On Wednesday, I walked into The Normal Gallery in Barelas to view Scott Williams’ installation With Great Abandon . “Man,” I said with a good deal of exasperation. “That is some weird shit right there.” Williams laughed and said, “That’s the reaction I like.” Scott has placed two space coyotes, yes, space coyotes, in the middle of the gallery. Two stuffed coyote heads have been retrofitted to Williams’ handcrafted astronaut bodies. They’re shaking hands, but eyeing each other suspiciously. I don’t know if there is any way to make stuffed coyote heads eye one another suspiciously or if they do that naturally. Either way, they made my day. Scott said he’s making a statement on the fear people have that humanity won’t survive. He looks at the coyote as a symbol of survival; they flourish even when other species are in decline. Scott is holding out hope for people. Personally, I think we’re doomed, but that’s why Scott is an artist and I’m a writer. You must go see these coyotes. Come between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 24, or by appointment. Scott can be reached at 908-5526. The gallery is located at 1514 Fourth Street SW. They have a cat.
Culture Shock: Kokeshi Dolls At The Peace And Justice Center Kokeshi Dolls At The Peace And Justice Center
“Black Cactus” by Alexandra Gjurasic
Alexandra Gjurasic
Artist Alexandra Gjurasic is showing some of her paintings at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice (202 Harvard SE). The center is not a traditional art place, so you may have to let yourself in. (I did. There appeared to be some people sitting on the floor in an enclosed office as I walked through, but they didn’t come out). The series is called Golden Paintings and features cacti and Japanese kokeshi dolls intermingling—that is, the doll heads are part of the cacti. They remind me of a pin cushion my mother had when I was a child. The pieces have some bead-like items attached, which serve to draw in the eye and give them a three-dimensional feel. I found myself staring intently into the images; the vascular system of one plant became more and more pronounced as I gazed upon it. The pieces are for sale and a portion of the proceeds will be given back to the center. The show runs through Nov. 29.
