Artist Towns? (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell: house, rent, travel)

[ontheroad]

iriegirl, it is colder than a freezer. In fact, it may turn out to be not too cold, but too much snow for me in the long, long run. We are already into our 8th snow, and too often I can barely get out the door. But, it is beautiful, and I am here too short a period of time to know how well I am adjusting.

Just barely have the art supplies out, and about to take out and put up the easel.

Happy New Year, and yes, let's stay in touch!

Originally Posted by iriegirl

Hey all! Happy New Year from the Jersey Shore.

Ontheroad, It IS COLD up here,isn't it? Glad you are adjusting...and get those pencils and paints out. Do you think being 'away from it all' helps you get motivated to do artwork? Sometimes I think that if I were in a more remote place, I might actually get something done.



Take care you guys, and stay in touch.
Hope we all have a artfully productive 2008!

[ontheroad]

Dancingearth, any update on the job? Thinking of you in my private world, snowbound, and thinking about a new project. Happy New Year!

Originally Posted by Dancingearth

Yep, still in WA waiting for an answer on a job interview in Santa Fe. Researching places to live in NM and making pots and sculptures while I wait, oh and work a temp job that has grown very very old. Also set up another student job (a fun one--in the theater costume shop) and classes just in case I don't get the job in NM. This quarter no stats--all art and small business.

OTR, I'm ready for your isolation--stay home and work on ceramics or get my xc skis out and see if I remember anything. Was up until 1 am last night and almost got up at 2 am and smush what I had made but woke up this morning with a new idea for the piece. I saw a house share ad that says they'd like someone with a spiritual practice (Santa Fe of course.) Wonder if working clay counts. Certainly a lesson in not getting attached. You can spend many hours creating it and it blows up in the kiln or the glaze is ugly.

Iriegirl - what fun - a road trip - tell us about it.

It is raining again. One road to work during that heavy rain was underwater, fortunately I didn't go that way. I think I'd prefer getting snowed in.

Happy Holidays!

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Dancingearth, any update on the job? Thinking of you in my private world, snowbound, and thinking about a new project. Happy New Year!

Hi Ontheroad. I'm in the process of losing it Received the job offer last Friday, got everything I asked for. I accepted and have been packing and getting rid of stuff ever since. Ha--took a break today and went to work to train my replacement and then hang out with friends playing Rummikub and watching a movie. I'm feel very good about the job but sad about leaving very good friends here. I also have no idea where I'll want to live when I get there (that I can afford.) I want to check out Rio Rancho and Bernalillo because I can use the Park N Ride and eventually the Rail Runner to get to work and live closer to ABQ. Not too crazy about the houses from what I see online but I can't afford to buy a house in Santa Fe. I want a space to put a potter's studio. Who designs such ugly houses? I'll be staying with a friend in White Rock and taking the Park N Ride down to Santa Fe while I figure it out--put my stuff in storage because I can't stomach the idea of moving this stuff twice. Being snowed in sounds good right now--as long as I didn't have to pack anything! Did you start a new project?

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by iriegirl

Hey all! Happy New Year from the Jersey Shore.

Ontheroad, It IS COLD up here,isn't it? Glad you are adjusting...and get those pencils and paints out. Do you think being 'away from it all' helps you get motivated to do artwork? Sometimes I think that if I were in a more remote place, I might actually get something done.

Dancingearth, Wow, you sound like you are really being productive with your pottery, that's great.
And , good luck with the Santa Fe job thing. I liked it there when we visited, but it was Feb.and it was also COLD. But ,it was sunny too.
The Indiana trip was good. Driving thru the different states, you really notice the changes in them. PA was L-O-N-G to drive thru, and the PA turnpike sucks big time.
Ohio was dreary and pretty run down, at least on Rt70. I did like Indiana better, more green and nicer farms to look at. We will be going back soon , to pick up our RV,and then West I hope. I keep getting the FL bug ,when it gets grey in NJ. So, I'm not sure ,but we might go there to get some heat and sunlight.

Take care you guys, and stay in touch.
Hope we all have a artfully productive 2008!

bumpty...bumpty...bumpty..bump Sound familiar Iriegirl? That's what I remember about the PA turnpike. It is a long drive.

I did get some pots that are getting better over the holidays and my friend bisque fired them so I can take them with me on my move to NM and glaze them later. My wall sculpture broke trying to get it to the kiln in the car so that went in the garbage. I need a studio before I make sculptures, greenware pots are easier to move.

I think the same sometimes--being more remote might help--but sometimes being around other artists motivates me. I went to the Seattle Art Museum and came home inspired to make a wall sculpture inspired by Aborigine shields. If I didn't have to drive, I would live where I didn't see people from my house. I like people but I want a choice about being with them. Took today off from packing...tomorrow I start again. Halfway done. January 20 I fly to New Mexico. Friends are driving my car down. I want this to be the last move for a long time to come.

Happy New Year Ontheroad and Iriegirl!

[RUSTYCOWBOY]

Hi - I am also an artist looking to relocate to NM - can't stand the cold in Montana anymore. Can't afford Santa Fe and Taos too cold. Silver City is good, but too high up and cold. I'm looking in the las Cruces/Mesilla area - warm and artsy. Let me know if you find out anything else?

T

[ontheroad]

I think Las Cruces is a fine town, and very warm come those summer months. When I was there in June, I believe, it was so hot I wasn't able to walk around comfortably--but I am more a cold weather person than high humidity and high temperature.

The old town is lovely and very appealing and I would have considered relocating there from Taos if the heat didn't tucker me out.

Can't say anything personally about Silver City, but have some good friends, artists, who love it.

Originally Posted by RUSTYCOWBOY

Hi - I am also an artist looking to relocate to NM - can't stand the cold in Montana anymore. Can't afford Santa Fe and Taos too cold. Silver City is good, but too high up and cold. I'm looking in the las Cruces/Mesilla area - warm and artsy. Let me know if you find out anything else?

T

[Bougainvillea]

I'm moving to the Rio Grande Valley in three weeks....have just bought a house there. That's the area along the Texas-Mexico border running from South Padre Island through Brownsville, Harlingen and towards McAllen. It's a Florida climate (same latitude as Miami, about)....warm and balmy in the winter, hot in the summer, of course. But then, unlike New Mexico, everything is air conditionned. Palm trees everywhere. Orange and grapefruit groves, semi-rural once you get outside the towns down there. I haven't found it to be particularly artsy, but the cost of living is about half what it is in New Mexico.....always a factor for artists, unless you are well established. Las Cruces real estate is very high, as you will quickly see if you check MLS listings there. New Mexico has a fairly high state income tax as well. Texas has no state income tax. The population is about half Hispanic in Brownsville, less so in McAllen and Harlingen. The area is growing, lots of construction. Most interesting for me, you can drive to San Miguel de Allende in about nine hours, probably three hours or so to Monterrey.

[catman]

RustyCowboy: Silver City is a LOT warmer than anywhere in Montana! It's actually rather mild. That being said, there are warmer places in NM.

I'm not a visual artist, but a professional musician...I hope I can find some work in Alamogordo! Hopefully, there is some live music there.

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by RUSTYCOWBOY

Hi - I am also an artist looking to relocate to NM - can't stand the cold in Montana anymore. Can't afford Santa Fe and Taos too cold. Silver City is good, but too high up and cold. I'm looking in the las Cruces/Mesilla area - warm and artsy. Let me know if you find out anything else?

T

I just visited Las Cruces this week for the first time. I've read many good things about it and I enjoyed Mesilla but I still like northern New Mexico better in spite of the cold. LC was too flat for me even though the mountains in the distance are beautiful. I was at a great used bookstore that went on and on--wonderful. Our tour guides were retired so we saw it from their perspective--the retirement center had a well equipped lapidary. I wasn't able to find an artist co-op but I didn't have much time. Looked like there were many theaters. Next time I get down south I want to check out Alamogordo.

I decided today to rent for a year in Santa Fe and then talk to my new boss about telecommuting so I can move somewhere further south that is more affordable. I've got to get out of White Rock--one week here and I'm itching to get my stuff out of storage and sign up at Santa Fe Clay. There's so much to do in Santa Fe that I'll have to watch I don't fill up all my time and not spend any time doing pottery. ahhh....just found a clown class at Wise Fools. That's what I wanted to be when I was 18.

[Dancingearth]

I forgot - here are a couple of pictures I took this week in Las Cruces/Mesilla. Wednesday when I left LC I think it was about 50, when I got to White Rock it was 20--at least it felt 20 or lower with the wind. Brrr....but it is sunny! I can bundle up and get outside--unlike in the rain in WA.