Archive for February, 2009

The trip from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, took almost two days and when Ivan Barnett finally pulled his gold Impala into the field in Bennington, Vermont, he was listening to Dylan and hoping for good weather. He set up his tent for a weekend of sales at the first-ever American Craft Council craft fair and after three days of soaking rain drove away with $5000. in orders. To Barnett, fresh out of the Army, the money he made that summer of ‘72, was a fortune.

The trajectory of Ivan Barnett’s career in craft spans almost 40 years and its arc tightly parallels the evolution of the American craft movement itself. The trip to Bennington launched his life in craft, one that has involved nearly all aspects of that world: making, writing, collaborating, consulting and now, owning one of the country’s premier fine craft galleries-Patina Gallery in Santa Fe. With the Homage to Sandro exhibition, artist Ivan Barnett will return to his love of creating and introduce entirely new works, assemblages and sculptures in wood and steel.

Characteristically, Barnett’s new work begins where the last body of work left off. His new wall sculptures and mobiles are distinctly different from earlier work but reflect a clear continuum of concept and thought. Barnett will again work with found objects, worn bits of wood, stone and shell, and combine them with the rusted sheet steel that has recurred in his works since the earliest days of his career. After working for a time in shades of charcoal and black, Barnett resumes the use of color and richly toned palettes.

The title of the exhibition, Homage to Sandro, refers to Alexander Girard, nicknamed Sandro, post WWII designer and Eames’colleague at Herman Miller. Considered one of America’s pre-eminent mid-century designers, Girard was an avid collector of folk art. His famous collection of 100,000 works from around the world is exhibited in the Girard Wing of Santa Fe’s Museum for International Folk Art. Barnett’s exhibition is an homage to this great designer, proceeds from which will benefit the preservation of that extraordinary collection.

Barnett’s career achieved a high profile in the early eighties when articles in Architectural Digest and Better Homes and Gardens extolled his artwork, especially wood and steel weathervanes. His portfolio includes notes from Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and pictures of the White House Christmas tree where his ornaments were hung. The New York Times reviewed an exhibition with his work and galleries across the country clamored to show it. It was then that Alexander Girard acquired some of Barnett’s work, pieces that now reside in that famous museum.

Homage to Sandro is Barnett’s fourth exhibition at Patina, this year celebrating its 10th anniversary. The scheduling of each exhibition permits Barnett the rare opportunity to focus exclusively on his own artwork and return to his passion for creating. For this artist, parent and husband, gallery owner and director, such time is precious and must be stolen from an always hectic schedule. He is most at peace in his studio and most content when engrossed in his work.

Inspired by the forces of nature, landscape oil painter Jim Bagley comes across his subject matter while exploring the rural terrain of the West.  He finds beauty and tranquility within the calm of a storm and graceful movement in the sun dancing across the western plains.  His paintings express the brazen and majestic nature of the southwestern landscape.  Vistas of untouched lands offer the viewer a raw examination of nature at work, climate changing and a glimpse of the synergy of an evolving earth.

Bagley speaks frankly about his work:  “I am compelled to paint because I want to capture the awesome essence of what it feels like to be alone in nature. It is where I feel most alive is when I am out there and in the elements.  Painting is a good excuse to be in nature.  When you look at the panoramic view of nature, the sky is a big part of the landscape.  The sky determines what the land looks like; the way light floods the earth or maybe the light is illuminating the clouds.  It also depends on the time of day.  Most of my inspiration comes in the afternoon when the light begins to define the terrain.  What interests me is where the sky meets the earth.  There is usually some sort of clash there; at some moment there is an explosion of light like a thunderstorm or sometimes its soft like a sunset where the two merge quietly.  I just paint the wonder taking place before me.”

Please join us for the opening of this exhibition and meet the artist Friday, March 20th from 5-7 pm.  The exhibition is available for viewing March 20th through April 2nd.  For additional photographs and information, please contact Karla Winterowd at (505) 992.8878 or to see more:  www.fineartsantafe.com

Additional Santa Fe gallery information

The 5th annual White Sands International Film Festival takes place April, 23-26, 2009. Now in it’s fifth year, the festival, has grown to include and offer a uniquely diverse program encompassing a wide range of cinema, educational panels, and workshops, hosted by well recognized and experienced Industry professionals.  This year the WSIFF again focuses on its goal of bringing eminent filmmakers to share their insights with audiences and heighten their appreciation of the art of cinema.

The Festival once more promises to attract numerous visitors from around the world. With a special focus on Latino and New Mexican filmmaking, the WSIFF screens both outstanding short and feature length documentaries and narratives from around the world.

Some of our noted past guests included the legendary Mexican filmmaker Arturo Ripstein, director of the award winning “Bella”,  Alejandro Monteverde, and actor Wes Studi, “Last of the Mohicans”.

The WSIFF is dedicated to bringing filmmakers and audiences together to better appreciate the art of cinema. The WSIFF screens outstanding short and feature length documentaries and narratives of all genres from around the world. With a special focus on Latino and New Mexican filmmaking we celebrate outstanding cinema in the amazing back drop of Southern New Mexico. We hope to see you at this very unique, intimate and fun festival in the Land of Enchantment!

In particular we are interested in…
• Films that deal with contemporary issues
• Films that celebrate the human spirit
• Particularly interested in Latino and or Hispanic World
• Films that have been made in New Mexico
• Good story telling, writing, acting , and direction