If you’ve ever tried to explain what’s special about a New Mexico sky during a storm, you may have found that descriptions fail you. Words like “vast” and “amazing” and even “colorful” come to mind, but what does that really tell anyone? Photographs are great, but they only display the visual reality of a single instant, not the incredible, expansive feeling of being beneath that sky yourself. Perhaps that’s what makes the cloudscape paintings of artist Angus Macpherson so appealing. Making a cathedral of the sky, Macpherson’s use of cerulean, gold, rose and lilac can stretch a single moment into something approaching eternity. The artist is consistently featured at Sumner & Dene (517 Central NW) and will hold a special reception there on Friday, Aug. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. to celebrate the release of his new book, Paintings~Quotes~Artist’s Notes. Plenty of his large and small acrylic works will be available for purchase, so pick up an original painting or a print, giclee or poster to show your next out-of-town visitor what you mean when you try to describe the unique gorgeousness of monsoon season.
Culture Shock: Prints Of Power Prints Of Power
“Mickey Muerto” by Artemio Rodriguez, screenprint, 2005
Collection of the McNay Art Museum, gift of Drs. Harriett and Ricardo Romo
“Young Frida (Pink)” by Raul Caracoza, serigraph on paper (2006)
Collection of the McNay Art Museum, gift of Drs. Harriett and Ricardo Romo
The razor clarity of the images makes them technically impressive, and the brightness of the colors cuts right to the back of your eyeballs, but they’re sharp in another way, too. The 60-plus prints in Estampas de la Raza: Contemporary Prints from the Romo Collection slice open decades of political, economic and social struggle with the use of color, form, symbol and icon. Frida Kahlo, zoot suits, lowriders and calaveras all wend their way through the serigraphs and lithographs on display now through Sept. 29 at the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History (2000 Mountain NW), combining visual pleasure with cultural penetration. Catch an illuminating talk by UNM associate professor Holly Barnett Sanchez on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 11 a.m., or visit albuquerquemuseum.org to find out about the other activities centered around this stunning and relevant exhibition. Normal museum admission is $1 to $4, but you can get in free Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the first Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the third Thursday of every month from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Culture Shock: Holy Highbrow, Caped Crusader! Holy Highbrow, Caped Crusader!
Artwork by Steve Scott
Albuquerque’s only gallery devoted exclusively to comic book art intends to spend August celebrating all things Batman. Metropolis Comic Art Gallery (1102 Mountain NW) opens their newest show, Gotham City, with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2. The show includes works in acrylic, marker and watercolor from artists Christopher Uminga, Matt Slay, Billy Fowler, Jason Baroody, Charles Paul Wilson III and many others. If you can’t make the opening, though, the show will be up until Sept. 5. Also, keep an eye on metropoliscomicart.com or their Facebook page—other events starring the World’s Greatest Detective are planned throughout the month, including one for the kiddos on Aug. 10.
