Arguably one of the most famous art markets in the world, the Santa Fe Indian Market is getting underway. We can tell because there is a lot of traffic, a lot of private jets flying in to the airport, and every square inch of space downtown is filled with vendors.

It is truly a fantastic weekend to be in Santa Fe - the weather recently has been beautiful, and this years market has a stellar lineup of artists, some new to the market, some long timers. While you’re here, be sure to check out the massive projects that have consumed Santa Fe for the last year or so. Downtown , the new New Mexico History Museum is nearing completion, the new Santa Fe Convention Center (aptly named - The Santa Fe Convention Center) is almost done too. A fast paced and exciting lottery handed out coveted monthly parking spaces in the new underground lot.

Over at the railyard, the new Warehouse 21 recently opened right next door to Site Santa Fe. Behind Site Santa Fe and all along Cerrillos Road you’ll notice the new Railyard park. Not quite done yet but the opening is scheduled for mid September. Closer in , there are new and newly renovated galleries along Guadalupe St, and the Market Center (housing REI and many others) is nearly done as well.

Be sure to check out the Parade of Homes - a showcase of fine homes in all areas of town in which to showcase your newly purchased art.

Welcome, and enjoy your weekend!

GDS

This past Friday, July 18th, the new Tim Solliday show opened at Altermann Galleries at 225 Canyon Road. The show resplendent with Solliday’s characteristic qualities of authentic depictions, expansive landscapes, and emotionally moving portraiture. You will be moved and awed by his works. Pieces are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis so get there as fast as you can. Here is the artist’s bio from Southwest Art Magazine in 2004:

California plein-air painter Tim Solliday won his first art competition at the age of fourteen and knew he wanted to paint for his career. He attended a city college in the Long Beach, California, area but soon dropped out having been disappointed with the art courses.

Solliday then went to work as a sign painter, and learned the principles of art. When he left the sign company, he painted on his own and supplemented his income by creating posters, doing book illustrations and doing artwork for the film industry.

At the Lukits Academy of Fine Art, Solliday studied for six years with Theodore Lukits. He began selling his work at local art shows and has since found a national following.

Solliday works from a studio in Alhambra, California, once inhabited by Frank Tenney Johnson. His subjects include landscape, narrative and figures. He has earned top awards from the Oil Painters of America, California Art Club Gold Medal shows and the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational.

Check it out and post comments to let us know what you thought!

Thanks!

GDS

For those of you who are modern art lovers, you must go see the Joe Ramiro Garcia exhibition at LewAllen Contemporary on West Palace. The show is comically ironic, texture-rich, color-packed and stimulating. Here’s the artist’s bio:

Born in Houston, Texas, Garcia attended Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts before studying for two years at the Art Institute of Chicago. He was honored in 2005 with a Painters and Sculptors grant from the Joan Mitchell Foundation. His work has been included in five recent museum shows and several books on Southwest art.

The show opened on July 4th and runs till July 27th. Let us know what you think of the show by posting your comments!

Thanks,

GDS

Hi Everybody,

This is just a quick post announcing the launch of GalleriesdeSantaFe.com, the new portal for all things art-related in Santa Fe. Wondering which galleries in town represent your favorite artists? Wondering what openings are going on this Friday for the gallery walk on Canyon Road? Need to remember the galleries you wanted to visit while in Santa Fe? GalleriesdeSantaFe.com is the answer to all of these questions. We hope you enjoy it tremendously.

In Art News…

Probably the latest and greatest things going on in Santa Fe, besides the Santa Fe Opera season, is the ongoing SITE Santa Fe Biennial, entitled Lucky Number Seven. Curated by world-reknowned curator, Lance Fung, the Biennial is a multi-national, multi-media, multi-venue, site-specific art installation representing the integration of thought, collaboration, and creation. All of the artists are considered “emerging” artists, and all of the pieces have been commissions specifically for the Biennial.

Opened on June 20, the Biennial has come to achieve international acclaim. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ll never be able to see these works again once the show is deconstructed as the all the art will recycled. For more information, please visit www.sitesantafe.org.

Talk to yah,

GDS