The myth is that the best art in New Mexico is located in Santa Fe and Taos. Certainly, talented artists are represented in the many galleries, boutiques and nooks and crannies of those charming communities, but art in New Mexico truly knows no bounds. Albuquerque is too often a secondary thought when it comes to New Mexico art destinations, but in reality, ABQ has been ranked one of the Tops 25 arts destinations by American Style Magazine for many years running.
One reason is the New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair, a juried event that began in 1962 to help the state celebrate its 50th anniversary of statehood. Held at the state fairgrounds the last full weekend of June, the event features only New Mexico artists – more than 225 most years, in addition to about 1300 youth exhibitors from area high schools and community colleges. Each year, almost half of the work by those participants sells, hopefully launching a career in the arts.
Rick Van Ness, a sculptor whose lighted works are based around musical instruments long past their prime, won Best of Show in the 2009 fair. “It’s really a buyer’s market in Albuquerque more than many of the communities we show in” he says. Reasonable real estate prices and overall cost of living in the area allow artists and crafts people to price their work at an equally affordable rate.
An admission charge of $5 per person or $10 for a three day pass makes the weekend of shopping and enjoying art, both indoors and out, a bargain.
A good number of the 15,000 attendees at the fair come from galleries on both coasts and many major cities, according to Ron Behrmann, president of the fair board.
“New Mexico has such a good reputation as an art community, we find that many buyers come here year after year, appreciating any excuse to visit the state,” Behrmann said.
That’s somewhat the sentiment expressed by Roy Sumner Johnson at Sumner & Dene Gallery about the artists represented in his gallery in the old downtown area. “The majority of my artists are from New Mexico, but I try not to be prejudiced against good artists who can’t live here for one reason or another,” he said. “We know that any artist worth their salt would live in New Mexico if they could.”
Sumner & Dene is located at 517 Central, NW, a part of the old downtown and right on the path of old Route 66. The building was once the first J.C. Penney department store in Albuquerque with about 7,000 square feet to display the work of 75 artists. Artwork ranges from oil paintings and hand crafted furniture to jewelry and fiber art.
Sumner chooses pieces that demonstrate “a sense of humor,” which is what the gallery is becoming known for. Prices range from $5 to $15,000 and despite recent economic challenges, sales have been good.
Sumner & Dene are located in the Nob Hill area of Albuquerque, not far from the fairgrounds where the New Mexico Arts and Craft Fair is held. The area is home to more than 20 galleries featuring local artwork, as well as several antique shops, ethnic craft stores and imports, and a number of independently owned restaurants.
Another great destination for art in the Albuquerque area is the Sky City Cultural Center, about hour west of the city on the Acoma Pueblo. Although the cultural center opened in 2006, the Acoma people have inhabited this pueblo for more than 1000 years.
Pottery made by the Acoma people is highly collectible and a visit here is a must to understand the what, why and how that makes Acoma pottery different – and to guarantee that consumers get the real deal.
The exhibits explain what the designs mean and help those unfamiliar with the art form appreciate the designs and imagery. The symbols have special meaning to the Acoma people. Spiral designs, for example, represent the continuity of life. White is Mother Earth. Fine lines represent rain or prayers for rain. Whirling feather designs represent the wind and changes brought by wind.
Recognized for the thinness of the finished vessel, that the clay is coiled rather than thrown on a wheel, and the characteristic black on white designs, Acoma pottery is created only by the women of this matriarchal society. The soft gray clay is found only on the Acoma reservation, but potters often grind up old pottery shards into the new clay.
If you buy pottery off of the pueblo, here are a few tips that will help ensure that you are purchasing authentic Acoma pottery: Red clay is NOT Acoma pottery. The Acoma use red only as a paint, usually to identify pinto bean pots. There is no red clay on the pueblo. Acoma pottery is both ceramic and clay. Before you purchase, ask if the pottery is hand-fired. Hand-fired is more authentic.
The Art Alliance of Albuquerque is a non-profit clearing house for information about art shows, galleries and independent studios in the city. This site also provides information on dance, theatre, music and literary arts in central New Mexico.
