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Punch Your Culture Card
Film, Art, Music Reminders July 28, 2008
By Staff Reports
 Film
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN will pop up at the Taos Film Society’s Mondo North’s screening room on Wed. and Thurs., July 30 and 31, at 8 pm. As it is in Heaven,” fast becoming a Taos cult favorite focuses on music as universal expression of the soul in a charming tale of Swedish villagers and a visiting maestro, who works his magic, ultimately on the audience itself. Mondo Marco will be showing this film monthly for the foreseeable future if the history of its long-running exhibition abroad is a guide.
The New Mexico Premier of THE EXILES will screen Friday and Saturday August 1,2 - 8 p.m. and Sunday August 3 at 6 p.m. at Mondo North. ““The Exiles,” beautifully filmed in stunning black and white, directed by Ken Mackenzie, combines Francois Truffaut’s subtle approach to actors and John Cassavetes’ documentary-style film-making. The 1960 film, recently discovered, catches the timeless challenges confronted by Indians, who try and adapt to urban living and modern society. MacKenzie’s “The Exiles” is a vignette and focuses on a single night, in the life of a group of friends from different Tribes, who find themselves subject to urban forces, which are as mysterious to them as their atavistic responses are natural. Today, the cast of Exiles can still be seen, reincarnated as it were, in any number of towns and cantinas on the edges of Indian Country or in selective urban neighborhoods. B.W.
Art
Total Arts Gallery, one of Taos’ oldest and most refined, is delighted to host a two-man show featuring the oil paintings of Rick Howell and of J. Ken Spencer. The show will open with a reception on July 26 from 4:30 to 6:30 and will continue through August 11.
“Quiet dramas” is the description Howell often applies to his tonalist landscapes of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges which surround his home in south-central Colorado. He is contrasting them with the “action movies” of painters, especially of the traditional Impressionist school, who employ much stronger contrasts of light and shadow and a much brighter palette. The tonalist style of the late 19th century was one in which the artist strove to attain an intimacy with nature; to capture its subtle nuances and moods as opposed to its awe-inspiring sweep and grandeur.
Howell, who only thirteen years ago became a full-time artist after many years of painting as a hobby while he was a successful stock broker, almost invariably includes a body of water in his pieces. “Ever since I was a kid I’ve been attracted to water,” he states. “I naturally go near it. I like to listen to it while I’m painting.” He is preparing to publish a book of his images of the lakes, rivers and streams of Colorado. And as to the wisdom of his mid-life career change? The Best of Show at the 2006 Society of Master Impressionists International Exhibition and the Award of Excellence at the American Impressionist Society’s National Show surely speak for themselves.
A focus on composition, color and technique characterize the works of J. Ken Spencer, who states “My approach to all painting … is that the subject is secondary. What I am looking for is an interesting arrangement of shape. I feel that a good representational painting should be a good abstract, too. A painting needs to be interesting to look at.” Certainly his emphasis on highly skilled brushwork and the subtle but wide-ranging palette employed by Spencer qualify his work as visually interesting, but in spite of his statement, the subject matter is not exactly boring either.
It is very largely a result of the artist’s extensive European travels, particularly in France, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic, but also includes the dramatic scenery of the mountains of Idaho, where he lives. That was not always the case: upon completing his art studies at Utah State, Spencer moved his young family to New Jersey, commuting to Manhattan for commercial illustration work while waiting to begin the fine art career he’d always wanted. He didn’t wait long, quickly acquiring gallery representation on both the Eastern seaboard and West Coast, the gifted young painter relocated to Blackfoot, ID. In the years since, his work has garnered a number of prestigious awards and been featured in several highly-regarded publications.
Total Arts Gallery is located at 122-A Kit Carson Rd. in Taos. For further information, please call 575-758-4667 or visit the website at www.totalartsgallery.com.
RB Ravens Gallery presents: In celebration on Indian Market. A Tribute to Great American Indian Painters, August 1- August 30, 2008, Artist Reception- August 15, 5-7pm, 4146 State Hwy 68, Ranchos de Taos, NM. 575-758-7322.
203 Fine Art is honoring some of Taos’ most notable artists, in “Taos – Outside Taos”, an exhibition of drawings and works on paper by; Larry Bell, Ron Cooper, Ronald Davis, Bob Ellis, Jack Smith and Charles Strong. You are invited to attend the opening reception with the artists on Saturday August 30th, between 4 and 7pm, at 203 Fine Art on 203 Ledoux Street in Taos, which is located at the opposite end of Ledoux Street from The Harwood Museum. Please call or email for more information, (575) 751-1262, art@203fineart.com.
The Taos Gallery artist David Sprague has been selected to present in the Twelfth Annual Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor show August 16 – September 30. A reception for the exhibition will occur Friday, August 15th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Millicent Rogers Museum.
QUESTA VECINDAD STUDIO TOUR, August 2 and 3, 2008, 10 AM to 5 PM. The artists and craftspeople of the Village of Questa, New Mexico and surrounding communities will open their studios and homes to the public August 2nd and 3rd, 2008 from 10 AM to 5 PM. The wide range of media will include fiber arts, sculpture, glassworks, ceramics, sacred healing consultations, leatherwork, food, desserts, furniture, organic wines, musical instruments, the Herman Rudnik Museum, and much more. Stop in the heart of Questa to see many artists' work or take the opportunity to meander the back roads of Questa, Cerro and El Rito, browse the studios, ask questions of the artists, and soak in the natural beauty of the mountains that surround the area and inspire its artists. Pick up your tour maps at the Questa Vecindad Chamber of Commerce in downtown Questa on Route 522, 20 miles North of Taos, or on the Events Page of the Chamber Web site at www.questavecindad.org. Call (575) 586-2381 or 575-586-1176 for more information.
Announcements
The Taos Milagro Rotary Club presents their Second Annual Scholarship Fundraiser, the Taos Chile Challenge. The Challenge, part of the annual Taos Fall Festivals, will be held on September 28, 2008 to fund the scholarships that the club awards qualified Taos County high school graduates. Included in the event will be a morning golf tournament, a chile “cook-off”, featuring local professionals and amateurs and a “battle of the micro-breweries.”Steve Fuhlendorf, President-Taos Milagro Rotary Club
Taos Historic Museums presents Hacienda Heritage Photographs – En Divina Luz: The Penitente Moradas of New Mexico, a photographic exhibition by Craig Varjabedian. The opening reception is Thursday, August 7 from 5:30 to 8 pm at la Hacienda de los Martinez on Lower Ranchitos Road.
EARTH ALTARS: A workshop inspired by the ephemeral nature-based art of Andy Goldsworthy. Creating artistic forms from nature, we will celebrate our relationship with the natural world and through this process affirm our kinship with our Mother Earth. Workshop Duration: One and half days; Time: Friday, August 8, 7-9:30 PM at the Bareiss Gallery, Saturday all day out in nature (time and place to be determined by the group on Friday). Cost of Workshop: $100. PLEASE RSVP: Rivers & Birds at 776-5200
On August 2nd, 2008, from 9:00 PM– 12:00 AM. , the ANACONDA BAR AT EL MONTE SAGRADO RESORT will feature Meredith Blis on Vocals & Piano, Colin Jenkinson on Chapman Stick and Bass, Casey Arrillaga on Drums, GENRE: An Evening of Meredith’s Original Piano-Driven Pop songs, Blues Standards and Rock’n’Roll
CHOKECHERRIES 2007 is NOW available!
This, the 12th annual edition of Chokecherries, has been hailed the best volume yet, and includes work by author and shaman Martin Prechtel; poets Aaron Abeyta, Catherine Ferguson, Jennifer Ferraro, and Dora McQuaid; fiction from Lindsay Ahl; and work from perennial local favorites Natalie Goldberg, John Nichols, and Sean Murphy! The beautiful, first-ever full-color cover features a painting by Charlie Strong. Graphic design has risen to a new level via the contribution of Lesley Cox, Inspira Design Associates.
Chokecherries 2007, the annual SOMOS retrospective anthology, is now available for sale at the SOMOS office, 229 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, P O Box 3225 Taos, NM 87571 Monday- Friday 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and at Brodsky Bookshop, Moby Dickens Bookshop, and the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. To order: please send a check for $14 plus $2 for shipping for each copy.
Award-winning author Sandi Ault is coming to the Corner Bookstore in Angel Fire on Friday, August 8 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. A former Taoseña, she is the author of the WILD series and is currently featuring WILD INFERNO, a novel that mixes danger, murder, indigenous culture and artifacts, heroic fire teams, and remote treacherous terrain to create a wildfire of a mystery.
Ms. Ault is fast becoming a favorite with mystery book readers. On April 30 her debut novel, WILD INDIGO, which is set in Northern New Mexico, received an Edgar® Award, the Simon and Schuster/Mary Higgins Clark Award. Reviewers are touting the latest release, WILD INFERNO, as even better than the debut Edgar® Award winner: “This second installment in Sandi Ault's new outdoor mystery series comes at you as fast and furious as did her debut, ‘Wild Indigo.’ The mystery deepens with every page. If you enjoy the outdoors, the mysticism of Indian cultures, along with breakneck adventure, Ault's Wild series might just get your heart racing.” —The Charlotte Observer
As a wildland firefighter and Type 2 Fire Information Officer, she is a qualified expert regarding the anatomy and control of wildfires. Being a past performer and journalist, she presents herself in a confident and entertaining manner.
Songwriter Alert
If you're interested in songwriting and music, there are some great workshops and classes coming up in the next couple months. I wanted to let you know now so you can save the dates. (I'll be out of town till July 7; I'll return your call or email then.)
*August 16-17: Berklee Lyric Writing Professor extraordinaire Pat Pattison* returns to Taos to teach the second installment of his famous lyric writing series. Location Taos, NM. More info from Ted Fox at tedsingingfox@hotmail.com.
*September 3-5: Songwriting Workshop Intensive at Michael Hearne's Big Barndance Music Festival*. Hit songwriters and songwriting experts will be in Taos for three full days of powerful workshops. Current plans for teachers include Buzz Cason, Chuck Pyle, Mentor Williams, Shake Russell, Susan Gibson, Don Richmond, John Dillon and Vivian Nesbitt and myself. Location Taos, NM. More info from me: michael@michaelshorr.com
*Fall 2008 UNM Taos: Music Theory for Non-Music Majors*. The classic beginners' course in music theory returns to UNM Taos! Taught by Berklee College of Music-trained...uh...me! Call 737-6200 to sign up.
*Ongoing: Private Songwriting Lessons* (and guitar and music theory) with the Song Analyst from Art of the Song...uh...me! Call or email me for rates and scheduling. 737-0754 or michael@michaelshorr.com
And please feel encouraged to forward this message to anyone else you think might be interested.
Sincerely,
Michael Shorr
Creative Director
Chocolate Strawberry Studios
Ojo Caliente
New Mexico Resort Gets Top Billing As Most Affordable Spa Vacation Destination
Historic Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs provides guests the ultimate spa experience with value filled packages.
Ojo Caliente, NM (July 22, 2008) – Travelers looking for summer deals may want to look to Spa Magazine for guidance when planning a summer or fall getaway. The international magazine’s July/August issue lists, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa as one of the top ten “affordable spa vacation” destination in the world.
The healing oasis, located between Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, has just enhanced its world-renowned spa with a variety of health services including restorative body treatments, and skin and nail care. Activities include yoga, hiking and relaxing meditations.
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs is the only hot springs in the world with a remarkable combination of four different types of mineral waters. Lithium, iron, soda and arsenic are believed to fight depression, aid digestion, cleanse the blood, tone the skin, fight ulcers, relieve arthritic pains and even fight fatigue.
The stewards of the legendary resort have renovated and restored this unique spa to blend naturally into the ancient Native American cliffs. Accommodations at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs range from enchanting suites and charming cottages to the historic hotel and private homes.
SOMOS 2008 SUMMER WRITERS SERIES CONTINUES
Curated by Jean-Vi Lenthe and Steve Fox
Contact: SOMOS 575-758-0081 somos@laplaza.org
Friday, August 1, 7:30 PM
The Taos Gallery
103 Paseo del Pueblo Norte
Please note: due to noise on Paseo del Pueblo, the front door is open only until 7:30 PM; after 7:30, admission is through the door in the alley behind the gallery.
PROSE & POETRY
NORA BOXER – Experimental poet and prose writer (editor of SOMOS Chokecherries anthology for 2006 and 2007), Nora is off to complete graduate work at UT-Austin later this summer. She published a chapbook of her work entitled “healer’s edge” in 2005, then traveled to East Africa in 2006 for six months to work for HIV/AIDS related NGOs and do research for her in-progress collection of novellas.
ANNE MACNAUGHTON – Feminist poet, star in the bright-sky universe of Taos’ long romance with literary arts, Anne helped foster the Taos Poetry Circus and launch the early SOMOS organization. She’s also a founding member of Luminous Animal, a poetry and jazz group. She recently retired from Taos High’s English Department and will read poems about the changing seasons of Taos’ natural environment.
$8/$6 for members/seniors, high school students free
Taos School of Music of Music presents
YOUNG ARTISTS CONCERT
at SMU’s Fort Burgwin
A Benefit for SOMOS
Contact: SOMOS 575-758-0081 somos@laplaza.org
Sunday, August 3, 2008
7:30 PM
SMU – Fort Burgwin
ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE necessary to benefit SOMOS!
Ticket Price: $5.00. Tickets available at SOMOS office Monday – Friday, 10-1 PM, and through SOMOS board members.
SOMOS, 233B Paseo del Pueblo Sur. 575-758-0081 somos@laplaza.org www.somostaos.org
This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation, and the Healy Foundation.
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