could not afford it, so he decided to make it instead. By enlisting tribal women to work patiently with him until he, in their estimation, had exceeded the quality of their work, he mustered the confidence to secure his fate as an artist.

Emil finds nontraditional “exotic” items that made their way onto reservations in bygone days fascinating. As his submission piece for the 2011 SWAIA Indian Market, and in celebration of the work of his predecessors, he chose to transform a vintage phonograph by decorating the horn with beads in the Eastern Sioux floral style.  It is inspired by a similar phonograph found in the Denver Art Museum which is rendered with porcupine quills.

He was kind enough to talk to me about his work, how he learned bead and quillwork, and how what was once considered to be women’s work was ultimately embraced by men as well.

Watch my interview with Emil Her Many Horses HERE:



Laura Cardenas: Putting the 'Arte' in Jewelry Design

If you live in the Phoenix, Santa Fe, or Albuquerque areas, you might be familiar with the jewelry of designer Laura Cardenas.  She started her company ArteSania five years ago after she began making jewelry for herself that appealed to her own sense of style.  Since then, she has been taking the art show circuit by storm with her beautiful chunky bracelets, pendants and rings inspired by her native Ecuador. From shells to indigenous stones to horsehair weavings encased in sterling silver, designs by Laura Cardenas inspire and bring the natural beauty of South America to admirers of her jewelry.  Her work is carried by galleries throughout the United States and South America as well as online at http://www.artesaniajewelry.com/.

She is definitely one of my favorite jewelry designers, and now you can have the opportunity to get to know her personality and work. I caught up with her at the Labor Day art show that takes place every September on Santa Fe's historic Plaza. 

Check out my interview with Laura Cardenas HERE:



2011 SWAIA Indian Market: Doll Maker Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty

Detail of Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty's Award-Winning Piece

Every year at SWAIA Indian Market, I have a new favorite artist.  This year it is is Assiniboine Sioux doll maker, bead and quill worker Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty. In addition to her breathtaking art work, Juanita is also one of the nicest people I've ever met.   It was by chance that I ended up at her booth at the 2011 SWAIA Indian Market, and she warmly welcomed me under the white tent to talk to me about her work and her family's history participating in Indian Market.  She has been juried into the show for the last 26 years, and is a protege of her award-winning mother and collaborator Joyce Growing Thunder.



Joyce Growing Thunder

This year, Juanita won "Best of Division" and "First Place" in the "Diverse Arts" category for her soft sculpture Native American riding a horse adorned in full regalia.  She was so kind to let me film her piece, photograph it in detail and talk to me about what went into making this award-winning exquisite work of art.

Watch my interview with Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty HERE:

2011 SWAIA Indian Market: The Unreserved Jemez Pueblo Potter Glendora Fragua

If you want to laugh your butt off, spend a few moments with contemporary Jemez Pueblo potter Glendora Fragua.  Her sense of humor is on par with her talent, and her style is constantly morphing.  And people have been taking notice. As a matter of fact, many Mata Ortiz potters have been trying to reproduce her floral and insect designs, but they don't compare to the real thing. 

Fragua, began making pottery at age 16.  She was brought up in the Bay area, but moved to Jemez Pueblo when she was in her teens. Adjusting to "rez" life was not easy for the urbanite, but she did learn how to work with the Native clays and has done a fantastic job coming into her own as a Pueblo potter.  Her personal style and dynamicism as a person and artist have made her one of the biggest stars on the Native American art show circuit.

For the last two years, I have wanted to interview Glendora about her pottery, but for one reason or another it hasn't happened until now. I'm thrilled that she finally had the time during a lull at her 2011 SWAIA Indian Market booth to talk briefly to me. 

Watch my interview with Glendora Fragua HERE:

Uncle Paulie Presents New Artist Interviews from 2011 SWAIA Indian Market

"New Mexico Style" Takes the Mystery Out of Pueblo Potting with Kathleen Wall of Jemez

The media is starting to sit up and take notice of the newer generation of Native American artists that has been emerging for some time, and rightly so .Its contingency consists of some of the finest artists in the world, not just the Indian world.  They are taking the traditional and putting their own signature spin on centuries-old styles which helps Native American art to evolve as it always has.

Kathleen Wall of Jemez Pueblo is one such artist. She is a potter, bronze sculptor and installation artist.  She will be one of more than 1100 juried artists participating in the 2011 SWAIA Indian Market, which will be taking place on Santa Fe's historic Plaza this coming weekend.  Known for her whimsical Koshari clown sculptures and masks, Wall also loves to create larger clay sculptures of traditional dancers as well as depict lives in various Native American cultures.

The IAIA- (Institute of American Indian Art) trained artist made an appearance this morning on KASA Fox 2's "New Mexico Style" in Albuquerque to talk about her work, explain the clay sculpting process and talk about her collaborative workshop that will begin at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on August 29.  For more information about the workshop, contact the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center directly at 505-212-7052.

Watch the interview with "New Mexico Style" hosts Nikki Stanzione and Kristen VanDyke HERE:

http://www.kasa.com/dpp/nm_style/features/potting-101-from-jemez-pueblo



Albuquerque Journal Celebrates Laguna Potter Max Early's Comeback & Family Legacy

Everyone loves a good story.  Today, the Albuquerque Journal released a terrific article by David Steinberg about Laguna Pueblo potter Max Early.  It's all about how he dropped out of pottery making for a while to go back to college to get his bachelor's degree at age 48, how his big comeback to SWAIA Indian Market last year with a new concept didn't happen, and how this year he finally made it happen.  Proud of his accomplishments, Early is equally proud of his son Alan Early who received a young artist fellowship from SWAIA this year. The two will share a booth at Market, which marks SWAIA's 90th year.

Read the Arts section cover story in the Albuquerque Journal HERE:

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011/08/14/living/arts/clay.html

Watch a video interview from last year's "The ROAD to Indian Market" series HERE:

WHY THE "ROAD TO INDIAN MARKET" IS PAVED WITH GOLD

Yesterday, my friend and sometimes client Kathleen Wall did an interview with the national radio program "Native America Calling." During her chat, she talked about the electric energy that happens every year during SWAIA Indian Market. She also talked about the fact that Native people make the Southwest a particularly special place. I totally agree. Upon returning to New York in late June, I was going to write a blog with a similar theme as this one, but it didn't leave my fingers naturally and I didn't want to be disingenuous. I think maybe this is what I wanted to say with some perspective thrown in after trying to reconnect with New York this time around.

The reality is that two and-a-half years ago when I left New York for Albuquerque, New Mexico, I had no idea how much I was going to be changed by one place.  New York, in the many years I lived there, changed me--I grew up a bit, learned what I didn't want in life, learned what I do want in life.  New Mexico taught me how to love life.  Sure, in all its third-worldesque ways of working it was frustrating and it made me aggressive at times, but truthfully you will never be in a place that is more about sharing than New Mexico. 

The other day, I had a conversation with a dear friend who lives on the West Side of Albuquerque, and we agreed that one of the most special things about our lives in particular is that we get to be surrounded by art 24/7 and that our Native American artist friends would give us the shirt off of their backs.  Most of them struggle even more day to day, so that's saying a lot about them.  The concept of sharing--at the level that Native Americans do--is essentially lost in mainstream culture, and if people do it, they mostly do it to be politically correct.  Native Americans share because it is their nature.  Every year, they openly welcome people into their homes during feast days, and some are even willing to share on a deeper level about their tribes, culture and language.  I respect both instances of sharing and would never do anything to exploit the sacred knowledge that I have.  It comes with much responsibility to a people who are are walking the edges of two worlds that in these contemporary times seem to both be confusing and difficult. 

As SWAIA Indian Market approaches next weekend (August 20-21), I am thinking about how grateful I am to be able to attend again this year. I miss the sharing and that is important to me.  At my age I crave things grounded in reality--being around those I love, staying mentally and physically healthy and getting to share as well. New York City is a city of ambition and people don't typically share unless there is a price. Circumstances seemed to be leading me in another direction, but then all changed, and my original plan to return to New Mexico before Market reasserted itself. I'm thrilled!

Take away the politics, the egos and the competitveness of many people involved with Indian Market, it is truly a spiritual experience.  Nowhere else can you have the opportunity to talk with so many down-to-earth, incredibly talented artists and have the opportunity to make friendships with them that will last a lifetime.  That is what Indian Market is to me, and I have been so blessed to have had many incredible experiences in the time that I have lived in the Southwest.  If one could only have nine lives that included terrific experiences during Indian Market and getting to know Native artists in general, I have had at least ten or eleven!

It's nice to know that while humanity seems bogged down in politics, the stock market, and general survival, we can look to Native Americans, who have been survivng for centuries and still live among us with the same ingenuity, open-heartedness and wisdom that they have always had.  Perhaps we can look to their art and their culture to solve some of our own problems.  That is why the Road to Indian Market is paved with gold.  To all my wonderful artist friends, I love you and best of luck at the 2011 SWAIA Indian Market. Happy working!

Seventeen Year-Old NYC Entrepreneur Starts Company That's Got Style & Giving Back in the 'Bag'

Personal style comes in many forms, and kids love to get into the act by creating distinctive accessory items that define who they are. At first Taylor Greenberg Goldy, now a 17 year-old high school senior in Manhattan, decorated tote bags and stuffed them with gifts. She then donated the bags to hospitals where children were being treated for cancer. Last year, at the Strike Out Pediatric Cancer Bowl-A-Thon, which her brother organized to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Greenberg Goldy worked with more than 60 volunteers to create 200 of her colorful bags. Once the bags were decorated and stuffed, she distributed them to children in local hospitals.

Soon the young entrepreneur realized that she could start her own company and sell kits that would enable other kids to design their own bags and raise money for charity at the same time. “Kids love to be creative and have something that no one else has,” said Greenberg Goldy. Thus, the Design-A-Bag craft kit was born, along with her company Charitotes of which she is now the President.

Design-A-Bag craft kits, which will officially be available in October, will come with a plain white canvas bag, stickers, stencils, a sketchbook, crayons, fabric markers and other materials that children can use to design their own tote bags. As part of the full roll-out of the product, the always on-her-toes Greenberg Goldy will offer a 12-pack kit that parents can use as favors for kids’ holiday and birthday parties as well as Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs.

What’s a girl to do when she wants to create a cool product that’s not only perfect for kids and tweens, but one that provides the younger set the opportunity to give back to others? In addition to the creation of her fashion-forward and environmentally-friendly gift item, Greenberg Goldy thought it was important to donate part of the profits to a cause close to her heart – the fight against pediatric cancer. As a result, 10% of sales from the kit will be donated to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

“Every day more and more gift items come into the marketplace, but do they really enrich our lives?” said Greenberg Goldy. “It is becoming more and more commonplace in our society to educate kids that it is better to give than receive. My goal was to develop a stylish product that was not only fun and creative for kids, but that would help someone else with every purchase. I can’t think of a more worthy cause than the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.”

Now at every party where Design-A-Bags are present, kids will learn that the true celebration is in helping others!

Design-A-Bag craft kits will be available for the suggested retail price of $20 and will be available for purchase starting October 1 at http://www.charitotes.com/. Greenberg Goldy is hopeful that the tote bag craft kits will be available at retailers nationwide by next year.

In the meantime, if you are attending the 2011 New York International Gift Fair, which will take place at the Jacob Javits Center from August 13-18, stop by booth #30004 to see samples and talk with Taylor Greenberg Goldy.

Spanish Art is Family Affair at Legends Santa Fe

For three Arizonians, making art is a family affair.  All working in the Classical style, R.M. Gurule does the sculpting and his wife Charmaine does the painting.  Craig Gurule also paints.  The trio of artists will have their skills showcased in Master Family: The Works of R.M. Gurule, Charmaine Gurule and Craig Gurule during Santa Fe's 2011 Spanish Market weekend at Legends Santa Fe located at 125 Lincoln Avenue near the historic Plaza.

From señoritas dancing flamenco and ballet folklórico, to matadors and Conquistadores in strong stances, Spanish culture will come to life for three days at Legends Santa Fe.  The show will open on Friday, July 29 with an artists' reception from 5:00 pm -7:30 pm.  It closes on Sunday, July 31. For more information visit the gallery online at http://www.legendssantafe.com/.  ¡Que vive el arte español!

A Homecoming of Sorts

Last Wednesday afternoon, my flight landed at New York's LaGuardia airport.  The days leading up to the trip had been hellatious since I was having to put all of my things into storage.  It was sad to have to pack up all my Pueblo pots and art collection to make the journey eastward from New Mexico. For the first time, the path chose me instead of the other way around.

This is the third time I am returning to New York City.  The first was in 2003, then again in 2005.  From my first arrival in the Big Apple in 1997 at the age of 27, I always felt like an outsider.  Let me correct that...I knew I was an outsider, but like all people who give New York a shot, wait it out and find relative success, I found my way.  In spite of of the ten plus years I spent in the City, my successes never seemed successful enough, so I left.

As a six-month-old baby, I was put up for adoption.  From childhood on I always felt a disconnect with history.  In front of me (in my mind's eye) was blackness and then a line that started with me. I figured I was the one that had to make the line great since there was no one behind me.  I'm childless, so there is no one after me either.  So, there I was standing alone in "line" waiting to see where I would go next. 

Late last year, I found my biological family.  While I was thrilled to find out that I have a number of cool nieces and nephews and was able to begin having friendships with my biological half-sisters, I was more excited to find out the family history, which made the brown and brittle pages of old biographies come alive for me.  As it turns out, not only do I descend from royalty and nobility, once in the New World, my ancestors were East Coasters, many of whom settled in the New York area in Pre-Revolutionary years.   These family members became very prominent citizens with links to Presidents and high-ranking officials.  My adoptive mother even discovered on Ancestry.com that one of my ancestors settled in Flushing, New York in the 1700s. This is ironic because I too settled there both times I lived in the City.

So, on Wednesday, as we landed, I took in the brownstones below and the skyline on the far horizon and realized that this arrival in New York is a homecoming of sorts.  While I have been previously successful, I feel that the horizon I saw out of that tiny portal holds something even more unimaginable for me.  Feeling filled up full, suddenly, the blackness is light and the players take their places for a new drama to unfold.

New Paintings by Frank Buffalo Hyde and Ryan Singer Make Contact with Humans in 'Para-Native Activity' on June 3

The public’s interest in the unexplained is as old as Humanity itself. Every generation, as if through osmosis, embraces the paranormal—from Bigfoot to “Nessy” the Lochness Monster, to Mothman and the speculated alien crash in Roswell, New Mexico. These are the stories that titillate and give us reason to believe and propagate the existence of these cultural legends.

In a refreshing departure from typical contemporary Native American art fare that many aficionados have come to expect in the Santa Fe art scene, rising legends themselves, Frank Buffalo Hyde and Ryan Singer, have shifted the focus of their work to celebrate figures deep-rooted in crypto zoology and the paranormal, which science has yet to explain. The result is a new show, which opens at Legends Santa Fe Gallery on June 3. Aptly titled Para-Native Activity, Frank Buffalo Hyde describes the exhibition as “contemporary work by visual artists who happen to be Native American.” Initially, Legends Santa Fe planned to host two separate shows for each of its featured artists, but when a conversation took place in which both Buffalo Hyde and Singer realized they shared a passion for the same subject matter, it seemed natural to team up for a joint exhibition.

The seed for this show began two years ago when Buffalo Hyde mounted a similar show in Santa Fe that received a great deal of press and drew a wide variety of collectors, including great minds from the scientific community who were obsessed with all things paranormal. The artists are hopeful that the public’s ongoing fascination with the unexplained will also elicit a strong response for Para-Native Activity. Buffalo Hyde’s connection to all things unexplained runs just as deep.

“As a child, I was always fascinated by this stuff,” said Buffalo Hyde. “It is has been a lifelong hobby of mine to keep up with all the developments in the paranormal world—tracking progress on the hunt for Bigfoot and other figures such as the mysterious soul called Mothman, who pops up to warn people about impending doom.”

Though, preoccupied with a whole different roster of the strange and scientifically unproven, Singer shared the same enthusiasm as Buffalo Hyde while a young boy.

“As a child, I was always captivated by the paranormal. It plagued my nightmares and consumed my daytime fantasies,” says Ryan Singer. “Everything fantastic and unexplained always made me wonder if humans know and understand everything. This show has given me the opportunity to explore those childhood fantasies and dreams.”

Buffalo Hyde and Singer alike are thrilled to be creating works in which they are able to express themselves without being conscious of their Native American identities. Both agree that Native artists expel so much energy trying to add distance between them and the label of contemporary Native American artist, but as the title suggests Para-Native Activity (“Rising above all that is Native”) none of that context is relevant for this work.

Para-Native Activity will feature pieces by Buffalo Hyde that are more streamlined than the rest of his body of work. Gone will be the busy nature of varied themes and the focal point will be the iconic subjects themselves—“cool, scary and unsettling,” according to Buffalo Hyde. His paintings will merely pay honest homage to the mythical legends that inspire our culture.

Singer’s contributions to the exhibit will include ghosts, the Chupacabra, the Cracken, aliens, UFOs and even the Thunderbird, a Southwest icon. Singer is especially influenced by contemporary non-Native American artists, as well as pop art and works by the masters. Each piece will have its own style and speak for itself. Singer, accustomed to working with bright and bold colors has taken on the challenge of capturing the doom and gloom of the paranormal using a subdued and limited color palette.

Para-Native Activity opens at Legends Santa Fe Gallery on Friday, June 3 with a reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show runs through June 27. Legends Santa Fe is located 125 Lincoln Avenue Santa Fe. For more information, call 505.983.5639 or visit the gallery online at http://www.legendssantafe.com./

An 'Ode to Mother' on Mother's Day

Today it's time for a post that isn't about art.  Life happens, and it's a special day--Mother's Day to be exact!  So, since I’m not near my family, I thought my mother deserved her own Mom’s Day post:

ODE TO MOTHER

My mother’s not the typical mother. She wasn’t the best cook in the world when she was younger (I think she actually taught us to fend for ourselves so we could cook for her later!). But, ya know what? That’s okay…I forgive her.

My mother used to be the typical mother. When I told her I was gay (twice…we call it the “second coming out!’), she blamed herself and wondered what everyone would think of her. Now, she’d fight for my right to love whomever I choose because she’d never want me to go through all the pain I went through ever again.

My mother’s not the typical mother. She couldn’t have children with my father, so she was brave and took on the child of someone else and gave me a home where I could learn and thrive. Okay, so we didn’t always understand one another, but she put a roof over my head and gave me what I needed…perhaps, more.

My mother is a typical mother. She worries about the safety and well-being of her children. And although she didn’t, and still doesn’t, agree with all my life choices, she has tried, and still tries, to let me grow and make my own mistakes in life. After all, we are both works in progress, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be until we leave this Earth.

My mother is not a typical mother. Overall, she’s as unselfish as she can be. After all, what adoptive mother would not only aid her child in the search for his and her biological parents but then research the genealogy all the way back to the beginning of time?

My mother is a typical mother. She can be exasperating, controlling, meddling and probably more adjectives that I can’t recall at the moment, which is the way it’s supposed to be. All her good qualities outweigh the bad--The same goes for me too. It’s comforting that we can be exasperating together, since that’s what unconditional love is all about.

My mother is not a typical mother. Most mothers get hugs and “I love You”s which I stopped doing years ago and never should have. Most mothers get the respect they are due, but I forget to do that a lot (Being independent takes a lot out of you!). Most mothers aren’t expected to be their child’s therapist, but mine does. I seem to demand a lot from her, sometimes to her detriment. Most mothers don’t have to experience their children’spain day in and day out, but mine does. The fact that she internalizes it shows just how much she loves me.

My mother is a typical mother. She is the rock of the family. She is strong for all of us because we have yet to learn all the wisdom that she has acquired in her lifetime. My mother is a typical mother because she knows, in spite of all the words that go unspoken, that we love her (in our own way), and would never have another mother in the whole wide world (we now know the alternatives). She is, of course, truly our mother and made us who we are today, both the good and the bad. That’s the way it is and that bond can not be broken.

My relationship with my mother is not typical. One thing the Universe has taught me is trust in what life brings you…always! After all, how could it be that a childless woman and an infant so in need of love found each other in a sea of people only to discover decades later that they are biologically related? If that doesn’t send a clear message, I don’t know what does. Undoubtedly, she was meant to be my mother and I her son.

So, on this Mother’s Day, I celebrate my mother—the only one I’ll ever have and hope that she knows exactly how much I love her. Thanks for everthing, Mom!

Copyright 2011 Paul Niemi

Native American Artists Hope eBayers Place Bids on Relief for Japan

What if you could buy fabulous fashion-forward jewelry, accessories and contemporary art by top artists on eBay? What if with every purchase, you were helping to make the world a better place and to give relief to people suffering elsewhere in the world? 

Well you can, thanks to the generosity of more than 30 top Native American artists and their children. Today you can bid on wonderful items in a very special auction on eBay that will help give back to our brothers and sisters in Japan, who have been touched by the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Native American Artists for Japan in conjunction with SWAIA (Southwestern Association of Indian Arts) was created by artists Raymond C.Yazzie, Darryl Dean Begay, and Lyndon Tsosie. All of the proceeds from the various eBay auctions will benefit the Red Cross, which is helping to provide relief in Japan.  SWAIA,  a non-profit organization, is handling the monetary donations and has created an account to channel money generated from the eBay auction and also monetary donations directly to the Red Cross relief efforts for Japan. SWAIA has set up an eBay account for the auction items so that the money goes directly to the disaster relief fund and not to the contributing artists or the NAAJ founders.

So, what are you waiting for?  Get shopping, and I promise you...this time you won't have buyer's remorse! Check out the Native American Artists for Japan eBay store HERE!