As we reflect on the breathtaking accomplishments of Albuquerque’s visual artists and arts organizations in 2009, at the works produced and the circumstances weathered, we marvel at the very thought of what the upcoming year holds. Lamentably, reliable clairvoyants are hard to find these days, so we can do little more than imagine how our art community will stun us in 2010. Unless, of course, community members tell us. Which is just what they did. Here’s what we discovered … What does 2010 promise? “For Tamarind, 2010 is going to be a banner year. We will begin moving into our new facility starting this spring. In September, we celebrate our 50 th anniversary with many local events to look forward to. The UNM Art Museum is hosting a retrospective exhibit of Tamarind prints entitled Tamarind Touchstones: Fabulous at Fifty, Celebrating Excellence in Fine Art Lithography. ” —Arif Khan, gallery director, Tamarind Institute“The new year at N4th Gallery promises more of what is most exciting about [us]—insightful, unconventional, ‘outsider’ art by emerging and established artists with diverse perspectives and world views.” —Susanna Kearny, marketing director, VSA North 4th Art CenterWhat do you hope the year yields? “I hope we continue our direction of forging connections with partners and mentors throughout New Mexico for [ UNM’s Art and Ecology] students. I hope the year holds new solutions for my current art quandary of making work that is sustainable, expressive, local and intelligent.” —Catherine Page Harris, artist and professor, UNM“That Latino and Hispano art and artists get the serious recognition that they deserve. In Albuquerque alone and throughout New Mexico we have hundreds of artists who aren’t.” —Tey Marianna Nunn, visual arts director, NHCC“I hope it involves collaborations between artists, local school students, community members and the City of Albuquerque to create new pertinent publicly situated works.” —Daniel Richmond, artist and MFA candidate, UNM What are you most excited about? Most apprehensive? “Most excited about Flux Contemporary gallery. Most apprehensive about the economy.” —Dianne Schlies, artist and instructor, CNM“I am most excited about the UNM Art Museum’s reopening in Fall 2010. In three floors of space, we will mount major exhibitions including a retrospective of the work of photographer Patrick Nagatani, a comprehensive review of the past 50 years of Tamarind Institute lithography and a fresh look at Raymond Johnson’s abstract work.” —Sara Otto-Diniz, curator of academic initiatives, UNM Art Museum Of which upcoming projects are you most proud? Why? “Hitting the streets with a [visual narrative] collaboration with the artists at VSA N4th Art Center.” —Bethany Delahunt, artist and MFA candidate, UNM“In terms of Warehouse 508’s visual arts projects, the youth mural project collaboration with 516 ARTS. 516 wanted a way to get more youth engaged in their exhibits, and we here at 508 wanted more opportunities for young artists to have their work displayed. So for every exhibit at 516 ARTS, a mural will be painted by youth artists on 516’s alley wall that is responsive to work on the [[]gallery] walls inside.” —Amy Dalness, director, Warehouse 508“New Mexico Art League volunteer teachers have offered the only elective credit course for at-risk students at Albuquerque Freedom High School for the past two years. We are proud of our teachers who have volunteered their time, and especially proud of the students, some of whom have already gone on to college-level classes in art. We hope to continue our Freedom High class and offer scholarships to other APS students in 2010.” —Charlie Carroll, president, New Mexico Art League What should we keep an eye out for? “Color. It has been quite an adjustment in terms of transitioning from the East Coast to the Southwest. It is as if I am still ‘calibrating my inner monitor’ with regards to the light and colors of N.M. Everything is so sharp and bright and yet there is a beautiful subtlety to the high desert that I want to capture. I am excited to see how this manifests itself in my work.” —Emily Timberlake, artist and member, Corrales Bosque Gallery“Look for the unexpected in the least expected places. With venues closing and a tanked economy, you’ll want to keep your eyes open for a resurgence in the ‘renegade’ street art scene. In Albuquerque, it will most likely be led by the movers and shakers in the underground ‘hush, hush’ graffiti community, our political activist gadflies, and those freerunning ‘parkour artists’ who push the limits and won’t take no for an answer. The momentum will take place in the community and in the few venues willing to think outside the box, like Cirq.” —Jennifer Lynn Johnson, artist and instructor, CNM“National awareness of Albuquerque’s arts. One of our biggest issues has been lack of organization among arts and cultural entities. But hopefully things are shifting. With solid resources (especially funding) and focused leadership, Albuquerque is en route to announce its arts presence on the national scene.” —Jessie Rogers, administrative and marketing coordinator, Harwood Art Center
Art News: Visual Arts In Albuquerque In 2010
Albuquerque’s Visual Arts In 2010
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