I was invited to participate in the “Remarkable Women Artists” invitational show at Cibola Arts Gallery in Mountainair New Mexico! For someone who mostly displays her work on the internet, this WAS kind of remarkable and involved more action and communication than just writing copy for my jewelry and putting it up on my website.
At the opening reception in February I got to mosey around wearing a fancy name tag and be “famous” for a few hours in the gallery, meeting and greeting fellow artists, local ranchers, shop owners and I imagine a few tourists as well.
The show will wrap up next week, but it was fun to introduce my animal jewelry to this community and make some new friends at the same time.
I’m not planning a second career as a gallery artist, but I believe in enjoying new stuff coming my way and I definitely got a kick out of this one.
One of the wonderful things about living in this community is the fellowship among not just the artists, but everyone who appreciates this unique, semi-desert environment. I talk to everyone I meet, in stores and on the street. This is one of these places where you wave to everyone you pass on the road, and when the greeting isn’t returned, you just figure they “aren’t from around here.”
I’ve gotten involved in some extracurricular activities too. I love to sing and last Christmas season participated in the Community Choir, singing my heart out (initially as a Soprano, until I realized those high notes really were high) and finishing as an alto (much more comfortable).
Now we’ve started a year round choir, made up of die-hard singers among our community. Our next plan…some Americana (think Stephen Foster) tunes for our local Fourth of July celebration!
The other wonderful thing about Mountainair is the care and interest artists have in our community, and the effort taken to introduce art to youngsters. (This has always been a big deal to me) Because if we don’t encourage the next generation in whatever they long to pursue (especially art, in my opinion) the future looks a little grim.
Do you have some good ideas on how to encourage your kids or grandkids in their artistic endeavors? I would love to hear them!