Dan Ostermiller is the artist who brought the wild things to Santa Fe’s Botanic Gardens.
Last Wednesday Tom and I took a little field trip. Several months ago he’d surprised me with tickets to Santa Fe’s Botanical Gardens, a place we’d never been to. He picked them up for a sweet price on Groupon; I was good with that. Unfortunately, Tynan and his canine ilk are verboten at the gardens, so he had to stay home. (Not that he minded; he managed to log a lot of air conditioned snooze time on the bed with us gone.)
So, we get to the garden. It’s up on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. Friends had warned me. It’s no BioPark. The BioPark here in Albuquerque comprises both our zooand botanic garden – don’t ask me why it’s called “botanic” and not “botanical” like I’ve always heard. But I’m used to the plain BIGNESS of our botanic gardens becaue I’m there regularly; the Adobe Wool Arts Guild does demos there the first and fourth Tuesdays of each month (except June and July when they kick us out for summer camp groups).
The Santa Fe gardens are far more modest. Really, it takes very little time to cruise through it. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant place to spend a warm (read: HOT) early summer hour or so. And one thing really stood out – or really twenty-three things: the animal sculpture exhibit of Dan Ostermiller called “Gardens Gone Wild.” If you’re thinking of seeing the garden, I recommend going while the critters are there; they made the place. According to the literature we picked up, the exhibit runs from May, 2018 – May 12, 2019. In the meantime, check out some of the pics I managed to get.
This is “Bullfrog.” There were actually two of them hanging, but I spied this one when we first started down the garden path. He charmed me especially as my maiden name is “Croke,” and for decades I collected froggies.“Melba” is a whopping 69x72x41 inches. I suggest that you don’t try to take one of her eggs for your breakfast. (Even if they’re bronze like the sculptures.)
Wouldn’t this ramadain the midst of the rose garden make a perfect place to get married or to renew your vows?Meet “R.B.” He’s quite the distinguished looking bunny rabbit, no? He stands 55×50.5×42. After I put him (or perhaps one of the other two rabbits in the exhibit) up on Instagram, there was a discussion regarding how much he looks like a chocolate rabbit. Yum!But before you eat the chocolate, you have to eat your veggies. Artichoke, anyone?Near the various herbs and the artichoke, of course, was the horno, an outdoor adobe oven that was used by Native Americans and early settlers. Drive around New Mexico and you’ll see them in backyards being used still. Good kitchen equipment never dies.
“Boys Will Be Boys” is just one of several bear sculptures in the exhibit. Together these two are 50x80x73.
This is a close-up of “Ursus.” He actually stands 98.5×46.5×39. He’s a BIG BOY.
This was the sculpture that really WOWED me. “American Gold” is huge! If I read correctly, 113 inches across the wings. Just seeing this one animal sculpture would’ve made the garden trip worth it.Meanwhile, my own wild animal clearly had a wild hair across his butt during his latest photo shoot. He decided it was face-scratching time rather than presenting “What’s on the frame.” Hm, maybe it’s a full moon… Or the almost 100 degrees today. Stay cool, people!
For now, though, enjoy the aforementioned eye-candy from the Water shows.
Where you can find fiber arts eye-candy till June 3. Go now!“The Gorge/Water Cycle” by Judith Roderick. Hand-painted silk art quilt. The picture can never do this justice, but note how the bird is also part of the gorge.Close up of “Blue Water of the North/Feng Shui Series” by Donna Loraine Contractor. Wool on cotton tapestry.Oops! How did my own piece slip in there? 🙂 “Memory of Water” is hooked with plastic bags on monks’ cloth.
“Leaves and X’s in the Ice” by Nancy Wohlenberg was made using a discontinuous tapestry technique; four selvedge technique. Love this!Heidi Anderson felted alpaca and merino wool to create: “”Water is Life Seed Pot” on the right and “Olla” on the left. so cute!Part of “Germinating” by Linda Rael. Dyed fabric, stitching.
A close-up of Linda Rael’s “Water is Life.” Dyed, painted, stitched, and found objects.
“The Day Begins” by Linda Rael. Hand-dyed and recycled fabrics, found objects. This crane really “stood out.”
“Mayordomo” by Linda Rael. Mixed media. “Mayordomo” is the guardian of the acequias or the water ditch master.
A close-up of “Rain Dance” by Linda Rael. Stitched, beaded doll.“Mountain Snow,” a handmade felted coat created by Vicki Anne Evans. Lovely, but I put that on, ketchup will drop from the sky right onto my boob.
“Novena for Rain” by Catherine Kelly (and my friend and Adobe Wool Arts guild mate. Multi/fractured piece of traditional rug hooking, felted wool, yarn, and beads.
And lastly, though not the best shot, Cathy and myself in front of her piece. Perhaps we’re really the fiber arts eye-candy… Regardless, I still think that they should’ve had wine at the opening reception. Your thoughts concerning beverages at art receptions: wine versus ice water with stupid lemon slices. Let me know in the comments.
You know, when I lived in New England, we never combined Cinco de Mayo and rug hooking. Rarely even margaritas and rug hooking. We ain’t living in Kansas Massachusetts any more, señor! Saturday, Cathy Kelly and I will be under our joint tent selling rugs (and doing demos, of course) at the 11th annual Cinco de Mayo Folk Art Fest here in Albuquerque. If you’re local, stop by. It’s happening right at La Parada and Farm & Table. There’ll be music pretty much all day, and Farm & Table will be offering food and beverages on their patio. That would be where the margaritas come in. And if I don’t manage to get one there, Tom will have one or three waiting for me when I get home. Woohoo! (And, trust me, he doesn’t skimp on the tequila. His margaritas are yet another reason that I had to marry this man.)
While technically it’s not on the frame, this week’s “What’s on the frame” offering shows that __________ (no name decided on yet, hooked with recycled bedsheets) is almost done. Just have to sit down to hem it. That WILL happen much sooner than later as it must be ready for sale at Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo Folk Art Fest. Hope to see you there! The weather’s supposed to be warm and sunny.
A close-up of the first rug that I ever hooked. Note that those are wool strips. Thank you, Franklin, Massachusetts, Adult Education program.
One day you take a community adult education class; rug hooking it’s called. For the life of you, you can’t remember why the hell you did that. In fact, your ex-husband’s mom was a hooker, and you paid absolutely no attention to that. Really. None! All you can remember is that she used a lot of black backgrounds. (Something you despise because all-black is such a pain to work with. 🙂 )
Now and again, maybe fifteen years later, you think about where this rug hooking thing’s taken you, what it’s given you. And it makes you shake your head in wonder.
It’s given me a good bit of self-confidence
As an artist. Especially one who doesn’t really fall into the category of a traditional rug hooker but only because of my use of alternative fibers and other materials. Originally, because I hooked with t-shirts and such, I was afraid to hang with other hookers, join a guild. I got over it. Thanks, Adobe Wool Arts Guild (AWAG) for such a great welcome to Albuquerque’s fiber arts scene two-and-a-half years ago. And especially for your encouragement. It helped when I went out to sell at art and other shows. And it appears that I’ve made a little name for myself. Just yesterday, as I was wandering through Kohl’s, I got a call from some woman up in Santa Fe who found me online and asked if I could repair her punched rugs. Apparently, her dogs regularly do a number on them. Of course, I can!
AWAG members Mary Schnitzler and Kathy Kelly relax after a day’s hooking at the hook-in hosted by the Old Pueblo Rug Hookers in Tucson. We’ll be there again at the end of January!
Oh, the friendships!
Never mind that most of my friends here in my adopted city of Albuquerque are hookers. Hooking’s introduced me to folks all over the world – thanks, Facebookand now Instagram! Make no mistake, these are friends with benefits. Just take a gander at yesterday’s Loop by Karen Larsen. She’s working on a commission, a rug featuring two dogs and mentions how we learn from one another.
It has taken me years to realize and accept that I hook the way I hook. Although I have learned and incorporated many helpful hooking tips through the years, I must have confidence in my own abilities. I plan to look to my friend, Nancy Parcels, for inspiration as I do the background.
It does indeed take a village!
I’m doing a little teaching
Because of the feedback I’ve received when I sell my less-than-traditional rugs, I’ve been asked to teach people how to do it themselves. I was even invited to teach a rug hooking class up at New Mexico’s famed Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center. Woohoo!
A view of AWAG’s Fiber Fiesta rug hooking booth this last May.
To be a part of Albuqueque’s larger fiber arts scene
There’s no better way to get to know your new town than to volunteer and join things. And the guild knew a sucker when they saw one. They made me AWAG’s representative to Albuquerque’s Fiber Arts Council. That meant meeting all kinds of fiber artists and working with them to make Fiber Arts Fiesta 2017 happen. I must’ve done a great job, because somehow I also became our rep to the Education Committee which is currently planning our biennial spring show “Earth, Wind, and Fiber”. (Entries are due February 25!)
Susan’s Legacy helps women with co-occurring disorders regain their lives and their families.
Susan’s Legacy Last week I asked you if you have any purses languishing in your closet, that I need them bad. Clarification: I need brand name-type purses. Frankly, the kind they DON’T sell at Kohl’s. I also mentioned that I’d explain whythis week. Turns out that as a guild rep to the Fiber Arts Council, I had to vote on a charity to be promoted at the Fiber Arts Fiesta last May. We chose Susan’s Legacy, a non-profit that serves the needs of women with co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders. Having some family experience with such things, somehow, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I clicked my heels, and was suddenly on the Board of Directors. Long story short, we need money to make our programs go. One thing that’s worked in the past has been a silent auction at a women’s networking luncheon. Albuquerque’s Women Make a Difference puts that on – a big WOOHOO for them! We at Susan’s Legacy find the purses, clean them up, and run the auction at the luncheon this Friday, March 9. Registration starts February 19, on Women Make a Difference’s website. If you’re local, maybe we’ll see you??? (Or at least your purse. )
Where is rug hooking taking you?
Tynan”s back! He brings you this week’s “What’s on the frame.” Yes, it’s the mystery rug. And I am hooking it with an alternative “fiber.” Must get a move on; it’s due February 25 as an entry for the Fiber Art Council’s Spring Show.
One of Scott Palmer’s engaging pieces, a painting on copper. But the copper is so much more than the “canvas.”
How often do you find cool new art? In the case of Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festivals, three times each year if you choose. I usually hit up two of them, but the show held annually on Thanksgiving weekend is by far the best. Last week was no exception. Not only did I “re-connect” with some of the art I discovered in 2015 and ’16, but I found new stuff! (Okay, new for me; just go with it.) I simply must share it with you. Of course.
“…a unique combination of solid copper, impressionistic painting style, natural patinas and flame painting to form hand – crafted one of a kind works of art… With Copper as his canvas; Palmer reignites his passion for impressionistic works of art. “Copper can simply be the background that provides luminescence to a painting or it can play a major role in the actual work.”
And like many artists who are looking to offer lower priced, introductory pieces to would-be customers — most of us rug hookers who sell have made rug mugs, right? — Palmer came up with these babies. I believe that he told me they are actually prints of his pieces under Plexi-glass. Very nice!This one had more of a sheen. The colors are so “en fuego” and so very exciting!
As I mosied away from Palmer’s booth, I came across…wire animals! Gary Chaffin of ArtWire Graphics sculpts his creatures with wire!
“The experimental use of negative space has been the focus of my sculptures. Each of my three-dimensional designs are spontaneous impressions. I begin with a loose image in my mind. Then as I develop the idea in wire, the finished design takes on its own personality. There are no patterns or drawings beforehand. Each complex design is created totally freehand, sometimes from a continuous wire. My only tools are a pair of pliers and cutters.”
I love how he begins with a “loose image” in his mind and that the designs take on their own personalities. Raise your hand, hookers, if you understand that perfectly. (I’m not sure if, in my case, that’s always for the good. 🙂 )
This being New Mexico, Chaffin’s roadrunner drew me into the booth first. So cool!A deep sea anglerfish! You know, the one that tried to eat Nemo and Ellen Degeneres Dory. How much fun is that?
I don’t have too much info on the next artist, but I was overwhelmed with his work, especially on this chest. The graphics got me – love that kind of work. I mean, you could make a matching rug from his design easy-peasy. And then store any leftover wool or t-shirts or whatever in it.
The chest was carved and painted by Tim Lockwood of Hand Crafted Wood Works out of Utah. If you’re interested in his work, comment, and I’ll give you his contact info.
So, I didn’t actually get to meet the next artist; her husband was manning the booth. And I warn you ahead of time, I an a tile-maniac. Love tiles! Have several in my house. Some in drawers because I don’t have enough room for all of them, and I do like to display other media. The artist is Debora Duran-Geiger of Tucan Tiles. If I eavesdropped correctly, she lives and works in both Santa Fe and Boquete, Panama. That latter bit really showed in her hummingbird art, not that I got a good pic of it. 🙁 But I got the ones you see here!
According to a card her husband gave me:
“…All designs are created by Debora Duran-Geiger using Cuerda Seca technique (wax resist linework). Each tile is individually hand painted using opaque and translucent glazes. Other techniques utilized…are: Slip trailing, Sgraffiato, and Majolica. Tiles are fired in an electric kiln to…1840 degrees. …They make fabulous trivets or may be inset directly into walls.”
I am NOT putting a hot pot on these tiles!You know I had to include this chick. Happy Day of the Dead!The colors! Yes, again. Color is a BIG THING with me. And you must admit that this would make a fabulous rug design.
In the spirit of reuse and recycling, I have to share this artist’s work. Came across her just before I left the show. Meg Harper‘s COLOR-FILLED animal portraits grabbed me. That she paints them on old signs, discarded cabinet doors, and tin roofs took me over the top. (Me who prefers to hook with old t-shirts and bed-sheets and such.)
Uh huh, another road runner. He’s just a little more filled-in than Gary Chaffin’s above!
Lastly, I present to you a gorgeous rug by Nancy Pierce of Artisan on the cul-de-sac. Like me, Nancy is a newish member of the Adobe Wool Arts Guild who moved to New Mexico within the last couple of years. I spied this rug in a promotional email from the Rio Grande Festival and asked her if I photograph and share it.
I love everything about this rug by Nancy Pierce. The colors, the geometrics in the background, the sculpting. Wish my lighting was better, but I’m sure you get the idea.
I suppose that you’ve indulged me enough. One of the big reasons I actually get dressed and leave my house the day after Thanksgiving for this show is that it leaves me with a desire to go home and to make my own art. INSPIRATION is the word. I hope that you’re feeling some after seeing the pics here.
Tynan will be back next week with “What’s on the frame.” Frankly, there’s absolutely nothing on it. I haven’t hooked a loop since the Santa Fe Fiber Festival the weekend before Thanksgiving. It’s unusual for me, but everyone needs to take a break even from the things they love to do. Besides it let me pick up my crochet hook again. For the first time since last winter. It takes so much more concentration to make sure that those rows are straight! You have no idea how many I pulled out last night as I tried to multitask to “Stranger Things.” (Tom hates it when I ask him to rewind because I missed something important doing needlework.) But Tomorrow the guild starts a three-day retreat. It’s back to the frame for me, to the piece I started in May when Cheryl Bollenbach was here teaching again. Bet it’ll look familiar when I finally show it off.
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