Text Me ~ Paintings by Matthew Lutz

Last Friday, I took a friend with me to view the exhibition of Matthew Lutz’s newest work - Text Me currently showing at Matrix Fine Art. Lutz’s current body of work is influenced by modern technology and street graffiti, using traditional oil painting techniques to depict human interaction in the digital age which explains why at least one or more subjects in each painting is holding a cell phone. 

In Lutz’s paintings, we see elements of Cubism - where objects are broken up, analyzed, and reassembled in an abstracted form - instead of depicting his subject’s arms as complete with hands, Lutz breaks the continuity of the hands and places them somewhere else as seen in his Tommy @ 3 painting. In addition, Lutz especially admires the works of Pablo Picasso; elements like the elongated limbs, arresting colors, and mystical visages are evident in his paintings Tornado and Stand. 

This exhibition also includes Lutz’s Life Paintings, a body of work that underscores the impact that one person’s life, no matter how temporary or fragile, can have on others. Each piece projects flowers through the foreground, inviting the viewer into the image, into the subject’s life. Some of the people who have influenced Lutz’s own life are no longer alive, but painting a flower in full bloom has allowed him to capture a moment when they were in their splendor. According to Lutz, “The blossom itself dies long before the painting is complete, yet the image remains for others to see and admire. It’s the same with posterity - the positive impact of one person’s existence continues for future generations.” 

Matthew Lutz is both an artist and educator. Born and raised in Indiana, he now has his home and studio in New Mexico. Lutz received his Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Taylor University in 1996. He then spent a year in South Korea teaching and creating woodblock prints in his studio. In 2001, he entered the University of New Mexico, but his degree program and work was interrupted by a spinal injury. He earned his MFA with Distinction in 2005. Throughout his graduate program, Lutz was awarded numerous fellowships from both private and public funds.

Text Me - Paintings by Matthew Lutz will run through April 28th at Matrix Fine Art, 3812 Central Avenue SE, Suite 100 A, Albuquerque, NM 87108, (505) 268-8952, www.matrixfineart.com

Dan Garrett & David Snow ~ Abstracts on Metal

Last Friday’s ARTScrawl at Sumner & Dene was the opening reception for the two person abstract show of Dan Garrett and David Snow ~ Abstracts on Metal. Snow is an Albuquerque artist who works with copper plates coated with powdered glass then fuses the work in a kiln. His imagery ranges from abstracts, figuratives, cityscapes to florals. Spectacular color, texture and sheen describe his rich contemporary enamels as seen in his Eye Dazzler and Journey In Green.

Garrett creates abstracts out of metal and mixed media. He applies layers of paint and mixed media to his metal canvases. He then manipulates them with heat, compressed air and an assortment of high speed metal working tools. This creates various textures as seen in Garrett’s Amarelo Atual of welded and painted steel acid patina, his Klasik of welded and painted steel found object, and his Luna Nox of welded and painted steel aluminum and acid patina. 

Garrett comes from a very artistic family and was encouraged from childhood to explore different art forms. He started with pen and pencil sketching and developed an interest in pointillism as a way to express himself in a more dimensional style. A spur of the moment purchase of used welding equipment was the seed to Garrett’s latest endeavor. Garrett is an accomplished landscaper and exterior designer, so his initial metal work revolved around art to enhance an outdoor setting. Many of his creations translated to interior art, which is where his primary interest now lies. 

This intriguing art show featuring both the contemporary enamel work of David Snow and the abstract three dimensional metal work by Dan Garrett makes this two person show a worthwhile experience.

Dan Garrett and David Snow ~ Abstracts on Metal will hang from March 2nd - 31st at Sumner & Dene Creations in Art, 517 Central Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, (505)842-1400, www.sumnerdene.com

Exhibition: The Sixteenth Square

I recently attended the opening reception for the The Sixteenth Square exhibition hosted by 5G Gallery at the Factory on 5th Art Space. This exhibition includes four painters, Chris Pendelton, Allen Colmenares, Brandon Atencio and Zane White, and four ceramic artists, Evan Speegle, Nikki Denisson, Casey Pendergast and Becky Hefty. Opening night also included three music acts, Bat Wings for Lab Rats, Bullet Tooth, and Mat Thomas. The combination of art and music was well received and the energy felt at the reception was similar to that of an opening night at a New York art exhibition.

The concept for The Sixteenth Square exhibition began with the show’s director Zane White who had showed his work at the 5G Gallery at “The Peoples Art Show” in March 2011. He really enjoyed the show, the energy of the artists and the layout of the art gallery. This lead Zane to talk to his fellow friends and artists that he attended UNM with about the art space. He pulled together artists who were actively making art on their own and were interested in creating a group show. Together they voted on the name of the show after each member submitted a title. It was Nikki Denisson’s submission of The Sixteenth Square that won over the group. She defined her title as a play on words and numbers; eight artists by two types of art medium integrated with musical art equals The Sixteenth Square.

The Exhibition explores and captures the essence of “sacred space” within many diverse social themes and across conventional social boundaries. There were no limitation imposed on any of the artists involved concerning the content, material, or display choice, so the result is a very dynamic representation of sacred space across cultural, artistic, and personal preconceptions. The painters represent many differing approaches to depiction including traditional naturalism, surrealism, street art, pop art, symbolism, and complete abstraction. The ceramic artists also represent many differing approaches to working in clay including sculpture, fine vessel making, and wide range of firing atmospheres, texture and pallet. 

The Sixteenth Square exhibition will hang through February 24th at the 5G Gallery at the Factory on 5th Art Space, 1715 Fifth Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107, (505) 385-2428. 

Hearts & Kisses Art Show

The Old Schoolhouse Gallery is currently hosting the Hearts & Kisses art show featuring jewelry, paintings, sculpture, prints, ceramics and photography that center around the concept of love and romance in the spirit of Valentine’s Day this month. Three artists in particular stand out when you view this exhibition: Carrie Benvenuti, Cheryl Kabala and Lois Bradley.

Metal artist Carrie Benvenuti’s jewelry is exquisite and captivating to the eye. Combined with glass and semi-precious stones, her art jewelry reflects the textures and colors of the living world around us. Carrie’s work has been published in several issues of Bead Trends Magazine. In particular, the Nefertiti piece was featured in the February 2012 issue and the Route 66 piece was featured in the May 2010 issue. To view her work online visit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BenvenutiStudios.

Cheryl Kabala originally began her career as a professional weaver. She owned and operated Fibers Studio and Gallery in Safety Harbor, Florida. She actively showed her artwork at juried outdoor art shows such as Disney Festival of the Masters, Dallas 500 and Virginia Beach Boardwalk Show. Recently, she has focused her artwork on using beads to make jewelry. Cheryl uses the Peyote stitch, which is an off-loom bead weaving technique, to make her Cripple Creek necklace featured in the Hearts & Kisses show. To view her work online visit: http://www.etsy.com/people/ItsaKabala.

Lois Bradley is a visual artist, illustrator and author, working in acrylics, watercolor, pen/ink and mixed media. She has illustrated the book Blind Tom: The Horse Who Helped Build the Great Railroad by Shirley Raye Redmond, Mountain Press Publishing and most recently the cover illustration and design for The Eyes of Pharaoh by Chris Eboch and Rattled by Kris Bock. Her award-winning paintings can be viewed at Framing Concepts Gallery in Albuquerque and The Old Schoolhouse Gallery in San Antonito, New Mexico. In addition, Lois was recently celebrated as "A Local Treasure" by the city of Albuquerque in 2011. Her art piece, Unbreakable, a combination of fibers and metal is a must-see at the Hearts & Kisses show. To view her work online visit: www.loisbradley.com.

The Hearts & Kisses Art show will hang for the month of February at The Old Schoolhouse Gallery, 12504 North Hwy.14, San Antonito, NM, 505.281.1250, 

http://www.theoldschoolhousegallery.com

One Model, 15 photographers at Matrix Fine Art

In this intriguing exhibition, several different photographers were given the opportunity to photograph the same model. The idea for the show was originally developed in 2007. It grew out of a conversation that Pat Berrett had with model, Rose Bryan, who was the model for the first exhibition in 2007 at DCAC. The original show had one model and 20 photographers. A second show was organized by Berrett and Tim Anderson in 2010 with 15 photographers. The current exhibition is the third version and features model Minie Gonzalez.

Berrett says, “The basic concept is that as photographers, we all bring our past experiences to each photograph we create. Our past is the filter we see the world through. Each of us sees the model in light of our experiences. Using our differences as a starting point, we are all able to take the same subject and interpret it in ways that encourage the viewer to see the model from many viewpoints.” Participating artists in the current exhibition include Diane Alire, Tim Anderson, Roger Baker, Pat Berrett, Fernando Delgado, Joy Godfrey, Minie Gonzalez, John Goyer, Brian Griener, Oscar Lozoya, Wes Naman, Amy Parrish, Craig Roberts, Paula Scott, Crystal Sims and Doran Smith.

Matrix Fine Art was founded in 2007 by Regina Held. This contemporary gallery features painting, photography and ceramic ranging from abstract to figurative, and from landscapes to still life and pop art. Matrix Fine Art has several exhibitions a year with receptions on First Friday Artscrawls or Route 66 Artscrawls. For the last year years, Matrix Fine Art has been voted as Best Fine Art Gallery in Albuquerque by Local IQ and Albuquerque, The Magazine. Regina Held is also the founder and director of New Grounds Print Workshop & Gallery, founded in 1996 and located next to Matrix Fine Art.

Photo image credits: John Goyer, Minie and the Blue Guitar; Minie Gonzales, The Glory of the Grime; Roger Baker, Essence

Matrix Fine Art, 3812 Central Avenue SE, Suite 100 A & B, Albuquerque, NM 87108, (505) 268-8952, www.matrixfineart.com

Galeria de Corrales

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in Corrales visiting the Galeria de Corrales. This co-operative gallery represents 24 local artists and craftspersons who media include fine oils, pastels, watercolors, photography, jewelry, sculpture and fiber arts. Among the many talents, visitors to the gallery will see artwork by Annette Galvano, Anita Blythe, Ed Goodman, Sandra Garcia, Eric de Boer, Cathy Gormley, Nina Baldwin, Molly Barnett, Sandy Tanner, Jasmine Tritten, Lou LaFrado, William McCoy, Rick Snow and Maxine Blom. Every other month, the gallery engages in a curating process of new artwork followed by an invitation-only Friday reception featuring the artists of the month.

Bill McCoy was volunteering his shift at the gallery when I stopped by. What an interesting man and an accomplished artist. He shared his life story with me, from his first art lesson as a child to his retirement as a letter carrier for the United State Post Office. Bill came from a family of artists and it was at the tender age of nine that one of his uncles took him outside and taught him about perspective. His uncle asked him to look down the street at the telephone poles to see how the each of them became smaller and smaller, even though in reality the poles were the same size. Bill didn’t fully grasp the concept of perspective until high school when he dabbled further into the arts.

After four years in the Navy, he went off to college and majored in Liberal Arts and Art History. Soon after graduation, he married and had a family. With four children to support, he felt that he couldn’t make a living as an artist so he took a job with the United States Post Office. Art never left him. With any free time he had, Bill continued to paint, drawl and assemble monochromatic and mixed media pieces. Now in his retirement years, Bill is a full time artist who clearly has reunited with his passion. Take a look for yourself at the abstract artwork that accompanies this review.

Galeria de Corrales, 3923 Corrales Road, Corrales, NM 87048, 505.890.4929, Open daily 10 am - 5 pm, www.galeriadecorrales.com

Amapola Gallery in Old Town

Last week, I was strolling the central plaza in Old Town Albuquerque when I decided to visit the Amapola Gallery on the top floor of the historic Romero House. This cooperative gallery of more than 40 local artists houses an eclectic collection of contemporary art and crafts including basketry, clay, egg art, fabric arts, glass, gourds, jewelry, macrame, paintings, photography, tin work, weaving/wearable art and wood. The who’s who list of featured artists include Robert LeBlanc, Lynda Burch, Helen Bamert, Bruce Gilbert, Mabel Culpepper, Jeanette Easley, Vera Russell, Allen Lowery, Brenda Bowman, K.D. Fullerton, Neal Drago and Gloria Casale to name just a few. Its artists interpret the modern southwest while being mindful of the area’s rich cultural heritage and its natural beauty. 

I spoke with Allen Lowery who is a contemporary artist working primarily with watercolor and acrylic media. A native of the Southwest, Lowery draws much of his inspiration from nature. His subjects usually range from representational to lyrical abstractions. Lowery’s paintings, featured in this article review, demonstrate a multi-dimensional element and a lure toward abstractism similar to Picasso. Lowery’s work has been exhibited in many invitational shows and private collections.

The Amapola Gallery has a gallery opening and reception for its featured artists of the month on the first Sunday of every month. The next opening is scheduled for Sunday, January 8, 2012. For more information on the gallery operations and membership application, visit the gallery website at www.amapolagallery.com.

Amapola Gallery, Old Town - Plaza Don Luis, 205 Romero NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, 505.242.4311, Open daily, 9 am- 5 pm.

Weems Galleries & Framing

You may think now that the Weems International Artfest is over there’s not much happening at these art galleries. Weems galleries continue to be well stocked with high-quality original artwork. The cross section of styles and types of art include wall art, glass, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, prints, mixed media, funky, and animals. Along with the gallery’s philosophy that variety is paramount, pricing accommodates a wide range of buyers. 

Weems galleries is offering a 20% off holiday special on Jon Oakes special shapes glass December 7th - 9th only. In addition, this Saturday, December 10th is Day of Demos. Watercolorists, Dan Stouffer and Carol Carpenter, will be demonstrating their techniques at the Louisiana location. This event will run from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, featuring new work, including many small “Stocking Stouffers” and “Christmas Carols.”

Mary Ann Weems, owner of Weems Galleries and Framing, has created a theme for each of the monthly art shows for the 2012 season. This idea of themes has attracted a large selection of artists which should make next year’s art shows worthwhile for everyone. Below is the schedule for 2012:

JANUARY

Black & White Show  (Opens January 21st)

Kathy Glidden • Mary Beth Goforth • Margaret Letzkus • Mary Ann Weems 

Lynn Hartenberger • Dan Stouffer • Paul Murray • Dana Pomroy • Kirby Roll

FEBRUARY

Rio Grande, Bosque, Sandias Show

Kathy Glidden • Dan Stouffer • Paul Murray • Kirby Roll

David Drummond • Doug Naquin • Kandy Tate • Tina Lambert

MARCH

Fun, Funky, Fantastic Show

Margaret Letzkus • Dan Stouffer • John Gibson

Dana Pomroy • Mary Ann Weems • Kandy Tate • Nancy Young

APRIL

Flowers & Still Life Show

Kathy Glidden • Michelle Chrisman • Margaret Letzkus • Doug Naquin 

Lynn Hartenberger • Dan Stouffer • Paul Murray • Kandy Tate

MAY

Water Show

Kathy Glidden • Lynn Hartenberger • Dan Stouffer • Doug Naquin 

Paul Murray  • David Drummond • Mary Ann Weems • Kirby Roll

JUNE

Animals Show

Kathy Glidden • Mary Beth Goforth • Margaret Letzkus • Kandy Tate • Tina Lambert • Paul Murray • Dana Pomroy • David Drummond • Nancy Young • Mary Ann Weems 

JULY

Abstract Show

Michelle Chrisman • Margaret Letzkus • Dana Pomroy • Allen Young 

Lynn Hartenberger • Mary Ann Weems • Tina Lambert • Nancy Young

$285 SHOW 

Dan Stouffer • Nancy & Allen Young • Kathy Glidden

AUGUST

Color Show

Michelle Chrisman • Margaret Letzkus • Nancy Young • Allen Young

Lynn Hartenberger • Mary Ann Weems • Dana Pomroy • Doug Naquin
• Kandy Tate

SEPTEMBER

People(Realism or Otherwise) Show

Michelle Chrisman • Margaret Letzkus • JK Drummond • Nancy Young

Lynn Hartenberger • Mary Ann Weems • Dana Pomroy • Doug Naquin
• Kandy Tate

Weems Galleries & Framing - www.weemsgallery.com

Louisiana Plaza, 7200-D Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, 505.293.6133

Old Town - Plaza Don Luis, 303 Romero NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, 505.764.0302

The Old Schoolhouse Gallery

The Old Schoolhouse Gallery is currently hosting the New Mexico Colored Pencil Association annual show in its back alcove gallery through the end of November. Don’t miss this opportunity to see exceptionally beautiful work by some of New Mexico’s finest colored pencil artists including new work from Melinda Beavers, Rex Barron, Audrey Minard, Les Lamkin and Betty Lehnus. I was fortunate enough to visit this show mid month when many of the drawings were still available for sale. I couldn’t resist adding the dramatic piece titled, “Oh, Really?” to my collection of art at home. Take a look for yourself to see why this drawing in particular stood out among the rest.

The main gallery is currently featuring an eclectic blend of acrylic, egg tempera, fused glass, watercolor and oil pastel by well-recognized artist V. Adair Peterson and recent Local Treasure honoree Lois Bradley. V. Adair Peterson alternates between two passions: Egg Tempera and Fused Glass. As different as these two media are, both reflect her love of composition and design as well as her focus on scientific methodology as demonstrated in her painting below. Adair is founder of the Rio Grande Artist Association.

Lois was recently celebrated as being "A Local Treasure" by the city of Albuquerque. Her most recent series, Quilted Landscapes, explores the connection between family and landscape in deeply saturated oil pastel and mixed media. Besides being a fine artist and graphic illustrator, Lois is responsible for most of the marketing efforts and the website for the Old Schoolhouse Gallery.

The Old Schoolhouse Gallery, 12504 North Hwy.14, Sandia Park, NM  505.281.1250 ~ http://www.theoldschoolhousegallery.com 

Nob Hill Art Gallery

Last Friday, I attended the first Friday's Artscrawl reception at the Nob Hill Art Gallery located in the Northeast Heights district. The featured artists of the month were husband and wife, Jerry and Tricia Love. As you may already know from my previous article reviews, I have been an art student under Tricia’s direction at the New Mexico Art League and have followed her work for some time now. However, Friday’s reception was the first time that I had viewed Jerry Love’s artwork. 

Jerry likes to tell stories with pencil, pen and ink, and scratchboard drawings. His audience can relate to his subjects, whether a western scene with cowboys and horses, rodeo events, trains, or Civil War reenactments. Jerry’s focus on Southwestern Art, so vividly depicted in his paintings and drawings, can be seen in “Baby’s Day Out” featured below. Jerry is currently a board member at the New Mexico Art League.

Tricia Love’s watercolor paintings produce a translucent effect allowing her subjects to appear real and tangible as demonstrated in “The Marble Collection” seen below. Her detailed drawings and colorful still life watercolors have been juried into more than 100 show and exhibitions, where she has won numerous awards. Many of Tricia’s drawings and paintings are also available as limited edition prints. Tricia is a member of the National League of American Pen Women and a Signature Member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society.

The Nob Hill Art Gallery is cooperative artist owned and operated gallery featuring 26 New Mexico artists including Vera Russell, Tim Gifford, Malinda Menke, Dahl Delu and Richard Gabriel, many of whom have been selected to display their works in exhibitions such as Masterworks, Encantada! and The New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair. The gallery includes a wide spectrum of painting styles from traditional to contemporary. In addition, visitors will see straw mosaics, jewelry, photography, ceramics and bronze sculpture. The Nob Hill Art Gallery is an active member of the Albuquerque Art Business Association, participating monthly in the First and Third Friday ArtsCrawls.

Jerry and Tricia Love’s artwork will hang during the month of November at the Nob Hill Art Gallery, 7400 Montgomery NE, Suite #19, Albuquerque, NM 505.268.9969