CHAC
Chicano Humanities and Arts Council
Santos Y Cruces Artists Show
April 2nd through May 1st
Join us in celebrating Santos art - one of the oldest, still living traditions of early, remote Hispanic settlements.
Opening Reception: April 2nd 5 - 10 PM
Book Release Party: April 7th 7 - 9 PM Celebrate with writer Tim Z. Hernandez in the release of his debut
novel "Breathing In Dust" featuring readings by Lee Herrick, Michael Luis Medrano and Zuleman Inai. The public is welcome to attend!
Sabado de Santos: April 10th 2 - 4 PM Historian/Educator/Santero Jose Raul Esquibel. Call to register for this event.
Gallery hours are Wed & Thurs 10-4, Fri 12-6, Sat 12-4. Show is open to the public. Artwork courtesy of Catherine Robles Shaw --->
Visiting Artist: Pablo Flores
From a freewheeling, out-of-control life of booze, drugs, guns, intimidation and prison, Pablo Flores ’ art mirrors the evolution of his life. Flores’ trade is carpentry although he has explored music and American Indian art as well. Completely self-taught, Flores turned his life towards the arts while stumbling around a dump, kicking rusted tin cans, animal bones, tattered fabrics, wrecked car parts, splintered barn wood and getting INSPIRED! By working with these materials in making crosses and retablos, he found a metaphor for his life – taking broken, discarded, abandoned pieces and recasting them as vibrant, passionate artistic statements. A prolific craftsman, he once made 40 crosses in as week, and has created over 1,300 crosses spanning a 7 year period.
Flores is an ordained minister, father of three and grandfather of five, as well as member of the gospel group, Blue Heaven. His symbolic creations are his ministry as well as his folk art. Three feathers represent the father, son and Holy Spirit. The appearance of a single heart is God’s heart. His work shows Christ’s suffering and God’s love. “It is how I see the role of Christ,” he explains. “I take discarded materials, found, unwanted objects. They are like discarded lives. I hang them on a cross or turn them into something of worth and beauty…just like discarded lives that are taken and placed in the hands of God will become worthy and beautiful. Just like my life.”
Visiting Artist: Lydia Garcia
Lydia Garcia is one of the foremost female Santeras creating spiritual art today. As a life long resident of Taos, steeped in the Hispanic traditions of art, culture and religion, Lydia’s art in all of its passion and depth, reflects her cultural heritage. Nestled among the Sangre de Cristo mountain chain is the small village of Taos, New Mexico, an artist’s community since the 1800’s. Here art is a way of life. Lydia Garcia, known to the community and her collectors as Lydia, was born in Taos to a Hispanic family and as the eldest of five daughters was trained in the craft of the Saint makers. As a young girl Lydia worked alongside her father while he created Santos (saints) and wonderful objects in his wood working shop. Her hunger for art brought her to the studios of Taos’ artists, Ward Lockwood and Andrew Dasburg. In their studios, Lydia sat without saying a word, so that they would permit her to watch them work. In this manner Lydia initiated her own training, Lydia still paints anything she can get her hands on, recycled wood, tin cans, old furniture, and treasures left out-side her home by neighbors and friends.
Today Lydia is a full time Santera and continues to paint and sculpt in the same adobe workspace built by her grandfather where she was born and raised working with her father. Lydia integrates contemporary media, such as acrylics and recycled & found materials, into the historic role of a Santera. Although modern in her technique, the core of Lydia’s work embodies the traditional faith in God and spirituality of a Santera. As part of the Santera tradition, Lydia inspires others with her faith. Lydia gives thanks to God for the many blessings in her life. She passes on these blessings to her collectors in the form of unique hand painted prayers on the back of each work. For others, she teaches workshops, blessing her students through her instruction and guidance . Lydia’s passion and faith touches the many lives that she encounters, through her art, her prayers, and teachings. Lydia’s retablos and santos have been acquired for some of the finest private collections and museums worldwide.
Visiting Artist: Duane O'Hagan
Duane O’Hagan is a sprightly 72. He stands tall, a little bit bent at the neck, probably from looking down at the ground all the time for art supplies. O’Hagan lives in Tres Piedras, NM in an interesting home of local construction, sliced cord wood, concrete, decorated with his own wooden masks and hand-carved bird pieces and other wonderful collections of simple objects like baskets. His home has a feeling similar to his recent artwork, pieced together from “un-significant” objects and finessed into something truly spirited and expressive. Growing up in Montana and studying as a landscape painter in Ontario, Canada at the Ontario College of Art in the Fine Arts, he was exposed to northwest regional first nations’ art, Inuit styles and shapes, and a traditional background in the academic arts. He found the Inuit masks, and later the Kachina masks to be “frontal and visually static, emphasizing their immortal and supernatural qualities.”
In New Mexico, he followed his nose, living creekside in La Madera and collecting interesting pieces of wood, taking them home and turning them into traditionally inspired masks and lately, birds. He considers his “spirit birds”, carved from cottonwood found along the river banks, to be his “serious whimsy”. Whimsical perhaps, but not sticky sweet, the birds are quirky, curious and attentive with wide, round eyes and gently amorphous bodies. O’Hagan looks for the lines in the wood, finds the face, the tail and the wings from the tree’s natural shape, and creates a “bird blank” which he then gives life to by adding its unique features. His academic background continues to be expressed in his use of aged wood (always a “found” piece with one or more previous lives) and his creation of “retablos” (painted panels) depicting saints, and as with his masks, their “immortal and supernatural qualities”.
Visiting Artist: Zach Powell
A carver of wood and stone, Zach Powell was born in a rural
community in Mississippi. Growing up, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and
being surrounded by nature. In his teen years, he lived in St. Louis, MO
before enlisting in the Navy and traveling the world.
After completing his military service, he explored the United States
before ending up in Boulder, CO. There he studied Kung Fu, honed his
creative art of carving, met his wife Robin, and had his family.
1982 was the year Zach moved his family to Tres Piedras, NM, located 32 miles northwest of Taos. It was a “good distance from the nearest town, and therefore the right place.” In “TP”, he decided to make a living by creating art out of the natural materials of the area. He became known for his sculptures, smudge sticks, baskets, dream catchers, and furniture, in addition to his signature silent and stoic carvings. Each carving depicts a saint in prayer and meditation but is intentionally un-named. This allows the viewer to ascribe one’s own spiritual identity to the carving, wherever one is in one’s life, however that carving may be of help along the way….
“The outdoors will always be a major contributor to my creativity”,
says Zach.
“The planet gives it, I just add my touch!”
Crafty Chica in April: Reserve your Space Now!
April 24th Crafty Chica Class has been postponed until the 4th Saturday in May, May 22nd Summer Garden Candle Holders
1 PM to 3PM
Spruce
up your garden patio with creative candle holders made by you!
Registration
is for May’s class is now open.
Limit is 12, so call today.
Payment
is due upon registration to guarantee your spot.
* Please note
Crafty Chica class time has been permanently moved to 1:00-3:00.
CHAC Gallery Artist Show: Sacred Passions
CHAC Gallery announces the opening of “Sacred Passions” a traditional and contemporary art exhibit. The traditional art work will focus on the creation of “Santos” or “Saints” for homes and churches. This remarkable folk art, dating back to the 1600’s, came into being when New Mexico and parts of Colorado were ruled by Spain. Early Spanish settlers faced a shortage of imports so they created their own religions artifacts, their deep religious roots sustained them in the new world. Santo Art has evolved and is created in various mediums. Some artists still use homemade gesso, natural pigments and pine tree varnish, others develop their works with modern techniques. The contemporary artwork will focus on drawings of low rider cars.
Artists in order of artwork displayed here: Carlos Santistevan, Gene Atencio, Teresa Duran, Lena Blea, Judy Miranda, Sister Roberta Westrick and Lynn Fresquez.
Artist reception will be held on April 16th from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.
The exhibit runs April 2nd through May 1st.
Bake Sale at First Friday
Bake Sale Fundraiser for
CHAC
First Friday April 2, 2010
Need volunteers for:
Cookies and other pastries, wrapped attractively; maybe 2 per package
People to sit at the bake sale table in shifts on Friday, April 2.
Volunteers for any of the above please contact:
Mardelle Espinoza
303-910-9406 or
dellegram@msn.com
Let me know ASAP if you can help, please!
Thank you!
Kids Art Saturday: Making Santos
On April 17th from 2 to 4 PM, the kids art workshop will feature "Santos making" for kids of all ages. You will be making a paper retablo.
Poetry y Mas -- 2nd Saturday
Poetry Y Mas in April features Jose Esquibel. Please join him at the mic on April 10th from 2 to 4 PM for another exciting poetry jam at CHAC.
Donor of the Month: Mardelle Espinoza
We would like to recognize Mardelle Espinoza as our Donor of the Month of April. Mardelle gives back so much to CHAC and our community. She is always available to help with every project no matter how big or small. She has an amazing attitude and a big smile for whoever she meets! She is the first to give when we are seeking donations for a fundraiser. She even bakes us homemade cookies! We would like to thank Mardelle from the bottom of our hearts for all her hard work and donations to CHAC.
"A few years back I joined CHAC, seeking a local place to network with other artists and to show my art. Not only were these desires fulfilled, but I have clearly seen CHAC's growth and quality improving constantly.
I have come to truly enjoy and take pride in being a part of CHAC. The members are like a family, making me look forward to their warm greetings and comraderie. It is a home away from home. I do enjoy volunteering and only wish I could have more time to be help out more."
Volunteer of the Month
Russ is an amazing volunteer...he is always there on First Friday's with a smile ready to help us out. We are so fortunate to have Russ as one of our amazing volunteers. He is eager to help with what ever needs to be done. We sure appreciate all his hard work and efforts at CHAC!
"My name is Russell Warwick and I can honestly say that volunteering at the CHAC house every first Friday is one of the best parts of my month. I love the art work and I can't say enough positive things about both the good folks that run CHAC and the patrons I see every first Friday. Whether you are a sophisticated art critic, a person that knows nothing about art but knows what they like about the medium (that would be me!), or a person that has no aesthetic sensibilities whatsoever and just likes a good social scene, the CHAC house is the place for you. Please come down and see us on First Fridays! It's always a good time."
Book of the Month: El Gran Viaje del Senor Caca
Available in La Tiendita when we can keep it in stock, this adorable book by Angèle Delaunois is popular with kids of all ages. It sells out every time. www.cincopuntospress.com
Quoted from Amazon: "Caca. Poop. Number two. Kids have a thousand names for it. Don’t they want to know where it comes from? The Fantastic Voyage of Señor Caca shows kids the hows and whys.
A smart wolf in a lab coat leads kids on a journey through their digestive system. A little girl eats an apple for a snack (crunch, crunch), and the apple drops into the esophagus (glug, glug) before a stop in the stomach. At each stop along the way the wolf explains in simple scientific terms what the body is doing. After the pit stop in the stomach, what remains of the apple must enter the small intestine (gurgle, gurgle), then the large intestine, and finally . . . well, you know. Hint: It doesn’t smell like roses here.
This delightful book marries Angèle Delaunois’ kid-sized scientific text with Marie Lafrance’s joyful kinetic illustrations to teach children what really does go on inside their bodies."
Business Supporter of the Month: Tomorrows Body
Business supporter of the month is Tomorrows Body Salon and Day Spa Special thanks to Stylists Pat Valdez, James Martinez & L'Kia for their generous donations of services to CHAC's Milagros del Corazon auction.
CHAC Norte Featured Artists
Bob Martinez, Stevon Lucero, Robert Maestas, Suzanne Martino, Michael Penny
Once again CHAC is featuring a wonderful variety of accomplished artists including Bob Martinez, Stevon Lucero, Robert Maestas, Suzanne Martino, and Michael Penny . Be sure to come and see their works showing now in CHAC Norte and continuing during the month of April.