Artist Towns? (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos: insurance, travel, jobs)

[iriegirl]

Hi Dancingearth,
I wanted to let you know about a site for artists,
ArtBistro.com : create and connect
see if you like it, its kinda good. Ontheroad would like it too,maybe I'll send her a message.
Don't worry about the Spanish class. just do what you can manage , I 'm stressed out about moving and its all I can do to try and pack up some stuff each day. I guess we'll have to get a storage place to put our stuff we want to keep.
What I really want to do is buy some land, get a yurt, and just get off the rat race for a while.

And, what are the East Mountains? Is that a section with towns?

[ontheroad]

Iriegirl, thanks for alerting me to another road to follow. I am missing our talks over at General US of the paths we've all taken. Perhaps we can all start another thread and catch up.

And congratulations on all motion.

I am in a tiny funk, but hope to break out tomorrow. Have been under the weather, but have a fierce writing deadline in 5 days.

Wish me luck, and I wish you all the best and send me very best regards.

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by iriegirl

Hi Dancingearth,
I wanted to let you know about a site for artists,
ArtBistro.com : create and connect
see if you like it, its kinda good. Ontheroad would like it too,maybe I'll send her a message.
Don't worry about the Spanish class. just do what you can manage , I 'm stressed out about moving and its all I can do to try and pack up some stuff each day. I guess we'll have to get a storage place to put our stuff we want to keep.
What I really want to do is buy some land, get a yurt, and just get off the rat race for a while.

And, what are the East Mountains? Is that a section with towns?

Thanks for the site - I'll check it out. Moving is stressful - the idea of it makes me shudder but yesterday I talked to a real estate agent and I'm going to check out a program for affordable homes. No progress on the garage and I'm also in a minor funk--with you there Ontheroad. Going to walk down to the plaza after this--maybe getting outside will help. Not sure why I'm in a funk, it's been a good day. I went to the first organization volunteer meeting for a Spanish Renaissance Fair that El Rancho de las Golondrinas is organzing with Open Hands. I met some interesting people this morning--two women costume designers--lots of enthusiasm. It's going to be a good way to get involved in the community and has many of my interests. I also met an assistant director this week in the shuttle from the car dealership--one of his films was Wild Hogs. He was talking about filming here. Lots of interesting people in Santa Fe.

The East Mountains are the east side of the Sandias --to the west of the mountain is ABQ. Cedar Crest, Sandia Park are over there--not exactly towns. There's a ski area over there although I never have been up that far. My friend lives on the road going to the ski area. I use to take the back road from Eldorado to there--love that drive. For some reason, I always think of the tv show Rt. 66. A rolling road of plains and mountain views that seems like freedom and makes me want to keep on driving.

I think the clay studio is causing some of the funk. Too much politics and upheaval going on right now--tired of hearing it--hopefully it settles down soon. People keep quitting and they don't have enough monitors to keep the studio open after 5 every night so I got kicked out one night. Need my own studio. Going for my walk and then come home and do some research on a Spanish Renaissance costume and finish my storybook wall hanging.

[iriegirl]

ontheroad, HI! Good to hear from you, been a while. Good Luck with with your writing, hope you feel better,
and thanks for the good wishes.
I 'll keep you posted on what's happening with us. Tomorrow I'm officially putting out a FSBO sign, so that means it's really REAL. (about time too.)

Dancingearth,
Thanks for the info about the East Mountains, that sounds lovely. Hope the house sells quickly ( I can hope, can't I?) I know the market is not good, but whatever, I'm not gonna get discouraged yet. I'm pricing it low, cause I don't want to mess around.
We'll have to look out there as soon as we can plan a trip.
Hope the clay studio straightens out, I can't handle those kind of politics, I know what you mean. You'll get your own sometime. Its a good goal.
Santa Fe sounds like so much going on! I think I'd like that, not sure, never been around a creative area like that.
Good luck with everything, hope you find a place you can do your work in, I feel that it will happen for you soon.


Sending good vibes to my artist friends,
iriegirl :-)

[Dancingearth]

Thanks Iriegirl. The walk did me good. I took Mary Oliver down to the plaza and watched people, read poetry, and listened to the musician playing on the porch of the Ore House. Got ideas for pottery. I have to remember never never walk without my camera or notebook. What was I thinking!

I figured out why I am in a funk. Walking does wonders for my brain. Came home and put my 3x5 dining room table on the back patio that has a roof, dragged my wheel over and made a slab pot vase with the junipers from the back yard pressed into it. Then made it crooked. ahhhh...so much better. The space will work for summer or until I find a place. Then I watched a glorious New Mexico sunset. I realized I am missing solitude and that I am surrounded by males but not the male energy that I enjoy--that sense of being taken care of and appreciated as a woman. Just the driven and what is wrong people energy--I can handle it at work but it has extended into my art. My housemate, the guys in the studio. Ugh. And no solitude to recover. So I pulled a chair out to the back yard in a place that feels as close to a secret garden as I can get (I can see houses in the distance and hills but nothing close up) and put my ceramic male head on a log to watch over me (he never criticizes my art My solitude place. There's been too much male critique of my art--where I live ( I can't call it home since I feel like I have to pass everything by the guy who has lived here for two years)--at the studio--and I'm discouraged with how the glazes are turning out and my seeking perfection in form. So I get a pot that looks pretty darn good and I think it's boring. grrrrr....it helped to make a crooked pot. .now I sit with candles lit on the back patio waiting for the moon to arrive watching the lights of Santa Fe below. Ah.......o00000000000.

Good luck with the house!

[Julia2sf]

Speaking of the city's affordable housing program, I just finished up the program last week. I got a lot out of it! Others may find the information covered in it remedial, but for me it was information I needed - and enjoyed - hearing.

I'd encourage you to go down and chat with them. It doesn't matter if it's something you're looking to do immediately or if it's a more longterm goal. (I think you have to be a resident of Santa Fe for at least two years.) It's good to get acquainted with what they have to offer.

[Pintada Kid]

Rent or rent to own in the center of N.M. and explore and find the place you want and then buy. Ive been to the four corners and Durango and if Cold weather is a problem they get it with plenty of Snow and Forest Fires something to consider. From the center of N.M. to the Northern part we get plenty of cold weather and snow and temps in the 20s until the end of June in the Higher elevations. But it rarely gets to 100 in the summer.The center of N.M. has wonderful people. From the center to the South is the warm weather places in N.M. Ruidoso is a Great Place for Artists but they get plenty of Snow and cold temps. el pintada kid

[iriegirl]

Hey Dancingearth,
that walking in the Plaza sounds wonderful! It sounds like a good place to make art.
The crooked pot is the one you learn from. I always like to make mistakes, cause they bring out your own style.
I love solitude too;
but I'm not sure what you mean about too much male critique? Unless you mean they are overly critical of your work, & not being supportive, and then, you don't need to hear that at all.
And thanks for the good luck wish on selling the house, I'll need it! Although, I think things are beginning to move here.

Julia2SF, not sure what affordable program you are talking about, but it sounds like they're trying to help, which is more than they do here in NJ. Here , it feels like they just keep milking you and taxing you until you can't breathe. Thats one reason I feel like we've gotta get out of here.


Pintada Kid, I think renting is absolutely the way to go ,at first. At least until we know where we want to settle. I've changed my mind so many times, not sure where that will be. My husband doesn't want any more cold weather, although the cold out West is different than the cold here. I think we'll try and stay in our travel trailer and scope out some areas. Thanks for the info!

have a great day everyone,
iriegirl :-)

[Dancingearth]

Hi Iriegirl -- yep, the guys seem to feel the need to offer their critique without being asked but I'm also exhausted from my work (the job was a mess--lots to straighten out) I know they mean well but after dealing with problems all day I don't need to be told my pot is crooked and why don't I just straighten the wall. smoosh, smoosh, smoosh. Ahh...that felt good. Did you envision clay there?

Julia2SF - I went into the Santa Fe Community Housing today and I qualify for a couple of programs - will take the class in June. Not sure I'll do it but at least it is an option. I'm going to look at a house near airport road. Don't like the area but I'm going to check it out. I'm thinking renting and saving money and eventually talk my boss into telecommuting and living more rural might be the way to go.

[iriegirl]

Hey Dancingearth,
Those guys should just mind their own business. I happen to like crooked pots, and are theirs so great that they can critique you?

Good luck with the housing thing, renting could be a good way to go, maybe for us too,after we sell. The only thing I'm concerned about living too rural is the gas prices !
I'm trying to conserve trips here, and we are close to everything. but out there, stuff is spread apart.