Sara D’Alessandro’s sculpture and Frank McCulloch’s paintings are a perfect marriage!

Frank and Patsi

This was another lovely reception at Matrix Fine Art. Frank McCulloch’ new landscapes are vibrant and energetic; there seems to be now slowing down for Albuquerque’s favorite octogenarian. As a special treat we are also displaying some of Frank’s older and more abstract lithographs.


Sara and her work

D’Alessandro surpassed herself with this body of work. These pieces are elegant, abstract, and yet retain some of the quirkiness we have come to expect of there work.





Sun Transit Dancers

This was a fun evenings with a lot of surprise visitors such as Russell Hamilton and his wife.



Frank and Russell




Frank and the Kalishmans

Thanks to all of you who came to the reception. If you missed it, the show has been extended through December 3. www.matrixfineart.com.

This blog was written and submitted by Matrix director Regina Held and gallery assistant Tanya Landin

Regina and Tanya

Images by Jeff Simpson.

Pat Malcolm's solo show!

Marilyn Dillard moves into full color!

Known for her subtle earth palettes, Dillard's new work is infused with an exuberant color palette. Way to go, Marilyn!

Magical Meadow
12 x 12"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas


Late Season
12 x 12"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas


Falling into Red
12 x 12"
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

Sally Condon’s work buzzes with vibrant color and luscious layers of wax!

Many people came out to see the beautiful oil, wax, and collage paintings by Sally Condon. Sally says, “I see my paintings as metaphors for my feelings about the magic and beauty that surrounds me from a simple flower or leaf to the colors of a beautiful western sunset.”


Sally Condon



The wax comes from the bees that she cares for! In her work, Sally “covers the collage with beeswax mixed with dammar varnish then begin brayering many thin layers of color on to the surface using pressure as in printmaking.”
Her paintings are not encaustic like many people think. Encaustic is a painting method where color-pigmented beeswax is melted, applied to a surface and reheated to fuse the paint into a smooth or textured finish. The word encaustic comes from Greek and means 'to burn in', which refers to the process of fusing the paint. Sally actually mixes oil paint with the wax.



Why
35 x 35”
Oil, Wax, and Collage on Panel

Regina Held, Director, was at the Affordable Art Fair in New York and left Tanya Landin, Gallery Assistant, in charge of the reception. Note from Regina and everybody else- she did a great job!








Beth Kassay, artist and teacher, is shown here admiring Sally’s horizontal piece titled, “Almost”.



There were a lot of inquiries regarding Laura Wacha’s newest woven canvas paintings. They are unique and eye catching!


Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this opening!

New Work by Raul Dorn

Raul just brought us these acrylic on paper paintings! Enjoy
Raul is an artist who lives and works in Las Cruces.


Subsonic 1
17 x 14.25"


Subsonic 2
17 x 14.25"


Caught in the Threat of Nature #4
19 x 14.25"


Caught in the Threat of Nature #3
19 x 14.25"


Caught in the Threat of Nature #2
19 x 14.25"


Caught in the Threat of Nature #1
19 x 14.25"

New work by Laura Wacha- pics coming soon!

As Aunt Bee said to Opie, “Finish your milk. We can’t put it back in the cow, you know.”
Like Aunt Bee, I’ve always been a big fan of finishing what I start. Usually once I declare a painting finished, I don’t go back to it again.
Recently however, I had an idea (Eureka!) to tear an old painting into strips, weave the strips together and paint over the result. The original image of three women on a sofa was fractured by the weaving but was still discernable to me and I used it as inspiration for the image that I then painted over the top. I found the potential for accidental alignments of images intriguing, as well as the option to retain the shapes and patterns of the original piece.
I enjoyed the process so much that I have ripped into strips other “finished” canvases that might benefit from a similar treatment. After painting a few of these reworked pieces, I am now painting pictures with the intent of ripping them up and weaving them together. What fun!
Laura Wacha

Morris’ river landscapes soothe the spirit

Iva Morris’ (on the left) pastel paintings burst of color, light, and an emotional connection to the rivers and desert landscapes she portrays. This particular show is an exploration of water, river bottoms, the geology and the ecology of a river system, particularly the Potomac where she grew up.





Morris reflects on her special relationship with that river - the cadence of her rhythm, the rise and fall of her flow, the colors, texture and mood that changes with every season.





Despite of Labor Day weekend, we had a nice group of visitors all evening long. Iva is an exceptional artist and incredibly talented painter. Some of you might know her for her super realistic figurative work – three of which are also displayed in the gallery. If you missed the reception, the show will run until September 25. Get a preview at www.matrixfineart.com.

Robbins “Pieces” is a complete experience in mosaics

Laura Robbins mosaics greet those entering Placitas, and they delight us at the Range Café. She has worked full time as mosaic muralist for a long time, but this is her first solo show at a gallery.




Her show drew a huge crowd and the gallery was packed all evening long.






Several pieces found a home and not just her flower sculptures that fits in a yard and only costs $ 100.




And, this artist brought everything AND the kitchen sink. Her grey water piece is a full blown installation of a kitchen counter, complete with windows, curtain, dishes, plumbing, and yes, the kitchen sink. All of it is made out of clay or glass. If you like work that breaks the mold, don’t miss this show. It will run through August 28. \

www.matrixfineart.com

David Koch showing new work!

coupling Art is a group show by couples who make art. Please join them Saturday, July 24th from 5 to 8 pm at the Lerma Home 10101 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM. Congratulations David!

Free Gallery Talk with juror Andrew Connors, Curator, Albuquerque Museum of Art.

Saturday, July 24, 1 – 2 PM

This presentation is in conjunction with the following exhibition:
Photo New Mexico 2010

Now in its third year, this show features the pinnacle of New Mexico photographic talent in this ongoing collaboration between an Albuquerque gallery and curators of New Mexico museums.


Show runs through July 31!

Gallery hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 9 – 6; Tuesday 10 – 4; Closed Monday

Photo New Mexico 2010 was a hit!

Photo NM 2010 captures a broad range of imagery





Now in our third year, Photo NM continues to attract the best of photography in New Mexico. This years’ juror, Andrew Connors, curator of art at the Albuquerque Museum of Art, had the difficult job of selecting only 21 images by 20 artists out of the 224 entries we received from 74 artists.

Here are a few of the artists in the show with some new and several familiar faces:


Melany Herrea, who also won our “People’s Choice” Award this year – congratulations!


Barry McCormick

Bruce Shortz


Dino Farfan


William Gruner


Karl Latino


Robert Goldstein


Thomas Leiblein



Robert Nugent


Tim Anderson



Andrew Connors says about this show:

This selection in many ways celebrates the classic elements and techniques of photography with only a few forays into digital manipulation or enhancement.

The best of artists allow us to see the world in a new way, and the best of photographers help us see and understand with greater complexity and with new perception. Those of us who are not art makers owe to them a debt of gratitude for enriching our visual experiences. Those who submit their work to a blind jury are doubly brave.

Thus a big “Thank you” to all who submitted work” and did not get in – we hope that you will try again next year. The call for entry will go out in January.


A big thank you also to Tanya, Pam and our intern Justin who helped with this show.



Justin, our intern, did a fabulous job keeping up with the ballots which were cast throughout the evening to determine the “People’s choice” award. It was a close call and Robert Goldstein, Karl Latino and William Gruner were neck to neck throughout the evening until Melany Herrera took the award home. The Juror’s Choice” award, went to Jeff Laird’s “1510 Wyoming NE.”



This show runs until July 31, and Andrew Connors will give a one hour gallery talk on Saturday, July 24 at 1 PM. Visit www.matrixfineart.com to see the entire show.