Photo New Mexico Juror Talk

This is a little past due... better late than never, right?






Mary Anne Redding discusses how and why she chose the photographs for Photo New Mexico 2011. With the names and titles set aside, Redding looked through over 100 photographs to choose from. Her initial reaction was to choose images that stood out visually from the rest. We asked that she choose one image per artist so the gallery could represent more artists. Redding had a difficult time with this as some of the images by the same photographer were so striking!



The photogravure, “Building Blocks of War”, by Diane Alire, won the juror’s choice award. Redding loved the political message, the exquisite printing, and the composition of the piece.


Building Blocks of War

There was a question about photogravure being considered photography or printmaking or both. Redding highly agreed that it is a photographic process because the artist starts from a photograph being printed in an alternative fashion. Photogravure is a printmaking process and many can see how a photograph translates into gravure just next door at New Grounds Print Workshop and Gallery!

Photo New Mexico 2011 exposes the best of photography in NM!

Like all gallery owners, I wish I had three times the wall space to exhibit all the great art that is made in New Mexico. I especially wish I had one room just dedicated to photography. But since I don’t have that kind of space, I can only show so much work at any given time. Photo NM gives me the opportunity to exhibit some wonderful photography by several different artists who I normally would not be able to accommodate.


Regina and Mary Ann Redding

But the toughest job went to the juror. Mary Anne Redding, curator of Photography at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe not only had to choose 25 images out of a gazillion entries, she also had to pick the “Juror’s Choice Award” which went to Diane Alire’s “Building Blocks of Wars.” She liked it because it was very timely and thought provoking. Congratulations, Diane!



Diane Alire


Diane and Regina


To our surprise, Mary Ann picked another favorite piece which we quickly coined as the “Juror’s Award of Merit.” It went to Jamie Sweeney for “Elena Waiting.” The quirky part about this is that Elena was our intern from April to May, and Jamie is her fiance!!!!



Although it was incredibly hot all evening despite of the air condition pumping as hard as it could, everybody stayed until the end to find out who received the coveted “People’s Choice Award.”





The award was taken home by Marie Maher for “Tomorrow’s Dream.” Marie could not believe it!



Marie Maher and her piece

There are some amazing pieces in this show with some artists having juried into it before, and some new faces.


Adrian Panaro





David Antreasian


Charles Palmer


George Gibson


David Hanson


Philip Augustin


Lee Chesney


Jo Antreasian


Tim Anderson


Sylvia Crain

If you like photography this is a show you don’t want to miss. If you are a photographer and would like to see your work included in this show next year, watch for the “call for entry” which will go out in January. Request to be on our mailing list, or check our website for the entry forms. www.matrixfineart.com.

Don’t miss the Juror’s talk on Saturday, July 23, from 1 – 2 PM. Mary Ann Redding is very approachable and very passionate about photography. The show will run through July 30.


Tanya Landin, gallery assistant, Pamela DiMauro, artist and volunteer, Molly Zimmer, intern, Regina Held, director

Photo New Mexico winners!

Diane Alire
Building Blocks of Wars
We had a great turnout for Photo NM last night! Diane Alire won the Jurors Choice Award for her piece "Building Blocks of War", Honorable Mention went to Jamie Sweeney for "Elena Waiting", and the People's Choice award went to Marie Maher for "Tomorrow's Dream". Congrats!


Jamie Sweeney
Elena Waiting


Marie Maher
Tomorrow's Dream

Please come hear the juror for this exhibition, Mary Anne Redding, discuss her selections, Saturday July 23rd from 1 to 2 pm.

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.