Cumulous Skies: The Enduring Modernist Aesthetic in New Mexico
Curated by Lawrence Fodor and Partially Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts
March 22 - June 7, 2013
Opening Event on Friday, March 22 from 5-7 pm

The exhibition, Cumulous Skies: The Enduring Modernist Aesthetic in New Mexico, seeks to expand an understanding of the lasting impacts the modernist movement brought to New Mexico by artists John Marin. Andrew Dasburg, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mabel Dodge Luhan, Willard Nash, Josef Bakos, Will Shuster, Walter Mruk, George Bellows, Cady Wells, Rebecca Salisbury James and other important artists of the time. In the early 1900’s numerous modernists visited and relocated to New Mexico seeking fresh inspiration for their work through the exploration of the diverse landscape, vivid color and clear light of the high desert. These avant-garde frontier artists were drawn to the Southwest by the region’s beauty, its indigenous cultures and out of a strong desire to rebuff traditional painting styles in the search to free themselves of the restrictive artistic categories prevalent at the time. These artists were seeking more intuitive considerations in the visual arts. Their presence and the influence of their vision and work resulted in a direct impact on the arts, culture and aesthetics of New Mexico’s population, including local Native and Hispanic traditions. This inventiveness and innovation persisted in a second generation of artists that included Raymond Jonson, Emil Bisttram, Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and Agnes Martin - thus fortifying a strong regional movement that extended nationally and continues to exist, thrive and impact artists working today. Contemporary artists working in New Mexico in a variety of media will be included in the exhibition whose artwork reflects, translates, and sustains the traditions of the New Mexico Modernist Movement and the environmental and aesthetic conditions that continues to draw artists to the region today.

Nominations for the 2013 Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts are currently being accepted.  The deadline for receipt of nominations is Friday, May 31, 2013 at 5 PM.

Download a Nomination Form.

The Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recognize the outstanding contributions that individuals, organizations and businesses have made to the Santa Fe arts community. Any member of the public may nominate an artist, writer, performer, philanthropist, organization or business for consideration. Nominees should have a demonstrated, sustained commitment to the Santa Fe arts community with a lasting impact.  Young artists who have demonstrated artistic excellence and extraordinary commitment to their artist pursuits may be nominated for the Melissa Engestrom Youth Arts Award. 

Mayor Coss will present selected recipients with their awards at a dinner on Thursday, October 10, 2013. 

Rod Lambert will present sessions related to portfolio development, identification of professional goals, talking about yourself and your art, professional manners, brand management, time management and selection of professional venues.

All classes are free and held from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy Street (at the intersection of Marcy and Sheridan) Santa Fe, NM 87501

Please RSVP to e-mail

Rod Lambert is the Community Gallery Manager for the Santa Fe Arts Commission. The Community Gallery is a City-owned-and-operated Gallery featuring the work of New Mexico artists. The mission of the Gallery is to promote, exhibit and sell the work of New Mexico Artists.

Grant Review Panel meetings will take place from 8:30 AM to 5 PM in the Nambe Room of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.  Reviews are for applicants in the 1% Lodgers' Tax: Special & New Projects and Community Arts Development program.

For more information please visit the Grant section of the website.

Learn how to create and send email newsletters with popular online tools, presenting a polished impression of your artwork, your events, and yourself as an artist.

All classes are free and held from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy Street (at the intersection of Marcy and Sheridan) Santa Fe, NM 87501

Please RSVP to  

Chris Nierman operates High-Res Solutions, where he provides Santa Fe locals and small businesses with personalized technology support. His background includes certified instruction in the public school system. He is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and works with both Mac and PC machines, tablets, smartphones, and more.

Grant Review Panel meetings will take place from 8:30 AM to 5 PM in the Nambe Room of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.  Reviews are for applicants in the 1% Lodgers' Tax: Special & New Projects and Community Arts Development program.

For more information please visit the Grant section of the website.

Sara Eyestone introduces systems to make more studio time and methods for cataloging photography, art, mail, tax deductions, and finances. She shares sources for wholesale art and frame suppliers, publishing contacts, and valuable Internet information. The artist also presents ways to attract more press and personal appearances, including television and magazine articles.

All classes are free and held from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy Street (at the intersection of Marcy and Sheridan) Santa Fe, NM 87501

Please RSVP to  

Sara Shreffler Eyestone is known for the glorious colors on her palette. Her paintings are commissioned by private collectors and published internationally as Caspari note cards, calendars, art posters, limited editions and as a signature line of products including fabrics and intricate woven tapestries. Sara’s work has been the subject of countless articles including three cover stories for Jersey Woman Magazine. She is one of a small handful of American artists featured on NBC’s Today Show, and she has been honored by her Senators as a businesswoman of achievement. Eyestone presents business workshops for artists of all levels of expertise interested in supporting themselves with their art.

Tweet it, post it, pin it, share it... Learn the ropes of today’s most popular social media venues and use them to promote your artwork and events.

All classes are free and held from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy Street (at the intersection of Marcy and Sheridan) Santa Fe, NM 87501

Please RSVP to

Chris Nierman operates High-Res Solutions, where he provides Santa Fe locals and small businesses with personalized technology support. His background includes certified instruction in the public school system. He is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and works with both Mac and PC machines, tablets, smartphones, and more.

Create polished and professional video presentations using still images, video clips, music, text, and narration. This session will demonstrate using iMovie, a software product only available on Apple (Mac) computers. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops.

All classes are free and held from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy Street (at the intersection of Marcy and Sheridan) Santa Fe, NM 87501

Please RSVP to

Chris Nierman operates High-Res Solutions, where he provides Santa Fe locals and small businesses with personalized technology support. His background includes certified instruction in the public school system. He is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and works with both Mac and PC machines, tablets, smartphones, and more

Create polished and professional video presentations using still images, video clips, music, text, and narration. This session will demonstrate using Windows Movie Maker, a software product only available on Windows (PC) computers. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops.

All classes are free and held from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Santa Fe Community Gallery, 201 West Marcy Street (at the intersection of Marcy and Sheridan) Santa Fe, NM 87501

Please RSVP to

Chris Nierman operates High-Res Solutions, where he provides Santa Fe locals and small businesses with personalized technology support. His background includes certified instruction in the public school system. He is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and works with both Mac and PC machines, tablets, smartphones, and more

Cosponsored by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, the exhibit will feature about 30 artists who will select their subject matter based on plant lists that have a history in New Mexico, to include historic, endangered and native plants as potential subjects.

The Community Gallery promotes and exhibits the work of New Mexico artists and artisans, with the emphasis on Santa Fe, through exhibitions, professional training and community involvement in the arts. This exhibit, cosponsored by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, will include plant subject matter from any geographic area of New Mexico. Community Gallery programming provides a range of services, exhibitions and activities that engage the public as well as support the efforts of local artists and artisans.

The Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts were started in 1989 as a means of acknowledging living individuals, organizations and corporations that have made outstanding contributions to the arts in Santa Fe. Annually, the city seeks nominations of individuals or organizations by the public.
 
The annual dinner is an opportunity for the Mayor, the City, and the community to honor the individuals and organizations selected to receive the award that year.