Let's Not Complicate (Awwww, MaaaAAAANNN!)

A chiropractor friend referred me to his teacher, Dr. Zhau, a renowned herbalist in Santa Fe. In my second attempt to schedule an appointment I was surprised when Dr. Zhau himself came on the line.

He affirmed that the herbs my friend had suggested were a good choice but when I explained I was interested to learn if there was anything else HE might add, he, facetiously referencing my aforementioned heritage, said that despite my proclivities, he didn't want to complicate things. I quickly shifted into "whine-and-complain mode," but he, completely unimpressed, insisted I wait several months to see the results of the recently added Fu Fang Dan Shen Pian.

But the wonderful kicker was the way he closed the discussion. It took a second iteration for me to catch the word; the accent was unusual (I think he's originally from somewhere in China), but the humor was unmistakable! "Danke," he said. "Bitte! Bitte schon!" I replied, as we hung up.

Highly recommended! WEBSITE

Scott Johnson - Fissure

Closed February 2, 2020. If you get a chance to see his work somewhere....GO!!

The video below is also included in the Center for Contemporary Arts' link below.

Scott's "Artist Talk" about Fissure, the show at Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe. He "begins" to discuss at 31:20. Prior to that is a mix of art history and ideas that have influenced him. The video is on Vimeo and Blogger only allows visual links (like the one above) from Youtube.                         

https://vimeo.com/371261586?ref










https://www.ccasantafe.org/current-exhibitions/2145-scott-johnson-fissure

Scott Johnson - Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe

An extraordinary exhibit. Photos & '"words" worthless, but wanted to alert anyone in the neighborhood -- this is a MUST SEE!

Each is no more than 10 inches (25cm) high/long.

Infinittude

At a Distance

(note reflection of "painting" on wall)

The installation above is rows of shelves of books that were packed with clay and fired. On some you can see vague hints of text. Many are broken, obviously "accidents" that must've occurred during the installation.

Fragility, delicacy, sensuality...

The installation around the corner from this one is completely different. It's an incredible agglomeration of flotsam that has elements that, if they have any cohesiveness, offer vague allusions to the sea. But their placement and the incongruities are so myriad that one is almost immediately overcome by the thrill of reminiscence of your own childhood collection (I'm still accumulating) or the fascination of having stumbled into The Reluctant Dragon's treasure room; I didn't even attempt.

Through February 2, 2020.

www.ccasantafe.org


At the risk of understating the originality of Mr. Johnson's work, he also creates large, glass "cases," some longer than tall and some taller than long, but all contain mirrors that create infinittudes. These are placed close enough to the installation of flotsam and a large blue neon polyhedron (almost five feet in diameter) to create an indescribable dimension of geometric surreality.




I don't know if Scott wrote this but it doesn't even BEGIN to convey the incredible magic. After reading it, I almost didn't go.

Looking from the mid-point of the "painting." Each half is about four feet long. If you look closely, you can see the corner of the wall.

Having done development work (professional pan-handling) much of my life (mostly for arts organizations, but I was very proud of helping obtain a large grant for , I found it interesting that Christians were the least likely give. As a Marketeer (always making note of demographics and statistics) I was intrigued to discover it is animal-lovers, of all persuasions, that are more likely to help out. Strange, but true. Please consider making a donation. Today's VISA stands at: $13,659.04. And Phoebe has a new instrument cluster...with speedometer; the old one broke.

Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival

It's wonderful to walk into a huge room full of incredible expressions of creativity. And I admit to an unusual level of comfort in the company of artists. But the phone's camera wasn't up to the job.

Titled: Choking Hazard

(wire)

Bowl fashioned from curlers

(by same as above)

Bundt Pan Chandeliers

Coquettishly behind, is one from a flour tin

The leavings from an auto-serger (on her sewing machine) were used to create the dog's fur. Found styrofoam for its body.

The form is bicycle chain; the seated figure from wire and oddments.

This three-foot long piece was suitable for display out-of-doors. She uses old cans, roofing tin and similar and works them by hand with hammer and anvil. 

A wingspan of almost four feet. Bottle caps and flattened cans.

Three-foot high. Stove or floor heater legs

Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival

Angela Meade at St Francis Auditorium

And we're going. Sunday, January 14, 4:00 pm

Angela Meade—“the most talked about soprano of her generation” (Opera News)—has been making waves in the opera world since her professional debut at the Met just under a decade ago. With a voice of “exceptional dynamic control” (The New Yorker) and “raw vocal intensity” (New York Times), Meade has won over 50 vocal competitions, graced the cover of Opera News, and been invited again and again to sing for the most distinguished opera houses in the world—most recently returning to the Met to star in a production of Bellini’s Norma, to much acclaim. 

After a brilliant recital during Performance Santa Fe’s 2016-17 Festival of Song (where Opera Today stated that “with Meade we begin to know the sound of golden age singing”), the “gleaming soprano” (Washington Post) returns to Santa Fe this January to sing works by Meyerbeer, Bellini, Rossini, Beethoven, and Mahler. 

As a part of Performance Santa Fe’s education program offerings this season, Ms. Meade will teach a master class for voice majors from the University of New Mexico on Friday, January 12 at the St. Francis Auditorium.

Jock Sturges at Photo-eye Gallery, Santa Fe

Through May 23 at Photo-eye Gallery in Santa Fe.


Art works by Jock Sturges.


Video about Sturges.

SITE Santa Fe through May 19, 2013

Three concurrent exhibits run through May 19, 2013. Admission is free on Fridays to New Mexicans.

Pictures don't EVEN begin to do justice. Word (rumor, not the software) has it that most of the acclaim for the exhibit is based in nostalgia...the way olde people like music they heard as children. The criticism I heard came (was lobbed) from the "It's sssOOOooo passe and pretentious" side of the fence.

The four images below are from Linda Mary Montano's exhibit titled: Always Creative.

More of Linda Mary Montano's....

The Time mirrors are part of the exhibit: Mungo Thomson: Time, People, Money, Crickets

Inside the boxes were edited copies of PEOPLE magazine with all the peoples' faces removed. Few seemed to realize they were free for the taking. I've never cared for PEOPLE magazine, let alone one with faces edited out.

I missed the seventies (and the eighties too, for that matter). I heard it was tough times, but I think having been oblivious enabled me to enjoy these exhibits. Rather than passe, I thought some of them, like the forest of phalli (below), refreshingly playful. 

 





My fav was the melting ice with microphones. The reverb echoed the lyrics of Simon & Garfunkel's 1964 hit: Sounds of Silence.

  

Devin Kovach, staff, moves ice toward middle. It WANTS to be near the edge.