http://www.blueraingallery.com The Press Releases from Blue Rain Gallery en-us http://www.blueraingallery.com/rss PHP webmaster@blueraingallery.com 8/24/2008Contact: Colleen Franco Phone: 505-954-9902 E-mail: colleen@blueraingallery.com Images available on request FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY INTRODUCES NEW PAINTINGS BY ORLANDO GABBY LEYBA SANTA FE, N.M. [Monday, August 25, 2008] – Blue Rain Gallery is exhibiting a selection of new artwork by painter Orlando Gabby Leyba in an exhibition that runs from Friday, November 7 through Friday, November 21. The show will be held at Blue Rain Gallery at 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. The gallery will hold an artist reception on Friday, November 7 at 5 p.m. In his newest work, Leyba continues to create vibrant canvases depicting dichotomies -- such as beauty versus decay -- as well as the friction between different mind sets, values, and life experiences. He relates those opposing ideas in compelling multi-media canvases and panels that balance various narrative elements with bold colors and muted tones. "I try to juxtapose things that we are immediately attracted to with other elements that, if you just scratch beneath the surface, you find another kind of beauty," explains Leyba. His paintings meld distorted images from nature, hot rod and low rider magazines, and his recent trips to Spain and Morocco where he was influenced by the Moorish architecture, the countries‘ exotic cultures, and vibrant colors. Leyba uses a variety of media on each canvas including acrylic, oil, and enamel paints, colored pencils, and collage elements. On some panels, he adds plaster which he then carves to create extra dimension in the artwork. Of his work Leyba says, "I‘m looking for a broader connection between where I grew up in Chimayo, New Mexico and the broader world. I‘m pursing all possibilities in terms of visual and intellectual connections from my land and others." About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 46 8/17/2008Contact: Colleen Franco Phone: 505-954-9902 E-mail: colleen@blueraingallery.com Images available on request FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY PRESENTS A SHOW OF PAINTINGS BY BENJAMIN MCPHERSON SANTA FE, N.M. [August 17, 2008] – Blue Rain Gallery will feature a show of original paintings by renowned artist Benjamin McPherson from Friday, October 3 through Friday, October 17. The work will be presented at Blue Rain Gallery at 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. An artist reception is planned for Friday, October 3 at 5 p.m. McPherson is widely acclaimed for his oil on linen canvases depicting New Testament scenes from the Bible. He executes his paintings with classical realism, displaying a true mastery of detail, lighting, and color as he creates images of Jesus Christ, saints, apostles, and other biblical figures. "I have a passion to convey stories of faith in general," explains McPherson. "While I‘ll always paint Christian works, my body of work is truly faith-inspired painting." The show at Blue Rain Gallery will include one of McPherson‘s animations depicting different religions, as well as several of his traditional canvases. To create his work, McPherson recruits homeless people from his community to pose for the paintings. His special talent, beautiful work, and compelling method of creating his paintings has garnered him national attention. McPherson was featured in an episode of Showtime‘s "This American Life" with Ira Glass. The episode received three Emmy nominations. While McPherson continues to focus on classical and religious themes, his newest canvases have a more lighthearted -- almost Norman Rockwell -- feeling. "The paintings are still traditional, but I‘m lending new elements to give them a contemporary feeling so they don‘t feel passé," explains McPherson. About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 44 8/17/2008Contact: Colleen Franco Phone: 505-954-9902 E-mail: colleen@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY INTRODUCES NEW WORK BY SARAH SENSE SANTA FE, N.M. [August 18, 2008] – Blue Rain Gallery will host a show of new assemblages by Sarah Sense from Friday, October 24 through Friday, November 7. The show will be held at Blue Rain Gallery at 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. An artist reception is planned for Friday, October 24 at 5 p.m. In her new work, Sense deconstructs five movie posters into a series of four assemblages, each an intricate commentary on popular culture, sexuality, power struggle, and conflict. Sense uses the movie poster, digital prints of herself, visuals of cowgirls, princesses, and Native Americans, as well as clear and mirrored Mylar for each woven assemblage. "I‘m trying to physically and psychologically deconstruct the movie and change the narrative to empower women and Indians," explains Sense. In essence, her art changes the focus of the poster and reinvents the narrative that runs through her art rather than the movie. The assemblages also represent the interplay of the Sense‘s Native American background and contemporary culture and the many dualities she finds: cowboy/Indian, cowboy/cowgirl, motion/still, good/bad, east/west. Sense‘s weavings feature traditional Chitimacha basket patterns, which are part of her heritage. The Chitimacha are an Indian tribe in Louisiana famous for basket weaving. "I feel that it‘s part of my responsibility to continue the tradition of basket weaving," says Sense. "It‘s important to me and the patterns are amazing." About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 45 7/13/2008Contact: Colleen Franco Phone: 505-414-4748 E-mail: colleen@blueraingallery.com Images available on request FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Works by Turid Pedersen and Shelley Muzylowski Allen SANTA FE, N.M. (July 10, 2008) Iconic images that stir echoes of ages past form the heart of the works by glass artist Shelley Muzylowski Allen and painter Turid Pedersen to be exhibited September 1–30, 2008, at Blue Rain Gallery. Shelley Muzylowski Allen uses color, form, and scale to bring her iconic animal figures to life, ascribing a mythical, symbolic significance to these beasts of burden that highlights the creatures‘ strength and stillness. Employing paint, rusted metals, even hair to enhance her creations in glass, she imparts a meditative quality that makes these works seem as much ancient artifacts or prized heirlooms as they are stylized contemporary sculptures. Muzylowski Allen is an award-winning artist whose work is exhibited nationally and internationally. Originally a painter with a degree in fine arts, she later studied at the Pilchuck Glass School and combined her talents in both media, to stunning effect. She currently resides in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Norwegian-born Turid Pedersen‘s oils on linen and canvas are inspired by the prehistoric artifacts of her adopted home near the Mimbres Valley in the Silver City area. Marrying her traditional training and love of the Flemish masters and Spanish baroque still-life artists with her fascination for the archaeological wonders of southern New Mexico, Pedersen evokes the mystical power of the decorated pots and vessels that served a spiritual as well as utilitarian purpose for those long-ago residents. Pederson studies original artifacts in museums and private collections to be able to accurately represent the scale and appearance of the vessels she paints, then painstakingly reproduces the highly sophisticated designs, creating studies of light and shadow that are imbued with an aura of quiet contemplation. Her work has been displayed in public and private collections in the U.S. and Europe. About Blue Rain Gallery: Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and Southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone: 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery Web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 43 7/3/2008Contact: Colleen Franco Phone: 505-414-4748 E-mail: colleen@blueraingallery.com Images available on request FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS PRESENTS FIRST EXHIBITION OF SOUTHWESTERN POTTERY TAMMY GARCIA ON THE EAST COAST WASHINGTON (June 23, 2008) — Beyond Tradition: The Pueblo Pottery of Tammy Garcia, the first major museum exhibition on the East coast of this Santa Clara artist, will take place at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The exhibition features a selection of elaborately carved post and will be on view in the Teresa Lozano Long Gallery on the ground floor from August 22, 2008–February 3, 2009. "This is not your grandmother‘s pottery. Tammy Garcia is one of the most recognized figures in Southwestern ceramics and we are fortunate to be able to exhibit her work," said NMWA Director Susan Fisher Sterling. "Over the past decade, she has reinterpreted traditional Pueblo pottery and folded it into mainstream contemporary art. Her intricate design work and experimental shapes have driven the art of pottery into the twenty-first century and set her apart from her contemporaries." Garcia was born into a famous dynasty of potters from the Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, that boasts four generations of artists, including Serafina Tafoya, regarded as one of the finest Pueblo potters in its matriarchal history. Garcia learned the basics of pottery from watching her mother, Linda Cain, and grandmother, Mary Cain, at work. She sold her first pot at age sixteen. The experience, coupled with an unrewarding stint as a dishwasher, convinced her that pottery was her calling. -more- Garcia‘s innovation is her ability to infuse a two-thousand year old tradition with modern concepts of design and form. She carves her pots by etching the entire surface of the vessel, as opposed to a single-band of design along the circumference. On each of her pots, Garcia then signs "Santa Clara Pueblo," referencing her artistic heritage. This signature indicates where she comes from, what process she uses, and where her materials and tools are made. Garcia‘s imagery also marries the old with the new. While she draws from classic Pueblo motifs, such as Corn Dancers, koshares (Pueblo clowns), and anasazi (ancient geometric patterns), she also incorporates non-traditional sources and often seeks contemporary and popular inspiration for her pots. For example, it is not surprising to see images of mermaids or opera singers in her work. "There is a certain thrill to creating art that is indefinable and pushes the boundaries of traditional pottery," said Garcia. Beyond Tradition: The Pueblo Pottery of Tammy Garcia is organized by the National Museum of Women in the Arts and generously sponsored by an Anonymous donor, the New Mexico State Committee of NMWA, and the Members of NMWA. NMWA at 20 The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), founded in 1981 and opened in April 1987, is the only museum solely dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts. The museum contains works by more than 800 artists in its permanent collection, maintains a Library and Research Center, and conducts multidisciplinary programs for diverse audiences. In the past 20 years since its opening, the museum has presented more than 200 exhibitions, expanded its permanent collection to include more than 3,600 pieces, and has a membership ranking it in the top ten museums nationally with more than 30,000 members. In celebration of the museum‘s 20th anniversary, three ground-breaking exhibits were presented: The Book as Art: Twenty Years of Artists‘ Books from the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Italian Women Artists from the Renaissance to Baroque, and WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution. The museum has also inaugurated Clara: Database of Women Artists®, a Web-accessible, authoritative resource for students, scholars and the general public. NMWA is located at 1250 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., in a landmark building near the White House. It is open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, noon–5 p.m. For information, call 202-783-5000 or visit the museum‘s Web site at www.nmwa.org. Thu, 3 Jul 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 42 6/20/2008Contact: Denise Phetteplace Phone: 505-954-9902 E-mail: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available on request FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA FE, N.M. (June 20, 2008) — Blue Rain Gallery‘s participation in this year‘s Indian Market (August 23–24) is broader than ever before, with artist receptions and demonstrations taking place from Wednesday through Saturday. A number of notable new artists will join perennial stars like potter-sculptor Tammy Garcia, glass artist Preston Singletary, and painter Tony Abeyta to offer an expanded vision of fine contemporary Native American art. • Artist receptions begin Wednesday, August 20, with a show at 5 p.m. showcasing paintings by Felix Vigil, Norma Howard, and David Bradley as well as pottery by Yellowbird Samora and mixed-media wall art by Sarah Sense. • On Thursday, August 21, the 5 p.m. show will feature sculpture by Tammy Garcia, who was presented with the 2008 Governor‘s Award for Excellence in the Arts—a rare honor for an artist in mid-career. Paintings by Hyrum Joe and Mateo Romero (the latter selected by the Market as its 2008 poster artist) will also be featured, along with pottery by Al Qoyawayma, beadwork by Sandra Okuma, dolls and beadwork by Jamie Okuma, and jewelry by Maria Samora. • On Friday morning, August 22, a preview of pottery by Tammy Garcia, Les Namingha, and Richard Zane Smith will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by a lottery for purchasing the pieces. Because these artists‘ work is so much in demand, the lottery ensures fairness and impartiality in making the art available to buyers. • That evening at 5 p.m., an artist reception and show will present glass sculpture by Preston Singletary, paintings by Tony Abeyta, and jewelry by Larry Vasquez. • Throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., demonstrations of glass blowing by Preston Singletary and bronze patina techniques by bronzesmiths will take place. Tammy Garcia‘s grandmother and teacher, Mary Cain of Santa Clara Pueblo, will be awarded SWAIA‘s Lifetime Achievement Award for her significant lifelong contributions to the traditional art of pottery. Cain‘s Indian name, Blue Rain, was the inspiration for the gallery‘s name, which honors her role as a matriarch of Santa Clara‘s Tafoya clan and her influence on many generations of potters. Blue Rain Gallery has signed on as an official sponsor of Indian Market, the first time a gallery has done so, to bring owner Leroy Garcia‘s marketing expertise and passion for Native arts into the mix in a more prominent and supportive role. About Blue Rain Gallery: Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and Southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone: 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery Web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 41 6/13/2008Contact: Denise Phetteplace Phone: 505-954-9902 Email: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA FE, N.M. [April 19, 2008] Blue Rain Gallery is introducing new works by local artists, Jim Vogel and Gustavo Victor Goler. The show will be from July 23rd to July 31st, coinciding with Santa Fe‘s Spanish Market. In his representations of Northern New Mexicans and the land that surrounds them, Jim Vogel uses images to tell stories. In both oil-on-panel paintings and his lithographs, Vogel focuses on allegorical images of rural people. His new pieces this July are a continuation of his previous body of work; although constantly evolving, his new paintings, saturated with intense colors, still examine agrarian New Mexico. Included in the show will be Vogel‘s painting "the Last Apple", part of his depression era series depicting the Okie exodus through New Mexico. Vogel will also hang a painting of Doña Sebastiana, the angel of death, in a stone village left abandoned due to the 1918 flu epidemic. For the first time he will also show several graphite drawings. Much of Vogel‘s work will be displayed in frames made from salvaged material by his wife Christen. Gustavo Victor Goler is a master santero, who carves and paints traditional images from New Mexico‘s Catholic stories. These images are bright and, with bright colors and open faces, meld the historical with the modern. His new work includes a series of deep relieves, three inch deep carvings that focus on perspective. Goler will also be showing several free-standing bultos of saints with a contemporary flair. These figures include St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, playing an electric guitar as well as St. Martha, the patron saint of cooks and house keepers, with a modern broom and waiter‘s serving tray on her shoulder. A Santa Fe Spanish market artist for twenty years, Goler enjoys the freedom Blue Rain Gallery allows him to show work that is more international and modern. An opening reception will be held Friday, July 25th at 5:00 PM at the Blue Rain Gallery, 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 40 6/10/2008Contact: Denise Phetteplace Phone: 505-954-9902 Email: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Santa Fe, NM – Blue Rain Gallery has acquired the work of three young artists from Utah who use the venerable art of oil painting to create timeless images. The show, displaying works by Sean Diediker, Benjamin McPherson and Justin Taylor, will open on July 1st and run through July 15th. Blue Rain Gallery is expanding its scope with the works of these three painters. Throughout his diverse paintings of places and people, Sean Diediker explores everyday images from his recent travels, which including a recent trip to Northern New Mexico. "I enjoy taking non-descript elements of life and make them consequential." Although he is naturally a tight painter he also paints with abstract loose strokes to produce both bold, concrete images and more impressionistic visions. The modern scenarios he creates on the canvas are reminiscent of biblical scenes that have been brought into our modern world. A New Mexican by birth, Benjamin McPherson‘s oil paintings celebrate faith. His classical realist oil paintings focus on religion, including scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. "Now I‘m trying to apply realism to contemporary, out-of-the-box art." To do so, he brings together many aspects of faith. His work will include an animation of faith, changing the features of an ordinary man to a Buddhist Monk, a priest, a Muslim, a Hassidic Jew and finally a man adorned by the symbols of those many religions. McPherson‘s work focuses on the presence of a strong spiritual belief and it‘s effect on individuals. Justin Taylor paints people with unique and individual beauty. Using his meticulous technical skill, Taylor renders the human experience in the features of his subjects. The paintings are clear with unembellished but electrifying images. He transforms daily mundane life into charged faces. "I usually am attracted to people with interesting features. Peculiar beauty." The paintings he will be showing at Blue Rain Gallery are more spiritual than most of his work, inspired by a visit to Chimayo. The three oil painters are currently involved in opening the Bridge Art School in Provo, Utah. A public opening reception will be held at the Blue Rain Gallery on Friday, July 4th at 5:00pm. About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 39 5/2/2008PLEASE RELEASE IMMEDIATELY FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact: Doug Svetnicka, 505-827-4378 Department of Cultural Affairs 2008 Governor‘s Awards for Excellence in the Arts Eight artists and arts supporters will receive New Mexico‘s highest artistic honor SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson and First Lady Barbara Richardson, along with the New Mexico Arts Commission, have announced seven individuals and a high-profile classical radio station as recipients of the 2008 Governor‘s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. "This year‘s recipients of the Governor‘s Awards for Excellence in the Arts are artists and contributors who exemplify the energy and creativity of New Mexico," said Governor Richardson. "I applaud their achievements and congratulate these outstanding artists." First Lady Barbara Richardson said, "The Governor and I celebrate this year‘s award winners with the same enthusiasm that they bring to their work each and every day. Without these people and organizations, our lives would be less full, our communities less vibrant." The 2008 Governor‘s Arts Awards recipients are: Harry Benjamin of Silver City for Painting; Tammy Garcia of Santa Clara Pueblo for Visual Arts – Pottery, Sculpture and Glass; Jack Loeffler of Santa Fe for Ethnomusicology and Writing; Noel Marquez of Artesia for Painting and Mural Artistry; Eugene Newmann of Ribera for Painting; Alice "Ali" MacGraw of Tesuque – Major Contributor to the Arts; Eileen A. Wells of Santa Fe – Major Contributor to the Arts; and KHFM Radio 95.5 of Albuquerque – Major Contributor to the Arts. The 2008 Governor‘s Arts Awards ceremonies will be held on Friday evening, September 12, 5:15 to 7:00 pm at the St. Francis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe. The ceremony is preceded by an afternoon reception and exhibition opening, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in the Governor‘s Gallery, 4th Floor, State Capitol. Both the awards ceremony and gallery reception are free and open to the public. The Governor's Arts Awards were established in 1974 by Governor Bruce King and First Lady Alice King to celebrate the enormous roles – both economic and cultural – that artists, craftspeople and arts supporters play in the life of New Mexico. During its 34-year existence, a diverse and prestigious list of painters, weavers, sculptors, dancers, musicians, storytellers, poets, actors, playwrights and potters have been honored. Past awardees include Georgia O‘Keeffe, Laura Gilpin, Max Evans, Wilson Hurley, Joy Harjo, Bill Mauldin, John Nichols, Pablita Velarde and Cipriano Vigil. Nominations for the awards are invited each year from arts groups and interested New Mexicans. All nominations are reviewed by a committee of the New Mexico Arts Commission, which sends its recommendations to the full Commission and to the Governor. The 2008 Awards Selection Committee consisted of Charmay Allred of Santa Fe as chairperson, Janice Spence of Hobbs, John Rohovec of Silver City, Glenn Cutter of Mesilla, Karen Cotter of Albuquerque and Chuck Zimmer, interim manager of the state public art program for New Mexico Arts. Loie Fecteau, executive director of New Mexico Arts, and media manager Virginia Castellano served on the committee in a nonvoting capacity. Brief profile of Tammy Garcia, the 2008 Governor's Arts Awardee: While it might seem unusual to give a lifetime achievement award to a 38 year-old, Taos artist Tammy Garcia‘s accomplishments in introducing unique contemporary design to ceramics, jewelry, pottery and sculpture are unparalleled. Nominator Bob Nurock notes that the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis has held a retrospective of Garcia‘s work and that the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. will have a major exhibition of Garcia‘s work this coming August. "She will be the youngest featured artist ever in its history," Nurock said. "Both of these bring wide recognition to the State of New Mexico." Garcia is a descendent of the renowned Tafoya family of distinguished potters, and she learned her art from her mother Linda Cain and her grandmother Mary Cain. Garcia is also known for being an artist who gives back to the community. She donates works of art to benefit numerous nonprofits in New Mexico including the Buckaroo Ball and the Santa Fe Indian Market. Through her Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, she helps promote other Native American artists and organizes traveling shows in the major art markets in the United States, noted JoAnn Lynn Balzer in her letter of support. "I believe Tammy Garcia is one of the best artists working today – anywhere," Balzer said. "Although firmly grounded in and informed by her pueblo heritage and tradition she has taken the art form into a new dimension. …She creates pottery and sculpture that are simply breathtaking and her talent seems to have no limit in expression of artistic creativity." Fri, 2 May 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 38 4/19/2008Contact: Denise Phetteplace Phone: 505-954-9902 Email: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA FE, N.M. [April 19, 2008] – Blue Rain Gallery will present a show of new artwork by two of its leading artists, Randall LaGro and Deborah Rael-Buckley. The show opens June 6 and runs through June 23, 2008. It will be held at Blue Rain Gallery at 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. A public opening reception is planned for Friday, June 6 at 5:00pm. In creating his mysterious and hauntingly beautiful monotypes and paintings, Randall LaGro says he often feels like he walks a tightrope between abstraction and realism. That fine balance is evident in his art which melds figures, buildings, and landscapes with light and color to create dreamlike canvases. Recently, LaGro has been writing about his art, a pursuit that complements his work and helps him understand his processes. In his new canvases LaGro revisits themes that have always inspired him. "I‘m interested in plumbing the depths of the conscious and the subconscious, where a current of greater knowledge lies," he explains. His new collection includes landscapes as well as figurative work. The fact that most of his canvases are unframed is intentional; LaGro always wants the viewer to be aware of the area beyond the canvas. Deborah Rael-Buckley is exploring new themes and new ranges of scale as she continues to create her narrative stoneware sculptures. Her intricate coil built sculptures, shaped like chairs or dress forms, are made without armatures and feature richly textured surfaces. Her new work focuses on passages, a theme that is an extension of her recent exploration into memory. "I‘m interested in the different types of passages we make in life whether they are mental, physical, or spiritual," explains Rael-Buckley. Her new work depicts the different passages people make with imagery of windows, stairs, doors, ropes, and text. New for Rael-Buckley is her process of making her own glazed decals of passage imagery which she incorporates into each sculpture. Along with her new theme, Rael-Buckley has expanded the size range of her work from her standard life-size pieces to much smaller, 24-inch sculptures that present new creative challenges for her and new opportunities for collectors of her work. About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 37 4/1/2008Contact: Ana Karina Armijo Phone: 575-758-0609 Email: karina@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA FE, N.M. [March 4, 2008] – Blue Rain Gallery will exhibit at the Eleventh Annual Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) 2008 in New York. Five of the gallery‘s most innovative contemporary artists will show their work at the exposition, which runs from Thursday, May 29 through Sunday, June 1 at the Park Avenue Armory. SOFA is an international art exposition that merges the world of design, decorative and fine art. The gallery-presented show features contemporary art including metal, ceramics, wood, fiber, and glass. Blue Rain Gallery will feature five artists at SOFA New York. Tammy Garcia, a contemporary Native American sculptor and potter, is one of the most successful and innovative contemporary Native American sculptors of her time. Her bronze sculpture and glass offer a sense of architecture and unique design. Preston Singletary is a Seattle-based Native American glass artist who blends traditional Tlingit designs and themes into contemporary glass sculptures. Richard Zane Smith, a Wyandott potter inspired by nature, creates hand-coiled, textural clay vessels that resemble basketry. Tony Abeyta is a well-versed contemporary Native American painter whose work ranges from modernist landscapes in oil and sand to assemblage based works that combine sculpture, painting, and found/collected objects. Contemporary Native American potter Les Namingha hand-coils his ceramic vessels and treats the surface like a canvas for his elaborate, modern designs. Blue Rain Gallery exhibited at SOFA Chicago last year; this is the first time the gallery will be participating in SOFA New York. "SOFA Chicago was a great success for Blue Rain Gallery," says Denise Phetteplace, director of Blue Rain Gallery. "We opened ourselves up to new markets and people were very receptive to the work. We anticipate the same success at SOFA New York where we will redefine contemporary Native American art." About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com Mon, 3 Mar 2008 05:00:01 -0700 blueraingallery - 35 3/31/2008Contact: Denise Phetteplace Phone: 505-954-9902 Email: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA FE, N.M. – Blue Rain Gallery will present a show of new canvases by acclaimed artists Hyrum Joe and Mateo Romero from Friday, May 2 through Friday, May 23. The show will be held at Blue Rain Gallery at 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. An artist reception is planned for Friday, May 2 at 5 p.m. Hyrum Joe continues to create stunning, figurative paintings featuring sharp detail and a strong sense of place. Working with both oil paints and charcoal, he depicts Native American life from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Some of Joe‘s canvases for the show exhibit his experimentation with a new medium: watercolor. "As an artist, you never stop searching for the one medium you‘re complete satisfied with," he explains. He uses the same creative process and subjects for his watercolors, but the finished portraits have greater transparency than his deeply saturated oil canvases. Joe is also working on expanding the focus of his work to include portraits of people from the Polynesian and Tibetan cultures. In his new work for the show, Mateo Romero transitions from creating contemporary mixed media canvases to working on an easel with oil paints. Romero‘s new paintings refer to his previous work and are social and political critiques on problems facing both native and non-native Americans. About his new art Romero says, "My work has come full circle. It turns back to reinvestigate some of my earlier themes, narratives, and methods." Romero says it‘s important to push creative boundaries and find new approaches to his art. "It‘s interesting to me to investigate work that is not in my signature style. I‘m trying to shake things up a bit and create something that is new and old at the same time. It‘s a breath of fresh air for me." About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:00:01 -0700 blueraingallery - 34 3/28/2008Contact: Denise Phetteplace, Gallery Director Phone: 505-954-9902 Email: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY PLANS ENCORE OF UNPRECEDENTED ART SHOW: VISIONS IN GLASS II SANTA FE, N.M. – Blue Rain Gallery will host Visions in Glass II featuring contemporary glass artwork by Tammy Garcia and Preston Singletary. The show runs from Friday, March 28 through Thursday, April 15 and will be held at Blue Rain Gallery‘s Santa Fe location at 130 Lincoln Avenue. Opening Reception with Tammy Garcia and Preston Singletary on Friday, March 28 at 5pm Visions in Glass II will include two dozen glass vessels designed by Garcia, a world- renowned artist who works in pottery, jewelry, glass, and bronze. She begins the creative process of interpreting traditional pottery into contemporary glass by designing each vessel on paper. Singletary, a pioneer in glass sculpture, brings those ideas to life by blowing each unique, free-form vessel to Tammy‘s exact visualized standards. Once the vessels are blown, Garcia uses her artistry and talent to add designs to each piece. Each vessel reflects Garcia‘s exploration of traditional Native American forms and designs reinterpreted in glass. In these new pieces, she works with different Native American imagery drawing inspiration from various time periods and pueblos including Zuni, Acoma, and San Ildefonso. "The true artistry is Tammy‘s vision...in glass," says Leroy Garcia, owner of Blue Rain Gallery. "This show reflects her creative genius and her flexibility." He adds that Singletary was instrumental in introducing glass to the Southwest and making the show possible. "If it weren‘t for Preston, there wouldn‘t be a show like this." The combination of Garcia‘s vision and ingenuity and Singletary‘s skill results in highly-coveted, one-of-a-kind glass vessels. The first Visions in Glass show, held in 2005, was a success and more importantly, a breakthrough for the regional art scene. "The Southwest was fairly new to glass when we did the first Visions in Glass show. It really sent shockwaves through the market and put glass on the forefront here," says Leroy Garcia. "Since then, there‘s been a huge demand for it. So I expect this show to be as popular as the first." About Blue Rain Gallery The Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and southwest jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:00:01 -0700 blueraingallery - 33 3/21/2008Three renowned New Mexico Pueblo women artists will discuss their work on Sunday, March 30 at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in conjunction with the Center‘s ongoing exhibition, "Timeless Beauty: Pueblo Women Artists of the 20th Century." Tammy Garcia (Santa Clara), Estelle Loretto (Jemez) and Nora Naranjo-Morse (Santa Clara) will present how their own work is influenced by and has evolved from the foundation of the eight Pueblo women artists who are featured in the Timeless Beauty show. All three women, are award-winning artists and recognized as innovators in their respective mediums consisting of a wide variety of work created from elements such as clay, glass and bronze and more. Timeless Beauty features the work of Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso) Lucy Lewis (Acoma), Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara), Tonita Peña (San Ildefonso) Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara) Helen Hardin (Santa Clara) Helen Cordero (Cochiti) and Blue Corn (San Ildefonso). An element of the Timeless Beauty show highlights quotes made by Garcia, Loretto and Naranjo-Morse including other Pueblo women artists that pay tribute to their predecessors. A reflection by Naranjo-Morse says, "The thread of culture and a strong sense of self are profoundly articulated through the work of these women. They were the storytellers of their time, expressing their unique life with clay, form and color. Their artistic certainty and bravery forged new ground and made it possible for succeeding generations to tell their story." The next presentation in conjunction with Timeless Beauty will take place on Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m. titled, "Beauty‘s Legacy - Families of Pueblo Women Artists." All presentations are open to the public and free with admission. Panelists: TAMMY GARCIA Garcia‘s work can be considered both contemporary yet traditional in imagery, motifs, and subject matter. In her pottery, Tammy Garcia's carvings are particularly bold, deep, and sharply defined. In a recent exhibition featuring her bronze sculptural work at Santa Fe‘s Museum of Indian Art and Culture, visitors observed that her work draws " heavily on the values [she] learned from [her] parents and pueblo elders as well as [her] feminine side to create works that make a clear statement of what it is to be a pueblo woman and an artist working beyond the boundaries of so called "traditional" Native American women's art." Tammy is best known for taking traditional pottery to new levels and pushing the envelope on what might be considered sculptural abstractions of Pueblo pottery. In recent years, she is experimenting with other media, such as glass and bronze, partly by collaborating with other artists. Thirty-seven-year-old Garcia is a pioneer in raising the awareness of Southwest Indian art. Her work transcends the labels and expectations of "native" art through her innovation and risk-taking. In this respect, she is indeed an artistic descendant of some of the earliest pioneering Pueblo women artists. ESTELLA LORETTO Loretto endeavors to balance her Pueblo background with the many influences she has met with in travels around the world. As she says in an artists‘ statement," The experience of interacting and living with other tribal peoples throughout the world has broadened my artistic and cultural appreciation which continues to inspire me daily." Her exposure to the diversity of art forms has inspired her to explore new forms of creative expression in various mediums. Estella is the only Native American woman sculpting monumental work in bronze. Allan Houser's last student before his death in 1994, she now works from her own studio-gallery in Santa Fe, where she is recognized as an international renowned artist is her own right. NORA NARANJO-MORSE Nora Naranjo-Morse spent most of her childhood in Taos Pueblo where she graduated from high school. Today, Naranjo-Morse is an acclaimed multimedia artist and filmmaker. Nora learned clay work from her mother, potter Rose Naranjo, and was for some time best known for her clay figures. Her figures often personified her social commentary on contemporary Anglo and Indian lifestyles, and won several top awards at Indian Market. More recently she also creates bronze sculpture and multi-media installations. Her work has been exhibited throughout the country, and is in collections at the Heard Museum, the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Albuquerque Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to these accomplishments, Nora is a video producer and a writer, and has published several volumes of poetry. She was a Katrin H. Lamon Fellow at the School of American Research (1988-89), and in 2000 she was awarded the Dubin Fellowship at the Indian Arts Research Center, also at SAR in Santa Fe. She was recently named winner of the NMAI's outdoor sculpture design competition with a piece that will be installed at the museum in 2007. An environmental landscape, Numbe Whageh (Our Center Place) was commissioned by The Albuquerque Museum, to provide a Native response to 500-year observance of Don Juan de Oñate's arrival in New Mexico. Naranjo-Morse participated in the Te Mata Gathering, an arts festival held in 2005 at the Toimairangi School of Maori Visual Culture in New Zealand and in 2003 she received an Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art from the Eiteljorg Museum. Naranjo-Morse's most recent video works have looked at the creation of art and people's relationship to art. INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER – 2401 12TH ST. NW – ALBQ., NM Contact: Tazbah McCullah, email tmccullah@indianpueblo.com or call (505) 724-3519 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:00:01 -0700 blueraingallery - 36 12/21/2007Contact: Denise Phetteplace, Gallery Director Phone: 505-954-9902 Email: denise@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY SHOW FEATURES NEW WORK BY RANDALL LAGRO AND JIM VOGEL SANTA FE, N.M. [October 18, 2007] – Blue Rain Gallery is hosting a show of new work by two of its most celebrated artists, painters Randall LaGro and Jim Vogel. The show runs from December 21, 2007 to January 14, 2008 and will be at the gallery‘s Santa Fe location at 130 Lincoln Avenue. In his newest work, Randall LaGro pursues his intuitive style of painting, blending layers of understated imagery and color to create works of ethereal beauty. One of LaGro‘s new canvases, "The Daughters of Mercy," combines subtle figures and a sense of architecture in a night image. "There‘s a peace about it," says LaGro. "A lot of my figures are about contentment and contemplation." Those themes continue to resonate with LaGro and are intensified in the smaller, 12x12 canvases that he is working on for the December show. "The smaller format has an intimacy that‘s more challenging for me to bring the viewer in," says LaGro. "I just keep trying to raise the bar and explore the nuances of my work." Jim Vogel continues his exploration of the expressive characters and colorful landscapes that embody northern New Mexico‘s agrarian culture. His new series includes six, detailed figure studies and a six-foot composition that combines those singular figures into one linear timeframe. The idea of interdependency is an important underlying theme in Vogel‘s new work. "None of us truly does anything ourselves," explains Vogel. "We‘re not that singular. To do anything, we‘re connected to the person down the line who helped us achieve our task." Vogel‘s figure studies will feature intricate, salvaged tin frames designed by his wife Christen. A reception will be held on Friday, December 21, 2007, at 5:00 pm at the Blue Rain Gallery, 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. # About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, and jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Thu, 18 Oct 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 32 11/1/2007Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy Phone: 505-751-0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY PLANS INAUGURAL EXHIBIT AT CONTEMPORARY ART EXPOSITION SANTA FE, N.M. [SEPTEMBER 17, 2007] – Blue Rain Gallery will be exhibiting at the Fourteenth Annual Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) in Chicago. This is the first time Blue Rain Gallery has participated in SOFA. Five of the gallery‘s most innovative contemporary artists will be showing their work at the exposition, which runs from Friday, November 2 through Sunday, November 4. SOFA is a contemporary art exposition that has gained international recognition for the variety of art presented including metal, ceramics, wood, fiber, and glass. "Exhibiting at SOFA is a testament to the direction that Blue Rain Gallery is heading; into a more contemporary market where we‘re paring down some of the regional connotations of being just a Native American, Southwest gallery," says Denise Phetteplace, director of Blue Rain Gallery. "SOFA gives us an opportunity to exist in a whole new market." Work by five Blue Rain Gallery Native American artists will be exhibited: glass and bronze sculpture by Tammy Garcia; bold, painted three-dimensional assemblage works by Tony Abeyta; inspiring new forms in glass highlighting Tlingit designs by Seattle-based glass artist Preston Singletary; textural ceramic vessels and forms by Wyandott artist Richard Zane Smith; and intricately-painted, hand-coiled pottery by Les Namingha. Some of the artists will be attending the show. "Many of our artists have gained a national presence and I think this show is a continuation of that national presence," comments Phetteplace. SOFA will be held at Chicago‘s Navy Pier and is open to the public. An opening night preview will be held on Thursday, November 1. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, and jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located in Santa Fe at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 30 10/5/2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Painter Kevin a. Short Opens Show at Blue Rain Gallery on October 5, 2007 Contemporary Artist Offers Viewers a "Real Piece of the Southwest" Santa Fe, New Mexico. July 31, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced the anticipated opening of a two-week show of Kevin a. Short‘s work on Friday, October 5, 2007 at their Santa Fe, NM gallery. The show will include several oil paintings depicting the inspirational scenes Short finds in New Mexico. "The Southwest has always been and continues to be a treasure trove of inspiration," said Short. "I gravitate mostly towards the territories of tribal nations, like Taos Pueblo. Taos and Santa Fe figure heavily in my work." The show will highlight two themes that Short believes weave through his work. First, intriguing colors and the interplay of color on the canvas. Short uses a palette of warm and cool colors, but never black, creating multiple layers of color. Second, the simple wonders and ironies found in the Southwest. "I am comfortable painting all the behind-the-scenes, locales and moments I find," Short said. "I don‘t worry about clichés or obligation. Staying true to responding emotionally as an artist keeps my work free to connect with others, avoiding nostalgia." Short hopes that viewers and collectors will look at his work and take away a moment; a glimpse of a "real piece of the Southwest". "Illuminating the subtleties that are almost overlooked gives this area its rich flavor," said Short. A reception with Short will be held on October 5, 2007, at 5:30 pm at the Blue Rain Gallery, 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. "Kevin‘s contemporary impressionist-style captures the emotional essence of landscapes and scenes rather than exact renderings of them," said Blue Rain Gallery owner, Leroy Garcia. "He is adept at creating a connection that invites the viewer to be a part of his painting through their own imagination." For more information about Short‘s show and other events at Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. ### Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists are available upon request. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is a pre-eminent contemporary Native American gallery featuring an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, jewelry, kachinas and fiber arts. With locations in Taos and Santa Fe, NM, Blue Rain Gallery welcomes art collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts from across the globe. For more information on Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 28 9/10/2007Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy Phone: 505-751-0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston Museum of Natural Science Adds Tammy Garcia Sculpture to Hall of the Americas Contemporary Native American Artist Enjoys a Place in Museum‘s Permanent Collection SANTA FE, N.M. [September 10, 2007] – Tammy Garcia, innovative Native American artist, has sold a bronze sculpture, titled "Element 3" to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for inclusion in their John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas permanent exhibit. The sculpture will be on display beginning in September 2007. "Tammy‘s work expresses the continuity between the past and the present," said museum Curator of Anthropology, Dr. Dirk Tuerenhout. "The bronze sculpture we are adding to our collection is very similar to designs seen in Pre-Columbian art yet is strikingly contemporary at the same time." Garcia is an acclaimed artist with beginnings in pottery. She was raised in a family steeped in this traditional pueblo art form. However, she has pushed the boundaries with her passion and vision, creating pottery that is easily recognized given the explosion of cultural motifs on her pots as well as the unprecedented size of some her work. Never settling for the status quo, Garcia has conquered other mediums and is now accomplished in glass and bronze as well. Her work transcends the labels and expectations of "native" art through her innovation and risk-taking. "Tammy‘s artistry exemplifies that American Indian culture is still very much alive and vibrant," said Teurenhout. "Her work tells a story that I know will translate well to our general audience." The Hall of the Americas exhibit celebrates the diversity and accomplishments of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Their collection of rugs, pottery, beadwork, kachina dolls, and other objects highlight rich cultural traditions past and present. "I am honored that the Houston Museum is including my work in their permanent collection," said Garcia. "As I am often inspired by my cultural heritage, having ’Element 3‘ on display in an exhibit that spotlights Native Americans is particularly rewarding." About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, and jewelry. Blue Rain Gallery is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 31 9/7/2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Artists Ben Wright and Gerald Cournoyer Join Forces for Blue Rain Gallery Show in September Award-Winning Contemporary Artists Highlight Native American Culture in Their Work Santa Fe, New Mexico. July 31, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced a two-week show featuring the work of painters Gerald Cournoyer and Ben Wright at their Santa Fe, NM location. The show will run September 7-22, 2007, and will include over 25 paintings that bring historical and cultural influences to the canvas. Wright‘s contribution will consist of work that explores either a certain concept, such as the medicine wheel, or development of an artistic technique. Most of the pieces in the show are mixed media, using transparent inks and dyes that create a sense of depth and transparency over various underlays. "I feel each piece is a way to pass along the many teachings that have come my way through participation in Inipi - a Lakota purification ceremony," said Wright. "Each piece is a way to express these ideas for healing ourselves and our Mother Earth, through the traditions of the ’Old Indian Way‘." Cournoyer‘s work offers a more abstract interpretation of his American Indian culture. His paintings in the joint show will attempt to tell stories through shapes, size, composition and color, capturing dreams, visions and unexplained events that take place in our lives. "My designs represent the worlds of life on earth and the after life," Cournoyer said. "I use complementary colors to represent the relationship of these two worlds and how we walk in balance. When I add a figurative element, like a bird, it becomes a messenger. Animals tell us something, if we listen." A reception with Cournoyer and Wright will be held on September 14, 2007, at 5:30 pm at the Blue Rain Gallery, 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. "Both Ben and Gerald present powerful images and bold colors in their work," said Blue Rain Gallery owner Leroy Garcia. "They are rooted in their deep respect for Native American culture and heritage, thus offering the viewer a contemporary interpretation of what is sacred to them and their people." For more information about Cournoyer and Wright‘s show and other events at Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. ### Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists are available upon request. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is a pre-eminent contemporary Native American gallery featuring an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, jewelry, kachinas and fiber arts. With locations in Taos and Santa Fe, NM, Blue Rain Gallery welcomes art collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts from across the globe. For more information on Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 27 8/28/2007Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy Phone: 505-751-0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THE MUSEUM OF INDIAN ARTS AND CULTURE ADDS A SCULPTURE BY TAMMY GARCIA TO ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION SANTA FE, N.M. [August 28, 2007] – The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe has purchased a limited edition glass sculpture by renowned Blue Rain Gallery artist Tammy Garcia. The sculpture, titled "Out of Sight," will be part of the museum‘s permanent collection. The sand carved glass sculpture mounted on a black granite base depicts a Native American man looking into the distance. The intricately carved sculpture, which is over seven feet tall, is one of a limited edition of seven. Shelby Tisdale, director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, selected the piece during the 2007 Indian Market. " ’Out of Sight‘ really grabbed my attention and spoke to me because of its strong imagery," says Tisdale. She says that "Out of Sight" will be placed in the museum‘s lobby just inside the front entrance. "It‘s an ideal space for this piece because this sculpture invites visitors to come in and seek what is beyond that point, what‘s inside the museum, and what there is to learn," explains Tisdale. The museum has one other piece by Garcia in its permanent collection. "I love Tammy‘s work," says Tisdale. "She is always pushing boundaries and seeking that next, new thing she can do." Currently, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is exhibiting a selection of Garcia‘s sculpture in the museum garden. Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 29 8/15/2007Blue Rain Gallery Readies for Annual Santa Fe Indian Market Native American Art Gallery Prepares for August Event with a Showcase of Award-Winning Artists Click here for a list of events. Santa Fe, New Mexico. May 29, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced the events they will host in conjunction with the 84th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market in August, the biggest event held in Santa Fe, NM. Every August, historic Santa Fe is transformed into a Native American artist‘s and art collector‘s paradise. Santa Fe Indian Market is the largest Native American Indian Market in the world and the multiple events Blue Rain Gallery holds in conjunction with the market create their biggest show of the year. "With over 80 years of historical significance as an art destination, the annual Santa Fe Indian Market attracts tens of thousands of fine art collectors from all over the country to this popular event every year," said Leroy Garcia, owner of Blue Rain Gallery. "It is a time of year to view new and innovative art works created by the best award-winning Native American artists." Because there are more buyers than there are pieces of art, the gallery‘s infamous "lottery" will be held the morning of Friday, August 17, to purchase one of the highly sought after pieces of pottery from a few of the most well-regarded artists including Tammy Garcia, Les Namingha, and Richard Zane Smith. Gallery doors will open at 8 am to preview the pieces included in the lottery. Additionally, glass blowing demonstrations by the heralded Preston Singletary will be held on Friday, August 17 and Saturday, August 18. New works will be unveiled each day. Over 15 artists will be on-hand at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe to personally discuss their work through a series of catered receptions held August 15-19. Participating artists include Tammy Garcia, Tony Abeyta, Preston Singletary, Les Namingha, Richard Zane Smith, Larry Vasquez, Norma Howard, Hyrum Joe, Mateo Romero, Yellowbird, Maria Samora, Felix Vigil, Russell Sanchez, Jamie Okuma, and Gerald Cournoyer. Wednesday, August 15 – 10 am to 8 pm Reception at 5 pm featuring: Norma Howard – watercolor paintings Hyrum Joe – drawings and paintings Yellowbird - pottery Mateo Romero – paintings Larry Vasquez – jewelry Maria Samora – jewelry Thursday, August 16 – 10 am to 8 pm Reception at 5 pm featuring: Felix Vigil – paintings Tammy Garcia – glass and bronze sculpture Jamie Okuma – soft sculpture Russell Sanchez – pottery Gerald Cournoyer – paintings Larry Vasquez – jewelry Maria Samora – jewelry Friday, August 17 – 8 am to 8 pm Pottery Show & Sale featuring the work of Tammy Garcia, Les Namingha, and Richard Zane Smith – Lottery at approximately 10 am Glass blowing demonstration by Preston Singletary, 11 am to 4 pm Reception at 5 pm featuring: Preston Singletary – glass sculpture Tony Abeyta – paintings Larry Vasquez – jewelry Maria Samora – jewelry Saturday, August 18 – 10 am to 6 pm Glass blowing demonstration by Preston Singletary, 11 am to 4 pm "Indian Market is always a very exciting time of year for the gallery and our artists," said Garcia. "It is a thrill for the artists and those that appreciate their work to have the opportunity to interact and immerse themselves in the finest contemporary Indian arts and culture." Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists' are available upon request. Wed, 6 Jun 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 21 8/3/2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Artist Tony Abeyta Opens Show at Blue Rain Gallery on August 3, 2007 Celebrated Contemporary Native Artist Unveils Several Pieces that Took Him in "New Directions" Santa Fe, New Mexico. July 24, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced the anticipated opening of a one-week show of Tony Abeyta‘s work on Friday, August 3, 2007 at their Santa Fe, NM gallery. The show will include several black and white drawings, paintings, and some three dimensional pieces. "I never want to be labeled ’predictable‘," said Abeyta. "I want to challenge myself and surprise the viewer, deviating from previous years‘ works. I thrive on the unexpected and believe people will find some of that in this show." The show will center primarily around black and white drawings, created using charcoal and ink wash. The large scale, graphic images are based on the underworld . Botanicals, animals, and spirits expressed in the drawings are not recognizable as images seen in every day life. He hopes the work will express a sense of nature and how it is changing, sometimes against its will. "Some of the work is intended to comment on the idea of the fragile beauty found in our environment," Abeyta said. "Delicate things are trampled on as humans try to co-exist with nature and, even more so, as they try to tame it via cloning and hybrids. An example of this thought is expressed in ’Flower Bombs 2‘, which depicts a flower of great beauty with superimposed World War II-era bombs falling around it." Abeyta likes working in black and white because it s a "very honest approach." "Black and white is void of the seduction that color has," said Abeyta. "The images are exactly what they are; there is integrity to them, while also allowing for the viewer‘s individual interpretation." A reception with Abeyta will be held on August 3, 2007, at 5:30 pm at the Blue Rain Gallery, 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. "Tony‘s shows are always highly anticipated," said Blue Rain Gallery owner, Leroy Garcia. "He enthralls us by presenting work that bears his marks of distinction as well as pieces that we wouldn‘t normally associate with his artistic perspective. That‘s what makes him such a dynamic and well-respected artist." For more information about Abeyta‘s show and other events at Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists' are available upon request. Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 26 7/20/2007Blue Rain Gallery Features Painter Jim Vogel to Celebrate Spanish Market Contemporary Native American Art Gallery Hosts Special Reception for Notable New Mexican Artist Santa Fe, New Mexico. June 4, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced a special exhibition they will host in conjunction with the 56th Annual Traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe this July. To celebrate New Mexico‘s vibrant Spanish culture, Blue Rain Gallery presents new works from painter Jim Vogel. The innovative paintings that will awash the gallery in July constitute Vogel‘s largest show of the year. Blue Rain Gallery will host a catered reception on July 20th at 5:30 pm to give collectors the opportunity to talk with Vogel personally about his stunning views of life in the New Mexico of yesteryear. Vogel will show 15 new works, many of which will offer his trademark glimpse into "Old World New Mexico". The scenes and subjects of Vogel‘s paintings may be more difficult to see in today‘s New Mexico, but are forever preserved in his work. "As a New Mexican painter, I try to capture and interpret what goes on around me in every day life," said Vogel. "I pull back the layers of modern life not to be nostalgic, but to emphasize that the same values that define our history are still present today – we may just have to dig a little deeper to find them." In addition, Blue Rain Gallery will exhibit the works of sculptor Gustavo Victor Goler whose work is also ripe with Hispanic themes. Goler will exhibit Santos rooted in some of the little-known facts about Catholic saints. His hand carved, wooden sculptures each tell a unique story. "The rich Hispanic culture of New Mexico is celebrated in the works of these two talented artists," said Leroy Garcia, owner of Blue Rain Gallery. "Their contemporary approach coupled with their perspectives entrenched in history and heritage, make for compelling art not-to-be missed." ### Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists' are available upon request. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is a pre-eminent contemporary Native American gallery featuring an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, jewelry, kachinas and fiber arts. With locations in Taos and Santa Fe, NM, Blue Rain Gallery welcomes art collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts from across the globe. For more information on Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Wed, 6 Jun 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 22 6/27/2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Blue Rain Gallery Welcomes Painter Ben Wright Award-Winning Contemporary Native American Artist Added to Gallery‘s Offering Santa Fe, New Mexico. July 2, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced the addition of Ben Wright to their core of elite artists. Wright draws on his Cherokee roots to depict the historical forces, namely the beliefs and mysticism, of the North American Indian tribes. Striving for "balance, connectivity, and spirituality" in his life and his work, Wright relies on colors, numbers, and shapes to define his art. Of particular prominence are the medicine wheel and four directions of the wind which guide many of the traditions of the Plain‘s Indians that come alive in his contemporary work. "I have been able to explore the depths of the ancient Plains cultures," said Wright. "Both visually and psychologically, this knowledge has shown me that the beliefs and guidance of the old ways still very much apply today." Wright‘s bold work is part of many corporate, museum and private collections including those of Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris. He was honored by serving as the first artist-in-residence at the Frederic Remington Museum in Ogdensburg, New York. Wright is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and the San Francisco Academy of Art. "Ben‘s work blends powerful imagery and bold colors to present the viewer with a starkly modern perspective of traditional Native scenes," said Leroy Garcia, owner of Blue Rain Gallery. "Showcasing his innovative work is an honor for Blue Rain Gallery." Blue Rain Gallery will be presenting a show of their two newest artists, Wright and painter Gerald Cournoyer, on Friday, July 7, 2007, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at their Santa Fe gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue. ### About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is a pre-eminent contemporary Native American gallery featuring an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, jewelry, kachinas and fiber arts. With locations in Taos and Santa Fe, NM, Blue Rain Gallery welcomes art collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts from across the globe. For more information on Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 25 6/6/2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Blue Rain Gallery Welcomes Painter Gerald Cournoyer Award-Winning Contemporary Native American Artist Added to Gallery‘s Offering Santa Fe, New Mexico. June 6, 2007 – Blue Rain Gallery, a premier contemporary Native American art gallery, today announced the addition of Gerald Cournoyer to their core of elite artists. Cournoyer is an award-winning painter and a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe. The artist grew up on the Yankton Sioux reservation, the youngest of 14 children, and is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, the University of South Dakota, and has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. Cournoyer‘s paintings are a reflection of his culture. His designs are inspired by Native American beadwork and quillwork as well as animals, landscapes and visions of the afterlife. "I want to produce work which tells many different stories," says Cournoyer. "I see my art as storytelling through movement, color, form, and composition that takes viewers through a visually pleasing dance." Cournoyer has won several awards and scholarships recognizing his work. He is an adjunct professor of art at the University of Oklahoma, which underscores his passion for education. His work has been exhibited across the U.S. as well as in China and Italy. Cournoyer‘s work may be seen at Blue Rain Gallery. He will be a featured artist during the gallery‘s Indian Market celebration, August 15-19, 2007, and will personally be in the Santa Fe gallery on August 16th to talk about his work. "We are thrilled to work with such a vibrant, progressive artist like Gerald," said Leroy Garcia, owner of Blue Rain Gallery. "His work is so vivid. It arrests the viewer and immerses them in the story being expressed on the canvas." ### About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is a pre-eminent contemporary Native American gallery featuring an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, jewelry, kachinas and fiber arts. With locations in Taos and Santa Fe, NM, Blue Rain Gallery welcomes art collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts from across the globe. For more information on Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. Fri, 22 Jun 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 24 6/1/2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY PRESENTS A SHOW OF NEW WORK BY RANDALL LAGRO AND DEBORAH RAEL-BUCKLEY SANTA FE, N.M. [APRIL 4, 2007] – Blue Rain Gallery will present a show of new art work by painter Randall LaGro and sculptor Deborah Rael-Buckley on June 1 through June 15, 2007. The show will be held at the gallery‘s Santa Fe location at 130 Lincoln Avenue. An artist reception will be held on Friday, June 1 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the gallery. In "Quiet Alchemy," LaGro‘s newest collection of paintings and monotypes, he continues to explore the subconscious and society‘s greater shared conscious. He pushes himself, using new techniques and subtle changes guided by contemplation and silence. The result is added nuance to his fantastical paintings and monotypes full of depth, beauty, and mystery. "There‘s a quietness to my work and silence has always been an important term to me," says LaGro. "It‘s how I get subtle direction for my work." LaGro says silence is as important to the viewing of his work, as it is to its creation. "I‘m trying to slow things down and ask the viewer to take enough time to be quiet and see if this work resonates with them." Deborah Rael-Buckley creates life-size chair and figure ceramic sculptures layered with meaning and rich symbolism. Each stoneware piece is coil built without the benefit of forms or armature. The sculptures feature branches, bones, ropes, writing, and symbols intertwined to create negative spaces and a play of light and shadow. The elements coalesce into commentary about culture, religion, and family. Rael-Buckley‘s newest work is informed by her research into her ancestors and her reconnection with New Mexico after her recent return to the state. "I love the New Mexican landscape and the state‘s varied cultures. My work is related to that and my feeling of being rooted here," says Rael-Buckley. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional contemporary artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze and glass sculpture. Blue Rain has two locations in Taos and Santa Fe. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505-751-0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy Phone: 505-751-0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. Wed, 4 Apr 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 20 5/20/2007FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Opens "Origins in Tradition" Exhibit Showcasing Works by Tammy Garcia Native American Artist Displays Bronze Sculptures at Santa Fe Museum Taos, New Mexico. May 7, 2007 – Tammy Garcia, innovative Native American artist, will exhibit four monumental bronze sculptures at the "Origins in Tradition" exhibit, opening May 20, 2007 at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, NM. The exhibit features six large-scale sculptural works by two pueblo women. "Tammy‘s well-known original pottery works were truly experimental yet steeped in the traditional artistic style of the pueblo where she grew up," said museum director Shelby Tisdale. "Her more recent work in bronze and glass provide other mediums that redefine the boundaries and we are extremely excited to have her beautiful bronze sculptures on exhibition for the next 11 months." Thirty-seven year-old Garcia is a pioneer in raising the awareness of Southwest Indian art. Her work transcends the labels and expectations of "native" art through her innovation and risk-taking. "Tammy is a visionary artist," said Tisdale. "She creates a delicate balance between a sense of place that is expressed in her pueblo worldview and the vitality of modern day life, no matter what medium she is working in." Garcia will display four bronze works, all over six feet tall. Three sculptures will reside in the garden and one will be inside the main entrance of the museum. "It‘s a great honor to have my work selected for this exhibit," said Garcia. "‘Origins in Tradition‘ is such an appropriate title because I have built my success by drawing inspiration from my rich heritage and, at the same time, not allowing myself to be bound by it. The bronze sculptures in this exhibition embody that." "Origins in Tradition" runs from May 20, 2007 through April 27, 2008. Garcia will be speaking at the exhibition‘s opening at 1:00 pm MDT on May 20, 2007. More information about the exhibit may be found at http://www.miaclab.org/events/. ### Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and an interview with the artist available upon request. About Tammy Garcia & Blue Rain Gallery Tammy Garcia perpetuates her creative lineage of Native American potters. She learned each intricate step of her art, from hand-harvesting clay from the hillsides to polishing pots with natural stones, from her mother and grandmother. Never relinquishing her heritage, she has successfully pushed the envelope of traditional Native fine art by expressing pueblo imagery and forms in innovative, contemporary ways including bronze and glass. Garcia‘s work is displayed in numerous museums including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian as well as in private collections. Her artistic achievements are documented in the book, Tammy Garcia: Form without Boundaries. Garcia‘s work can be seen at the Blue Rain Gallery locations in Taos and Santa Fe, NM. The two galleries welcome art collectors, aficionados, and enthusiasts from across the globe. Primarily promoting New Mexico artists, Blue Rain Gallery is the exclusive gallery offering Garcia‘s work. For more information on Tammy Garcia and Blue Rain Gallery, please visit www.blueraingallery.com. Thu, 7 Jun 2007 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 23 3/23/2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY CELEBRATES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY AND A TRADITION OF INNOVATIVE ART TAOS, N.M. [November 20, 2006] – Blue Rain Gallery will celebrate its 15th anniversary Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24, 2007 at the Taos gallery located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, NM- 505-751-0066 In celebration of the anniversary, the gallery will host a series of special events featuring some of its most prominent artists including: Tammy Garcia, Tony Abeyta, Randall LaGro, Preston Singletary, Jim Vogel, Star Liana York, Jamie Okuma, Felix Vigil, Russell Sanchez, Richard Zane Smith, Les Namingha, Maria Samora and Larry Vasquez. These award-winning artists will exhibit new and innovative art pieces throughout the recently remodeled Taos gallery. Check the gallery‘s website for detailed event information: www.blueraingallery.com. In 2001, the gallery expanded beyond Native American art to feature a broad range of innovative, contemporary regional art. "I see Blue Rain Gallery heading in a much more refined area, focusing on innovation and continuing to look for art that is different and well executed," says Leroy Garcia, owner of Blue Rain Gallery. Today, the gallery features more than 20 world-renowned artists, and many rising stars, who work in a range of mediums: glass, painting, bronze sculpture, jewelry, and more. In 1992, Blue Rain Gallery opened on the north side of Taos and featured a handful of Native American painters and potters. Eight years ago, it moved to its current location on historic Taos Plaza. Five years ago, Blue Rain Gallery‘s 10th anniversary show attracted over 500 collectors and visitors from all over the nation. In 2004, the gallery added a second location in Santa Fe. ### About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting the work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze and glass sculpture, and jewelry in two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505.751.0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone 505.954.9902. www.blueraingallery.com Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists' are available upon request. Mon, 20 Nov 2006 05:00:01 -0700 blueraingallery - 19 12/15/2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY‘S "INNOVATIONS IN ICONOGRAPHY" WINTER SHOW FEATURES WORKS FROM ARTISTS RANDALL LAGRO, JIM VOGEL, AND GUSTAVO VICTOR GOLER Santa Fe, NM {October 10, 2006} Blue Rain Gallery will be showcasing three well renowned New Mexican artists and their representations of iconic images. Randall LaGro, Jim Vogel and Gustavo Victor Goler are distinctly different in their styles and portrayals, but relate to one common theme; iconography. The show will run from December 15, 2006 – January 6, 2007 at the gallery‘s Santa Fe location at 130 Lincoln Avenue, 505.954.9902. For collectors, and admirers this special group exhibition is rare opportunity to view brand-new works by some of the top contemporary New Mexican artists working today. The symbolic significance attached to images is constant in aspects of these artist‘s works. This year they have fashioned representations of classical figures, each in new and innovative ways. Randall LaGro will be presenting 15 paintings and adding a modern twist to what are traditional forms. As a perceptive painter he will be using religious images as well as others in his works to "encompass the modern soulfulness of our humanity," LaGro expresses. "I always feel like I‘m telling a story, not just painting," conveys Jim Vogel. For this exhibit Vogel is building on one story in particular. He will be showing 12 separate images of Shepherds, allowing this prominent religious figure‘s story to be visualized. Like the above artists, Gustavo Victor Goler will focus on a classic iconic figure. He will be introducing different faces of the Mother Mary with Christ or the Christ child in the three-dimensional form. The scenes will be rearranged to create a fresh interpretation of a traditional subject. For Goler, "This work keeps [him] connected to the religion and allows [him] to grow and mature." Blue Rain Gallery is proud to present these fresh and rare interpretations of iconic forms that offer a grand display of imagination, originality, and explicit worth. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: Janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists are available upon request. ### Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting the work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze and glass sculpture, and jewelry in two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505-751-0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. www.blueraingallery.com Tue, 10 Oct 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 18 10/6/2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY FEATURES NEW WORKS BY PLEIN AIRE PAINTER, KEVIN a. SHORT Santa Fe, NM {September 6, 2006} Blue Rain Gallery announces a special exhibit from an extraordinary plein aire painter, Kevin a. Short. The show runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 23, 2006 at Blue Rain Gallery, 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. Short's remarkable ability to capture the New Mexico light upon the land is unmistakable. The subtle color palette and his thick brush strokes, masterfully placed, create an impressionistic view of the New Mexico landscape. Make plans now to visit our Santa Fe gallery to view these striking new works. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting the work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, kachinas, southwestern jewelry, and baskets in two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505-751-0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. www.blueraingallery.com Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. Wed, 6 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 7 9/15/2006BLUE RAIN GALLERY FEATURES NEW WORKS BY RANDALL LAGRO SANTA FE, N.M. [August 23, 2006] – Blue Rain Gallery announces a special exhibition of new works by acclaimed, intuitive artist Randall LaGro. The show runs from September 15 to October 1 at Blue Rain Gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Don‘t miss the artist‘s reception, a one night event on Friday, September 15 from 5 - 7 p.m. This is an wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with artist Randall LaGro. Among the most renowned painters of contemporary regional art, Randall LaGro presents his latest works for this special exhibition. This is a stunning new show of intuitive works with oil and mixed media on panel. He has a wonderful collection of mystical paintings that require the viewer to interpret and create their own meaning. Don't miss this opportunity to meet the man behind these intriguing works. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain has two locations in Taos and Santa Fe. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505.751.0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505.954.9902. For more information, visit www.blueraingallery.com. Fri, 1 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 6 8/16/2006BLUE RAIN GALLERY KICKS OFF INDIAN MARKET WITH GROUNDBREAKING EXHIBIT OF CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN ART Click here for a list of events. SANTA FE, NM (June 13, 2006)—Just as an estimated 100,000 visitors from all over the world gather in Santa Fe for the 84th annual Santa Fe Indian Market, Blue Rain Gallery opens its eagerly anticipated Indian Market Celebration 2006. The 5-day event runs August 16 – August 20, 2006 at the gallery‘s Santa Fe location at 130 Lincoln Avenue. For collectors, and admirers of Native American art, this special group exhibition is rare opportunity to view brand-new works by some of the top contemporary Native artists working today. "This show represents a rare chance to see the best of the best in contemporary Native American art," says Tammy Garcia, one of Blue Rain Gallery‘s signature artists. "For close to a year I‘ve been preparing a body of work for this show and I feel like I‘m introducing a lot of groundbreaking work that I‘m really excited about." Garcia says her goal is to have 10-12 new clay works for this show, as well as a body of new work in bronze— including an 82" monumental bronze sculpture. "There are also going to be a couple of surprises at the show that will be a first for me," reveals Garcia. In addition to Garcia‘s never-before-seen works, Tony Abeyta will unveil a stunning collection of new paintings and mixed media pieces. Jamie Okuma will introduce her newest collection of finely crafted, soft sculpture dolls. Richard Zane Smith, Al Qoyawayma, and Les Namingha will dazzle visitors with their innovative new ceramic works, and Preston Singletary will have several new pieces of hand blown sand-carved glass sculpture for sale. New paintings from artists Hyrum Joe, Norma Howard, and Mateo Romero will be on display and two acclaimed artists, new to Blue Rain Gallery‘s line-up, will debut their latest work at the show. These include jeweler Larry Vasquez, and stone sculptor Orland Joe—the only Native American member of the prestigious Cowboy Artists group. "We really work hard to bring new and innovative Native art to this show, says Blue Rain Gallery Director Peter Stoessel. "It‘s wonderful to see our clients‘ reaction to the art. And for me, personally, it‘s very satisfying to see all the hard work and energy that goes into putting on the show culminate at the event." ### Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting the work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, kachinas, southwestern jewelry, and baskets in two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505-751-0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For a complete calendar of Indian Market Celebration 2006 events visit Blue Rain Gallery‘s website: www.blueraingallery.com Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 5 7/1/2006BLUE RAIN GALLERY‘S SPANISH MARKET SHOW FEATURES NEW WORK FROM GUSTAVO VICTOR GOLER AND JIM VOGEL SANTA FE, N.M. [May 22, 2006] – Blue Rain Gallery will celebrate the 2006 Spanish Market with a show featuring two highly-regarded artists, sculptor Gustavo Victor Goler and painter Jim Vogel. The show runs from July 1 – 31, and will be at the gallery‘s location on 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. An artists‘ reception will be held on Friday, July 7 at 5 p.m. at the gallery. Gustavo Victor Goler, a New Mexico-based santero sculptor and past Spanish Market Grand Prize winner, conducts extensive research on saints and the history of New Mexican, European, and Latin American carvings. Goler combines his research with deft carving ability and rich colors to create detailed, three-dimensional carvings of saints surrounded by atypical iconography. Goler‘s newest work for the Blue Rain Gallery show includes santeros in elaborately carved, architectural nichos. Jim Vogel deftly weaves color and emotion, detail and shape in paintings that tell the story of the common man and working the land in New Mexico. Vogel brings two sets of new paintings to the Spanish Market show. The first group focuses on New Mexican landscapes. In the second, Vogel depicts New Mexico folklore and myths that have crossed cultures and been told for generations. Many of Vogel‘s paintings feature beautiful tin frames handmade by his wife, Christen Vogel. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, sculpture and bronze, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain has two locations in Taos and Santa Fe. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505.751.0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505.954.9902. For more information, visit www.blueraingallery.com. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists are available upon request. Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 4 6/1/2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY PRESENTS A ONE-MAN SHOW BY NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED PAINTER SCOTT MATTLIN TAOS, N.M. [April 3, 2006] – Blue Rain Gallery presents a one-man show of paintings by Scott Mattlin from June 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006 at the gallery‘s Taos location at 117 South Plaza. An artist reception will be held on DAY, DATE from TIME to TIME at the gallery. Mattlin is a nationally-recognized figurative painter who captures private moments and landscapes with his beautiful impressionistic style. His figurative work juxtaposes the traditional with the contemporary, and balances his insight into private moments with an air of mystery. Warm light, rich colors, powerful brushstrokes, and an almost sculptural paint quality add layer upon layer of depth and interest to each of Mattlin‘s masterpieces. Many of his canvases at the Blue Rain Gallery show will be framed in antique mahogany hand-carved frames. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain has two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505-751-0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 8 5/5/2006 Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Director of Communications Phone: 505-751-0066 Email: Janet@blueraingallery.com Images available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY PRESENTS A ONE-MAN SHOW BY ACCLAIMED PAINTER SEAN DIEDIKER SANTA FE, N.M. [March 29, 2006] – Blue Rain Gallery presents a one-man show of paintings by Sean Diediker from May 5, 2006 through May 31, 2006 at the gallery‘s location on 130 Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe. An artist reception will be held on Friday, May 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the gallery. Diediker has been called a "painter‘s painter" for his expressive canvases that relate biblical allegories in a contemporary manner. Diediker draws the viewer into his original portrait, landscape, and still life paintings by combining strong composition, bold colors, and symbols of modern life. Diediker is based in Utah but recently completed a yearlong trip around the world where he set up studios in Australia, Switzerland, and Italy. The changes of venue inspired him, but his interest in the human condition and his ability to render the ordinary extraordinary remains the same. About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. The gallery features an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, bronze sculpture, glass art, kachinas, southwest jewelry, and baskets. Blue Rain has two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505-751-0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. Phone 505-954-9902. For more information, visit the Blue Rain Gallery web site at www.blueraingallery.com. Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 9 3/17/2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Blue Rain Gallery Takes Contemporary Native American Art to Palm Springs, CA. New work, demonstrations and events scheduled in collaboration with Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. SANTA FE, N.M. [February 7, 2006] — Blue Rain Gallery proudly presents its unparalleled stable of contemporary Native American artists for this year‘s show in Palm Springs, California. In its continuing mission to bring the foremost contemporary Native American art to diverse communities and cities throughout the country, Blue Rain Gallery is pleased to travel to Palm Springs, CA. The packed lineup of events will unveil exciting works from the leading voices in contemporary native art, including vital new pieces from Tammy Garcia and Tony Abeyta. Blue Rain‘s internationally acclaimed artists will present their work with events and demonstrations scheduled from March 17 - 19, 2006, at the Palm Springs Convention Center in sun-drenched Palm Springs, California. This highly anticipated celebration will begin with a gala dinner in conjunction with the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on the evening of Friday, March 17. (For more information on the gala dinner, contact Michael Hammond, Museum Director, at 760.778.1079). The following days will be packed with opportunities to meet the artists and witness their creative brilliance in the form of new work executed specifically for this show. A select group from the finest Native American artists working today will be in attendance to meet collectors and present their nonpareil art. Master glass-artist, Preston Singletary will perform glass-blowing demonstrations open to the public on both Saturday and Sunday, March 18 –19. The exciting and ground-breaking art to be displayed includes a broad range of mediums and styles. From the incomparable works of Tammy Garcia and Tony Abeyta, to the stirring artistic voices of Richard Zane Smith, Al Qöyawayma, Les Namingha, Jamie Okuma and Felix Vigil, the three day event will be full of opportunities to view expressions of excellence in native arts. Blue Rain Gallery is thrilled to introduce highly innovative and distinguished jewelers Larry Vasquez and Dwayne Maktima. Northwest artist Preston Singletary will, along with demonstrations of glass-blowing technique, uncover his stunning creations that capture native Tlingit imagery in the crystalline splendor of glass. Also on hand will be famed artists Jody Naranjo, Joe Ben, Jr., Mateo Romero, Russell Sanchez and Bruce LaFountain. Seize this rare opportunity to meet some of the most celebrated and respected contemporary artists working today. All of the works will be available to the public for the first time. This event assembles seminal artworks that honor innovation, contemporaneity, and craftsmanship. Blue Rain Gallery represents only the finest up-and-coming talent as well as its premium stable of established, unsurpassed artistic voices. These events mark a rare occasion where the public has the opportunity to collect from some of the top names in contemporary art. Don‘t miss this chance! Join Blue Rain Gallery and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum in celebrating the highest accomplishments of native art. Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res scans and interviews with the artists are available upon request. Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 10 12/16/2005Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res scan of images and an interview with the artist is available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN CELEBRATES ICONIC MOMENTS AT SANTA FE GALLERY SANTA FE, N.M. [October 18, 2005] – Blue Rain Gallery is delighted to announce its annual holiday show, Iconic Moments. Featuring the newest iconographic representations from three celebrated artists—this event is not to be missed. Gustavo Victor Goler, Randall LaGro and Jim Vogel will present new works, each characteristic of their individual artistic voices, relating to aspects of iconography. The show runs from December 16, 2005 to January 15, 2006 at Blue Rain Gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Iconography, broadly, is the study of representational images in art. It involves identifying both what a work of art represents—its literal meaning—and the deeper significance of what is represented—its symbolic meaning. Artist Randall LaGro‘s work focuses upon aspects of symbolism and intuition. His works bear the inscriptions of historical icons with distressed paint, indentions, gold leaf—all the while encompassing LaGro‘s intuitive process and concern for the sacred. Collectible, illuminating and of great visual appeal, LaGro‘s newest artwork should be carefully considered by anyone who cares passionately about art. Icons, specifically, were depictions of Christ or other holy figures used as an aid to devotion in early Byzantine churches. Art history is flooded with familiar examples of the form. Centering upon the "cycles" of the incarnation and childhood of Jesus, these works include The Annunciation, The Crucifixion, and The Last Supper. Master Santero, Gustavo Victor Goler, works from an informed historical perspective, rendering carvings based upon the stories of the saints. He incorporates modernized elements while following correct historical iconography. For the coming show, he will unveil four new pieces that focus upon the birth of Christ. These representations of Mary, Joseph and the Christ child will incorporate both two- and three-dimensional elements, illustrating the artist‘s nonpareil skill, comprehensive knowledge and distinctive style. Acclaimed painter Jim Vogel will also be presenting works based on a theme: the seven corporeal acts of mercy. His compassionate and energetic renderings, cased in the gem-like frames of his wife Christen, will each focus upon one of these seven acts: feeding the hungry; bringing water to the thirsty; clothing the naked; providing shelter for the homeless; visiting the imprisoned; comforting the sick; burying the dead. These archetypes of biblical teachings are rendered in colorful and narrative portraits characteristic of Vogel‘s art. Emphasizing the timeless nature of his subject, the artist portrays what he calls, simply, "the fundamental things we should do for one another". Celebrate Iconic Moments with Blue Rain Gallery. Don‘t miss this rare opportunity to view and collect from never-before seen works of compelling originality, importance and imaginative strength. Witness fresh artistic voices at this one-time event at Blue Rain‘s Santa Fe Gallery. Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 14 9/9/2005Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 2,2005 SANTA FE, N.M. – Blue Rain Gallery announces a special exhibition of new works on paper by acclaimed, intuitive artist Randall LaGro. The show runs from September 9 to 30 at Blue Rain Gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Don‘t miss the artist‘s reception, a one night event on Friday, September 9 from 5 - 7 p.m. This is an extraordinary opportunity to meet and talk with artist Randall LaGro. Among the most renowned painters of contemporary regional art, Randall LaGro presents his latest works on paper for this special exhibition. Born in Ohio, LaGro has made New Mexico his home and workshop for over fifteen years. Having discovered a voice for his intuitive and dynamic vision, LaGro translates his impressions into important and visionary works of art. The current works on paper signal a return to the artist‘s passions of printmaking and assemblage. LaGro‘s exceptional monotypes stand as refined and mysterious examples of the form, pulling imagery from the improvisational gestures of his creative imagination as well as the ledgers of art history. View the latest creations of this artist at the pinnacle of his career. This historic event provides enthusiasts and collectors a chance to survey a vital new body of work that reveals striking innovations of form and style. LaGro‘s imagery bridges the abstract and the representational, ranging from iconic figures to romantic narratives, intuitive landscapes to dreamlike revelations. Randall LaGro: Works on Paper explores the breadth of the artist‘s unique abilities. These works are accessible, immediate and highly collectible. Their complexity and honesty provide a forum for all who love art. Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 17 8/17/2005Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE blue rain gallery celebrates indian market with new work, shows and events latest tammy garcia monumental bronze sculpture to be unveiled SANTA FE, N.M. [June 3, 2005] — Blue Rain Gallery proudly presents its unparalleled stable of contemporary Native American artists for this year‘s Indian Market. The lineup of events will unveil exciting works from the leading voices in native art, including vital new pieces from Tammy Garcia and Tony Abeyta. All of Blue Rain‘s internationally acclaimed artists will present their latest work with events and openings scheduled from August 17 through August 21 at Blue Rain‘s Santa Fe Gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. The exciting and ground-breaking art to be displayed includes a broad range of mediums and styles. From the seminal works of Tammy Garcia and Tony Abeyta, to the stirring voices of Hyrum Joe and Joe Ben Jr., the three day event will be full of opportunities to view expressions of excellence in native arts. Alongside the new mixed media works of celebrated artist Tony Abeyta, Northwest artist Preston Singletary will uncover his stunning glass creations that capture native Tlingit imagery in the crystalline splendor of glass. Jamie Okuma will also be on hand to present her latest figures. Distinguished artists Les Namingha, Norma Howard and Felix Vigil will display their newest paintings. Maria Samora and Victoria Adams will have their latest jewelry pieces available for sale. Blue Rain Gallery will also exhibit the finest in ceramic art with legendary potters Al Qöyawayma, Richard Zane Smith and Les Namingha exhibiting new and innovative works in clay. In the most anticipated event of the summer, preeminent native artist Tammy Garcia will reveal her extremely coveted ceramic works as well as, the unveiling of her exciting monumental bronze sculpture standing eighty-nine inches high titled Transcendence. Seize this rare opportunity to meet the most celebrated and respected contemporary artists working today. Each will be on hand for their individual openings as they reveal their latest creations. All of these works will be available to the public for the first time. The novice as well as the serious collector should not miss this opportunity to witness exceptional and unique art from the most talented and sought-after native artists working today. This exhibition assembles seminal artworks that honor innovation, contemporaneity, and craftsmanship. Blue Rain Gallery represents only the finest up-and-coming talent as well as its premium stable of established, unsurpassed artistic voices. This Indian Market calendar of events marks the only occasion where the public has the opportunity to collect from the top names in contemporary art. Don‘t miss this chance to celebrate the highest achievements in art available only for these few days. - more - Calendar of Events: Artist Opening and Sale — Wednesday, August 17, 2005 5 - 8:00 p.m. • Hyrum Joe, Norma Howard and Joe Ben Jr.: New Paintings Artist Opening and Sale — Thursday, August 18, 2005 5 - 8:00 p.m. • Felix Vigil: New Paintings • Les Namingha: New Paintings • Al Qöyawayma: New Works in Clay • Preston Singletary: Hand Blown and Sand Carved Glass Sculpture • Tammy Garcia: Monumental Bronze Sculpture • Victoria Adams: New Jewelry • Maria Samora: New Jewelry Artist Opening and Sale — Friday, August 19, 2005 10:00 a.m. • Tammy Garcia, Richard Zane Smith and Les Namingha: New Works in Clay • Jamie Okuma: Hand-Beaded Soft Sculpture Dolls * These artists work will sell out and will only be available through a lottery for purchase. Names will be drawn randomly. Please contact Blue Rain Gallery for details. • Artist Opening and Sale — Friday, August 19, 2005 5 - 8:00 p.m. Tony Abeyta: Mixed Media Paintings Glass Blowing Demonstrations — Friday and Saturday, August 19, and 20, 2005 11:00 am - 4:00 p.m. • Preston Singletary, will again demonstrate his unique glass blowing techniques behind our Santa Fe gallery on Friday and Saturday. ### Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 15 6/1/2005Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artist are available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22,2005 RANDALL LAGRO UNVEILS POWERFUL NEW WORKS IN HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SOLO EXHIBITION (Santa Fe, New Mexico) Blue Rain Gallery is pleased to introduce new works by renowned painter, Randall LaGro, in an exclusive one-man show. The exhibition will hang in Blue Rain‘s Santa Fe gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue from June 1 through June 30, 2005. Blue Rain will unveil a prodigious exhibition of 20 new oil paintings on large-scale wood panels, as well as smaller works. The public is invited to attend the artist‘s reception on Friday, June 3, from 5-8 pm, and take advantage of a unique opportunity to discuss the paintings with the artist. LaGro‘s new works highlight his continuing dedication to a vision of painting that draws on classical technique, contemporary times, and an immersion in his own intuitive process. Resisting conscious intention, LaGro applies layers of paint in succession, slowing adding and removing glazes. The emerging forms and elements are enhanced for detail, obscured into ambiguity, or removed altogether. It is an unhurried process, in which LaGro relies on instinct to reach beyond the literal interpretation of form. The result is a masterful fusion of texture and color in which fragments of obscured figures and forms convey a sense of moving into the shadowy realm of the subconscious. LaGro deftly balances visceral abstraction with representational imagery to evoke personal introspection from the viewer. "I‘ve always felt that as a painter, my job, so to speak, has been kind of a mediator to draw people into themselves," says LaGro. In his newest series of paintings, LaGro has created moody tableaus that delve deep into the hidden layers of the human psyche. "For some reason, these new pieces have a more industrial feel to them than my previous work," says LaGro. "There‘s a variety of ominous landscapes and only a few figurative pieces in this series. Some of them have no figures at all. I think these relate to the darker side of life, and the idea that sometimes, you have to step into the shadows to move ahead." LaGro is quick to add that in spite of the predominant use of somber tones and imagery in these works, "there‘s always an aspect of hope." Indeed, within LaGro‘s landscapes, opposing qualities and emotions co-exist. The interaction between tension and calmness, darkness and light, despair and hope, appears to mirror the dualities of the human condition. Viewers of LaGro‘s new works will no doubt enjoy musing over the many possibilities of meaning. Blue Rain Gallery has represented LaGro for five years, according to Carolyn Duval, Director of Blue Rain‘s Taos gallery. "Randall is one of the most sought-after, successful artists in the gallery. His work consistently sells quickly." Excitement is already building among LaGro‘s dedicated collectors for the upcoming exhibition of his never-before seen works. Wed, 27 Sep 2006 05:00:01 -0600 blueraingallery - 13 5/2/2005Contact: Janet Caldwell-Cannedy, Communications Director, Blue Rain Gallery Phone: 800.414.4893 or 505.751.0066 Email: janet@blueraingallery.com High res images and interviews with the artists are available upon request. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLUE RAIN GALLERY HONORS TWO ARTISTS IN A NEW SHOW AT ITS SANTA FE GALLERY SANTA FE, N.M. [March 7, 2005] Blue Rain Gallery is pleased to introduce new work by two acclaimed artists, Richard Zane Smith and Felix Vigil, at a special two man show. The show runs from May 2, 2005 through May 31, 2005 at Blue Rain‘s gallery located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Join us for an artists‘ reception, a special one night event honoring the artists‘ work, at Blue Rain‘s Santa Fe Gallery on Friday, May 6 from 5 - 7 p.m. Richard Zane Smith, a widely-collected potter of Wyandot descent, uses delicate coils to build vessels inspired by nature and prehistoric Southwest pottery shards. The result is highly-sought after art unlike any other—intricate, gracefully contoured pots that upon first glance look like woven baskets. Some pots are finished with scalloped edges and handles of burnished wood. Much of Smith‘s past work has exhibited strong geometrics and optical illusions in muted, cool tones. The artist recently moved and Smith‘s new natural surroundings provide fresh inspiration which is evident in his work for this upcoming show. The pottery is more sublime and, as the artist says, "more comfortable." His new colors are richer and more autumnal. Double and triple firings and special oil rubs applied to the pots give Smith‘s latest work new warmth and softness. Felix Vigil, a painter from Jemez Pueblo, draws heavily on his youth and his traditional lifestyle to create mixed medium collages that are prized by collectors and exhibited across the country. Vigil‘s paintings blend strong colors and Native American imagery with a contemporary, approachable style. Using oil pastels, charcoal, water colors and acrylics, the artist layers one medium over another creating beautiful work of depth and meaning. Many pieces are finished with leaves and twigs. Over time Vigil‘s work has become more esoteric, its symbolism representing the mysteries of nature and man‘s interdependency on the natural world. Vigil‘s work for this upcoming show, including a series called Stepping Stones, exhibits a greater sense of freedom and high-intensity colors. Don‘t miss this unique opportunity to see the latest work by Richard Zane Smith and Felix Vigil, two of our most imaginative and collectible artists. ### About Blue Rain Gallery Blue Rain Gallery is committed to promoting work of the finest contemporary Native American and regional artists. Both galleries feature an extraordinary collection of pueblo pottery, paintings, stone and bronze sculpture, glass, jewelry, kachinas and fiber arts. Blue Rain has two locations. Blue Rain Gallery in Taos is located at 117 South Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Phone 505.751.0066. Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe is located at 130 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501. Phone 50