Artist Towns? (Santa Fe, Corrales, San Ysidro: moving to, food, title)

[ziaAirmac]

Originally Posted by iriegirl

I actually find that modern technology feeds my art inspiration. From this forum, to the artist friends I have made on LiveJournal, Blogger, and other sites, I have discovered so much new art, young and older artists, just some great original art.

Great point iriegirl. I guess for my part I've always been most affected by conversations or being around/near someone's art or workspace. To be honest though, I've never checked into the sites you've mentioned. I guess I should take a peek and see what technology has to offer my old craft

Originally Posted by iriegirl

I also love that you say NM is like that! Great local artists exchanging their work, just a nice idea that makes sense.
I sure don't have that here. You're gonna have to think twice about moving back here. Although, I know that a good relationship depends on that give and take, and sometimes you gotta do it for the other person.

It's honestly one of the things I enjoy the most about my work. In some way I feel like I'm getting away with something, like: "You'd really take one of my pieces for that? Every time I enjoy the pieces I've traded for, I remember the friends I made at shows and think about what that day was like. My work is decidedly a folk art, so my peers at shows generally trade things that are very utilitarian. I use stuff all the time. Serving trays, mugs, woven baskets... it's great to put it to use.


dancingearth related:

--woke up dreaming about how to glaze my pots.

Did you get any answers? I have very little experience with glazes. My entire pottery experience culminated in a coil built mug with etchings and additional molds of fantasy characters from a comic I used to write in 5th grade. I used the various glazes as if I was pulling crayons from a box with complete confidence of the results. After firing it ended up looking like a pinata had blown up nearby. On top of that, I varied the thickness of the handle too much and it ended up a skosh on the weak side. I think my dad used it for a pen holder for a few years before quietly loosing it during a move. but I've always wondered: what is it about glazes that makes them so ethereal? People talk about taming them with a mixture of rigid science and arcane knowledge from some ancient tome, like it's more chance and serendipity than intent.

I agree with you Catman--FL - no way. Visited there once--no mountains and disneyland--fake everything--ugh.

Strange you should say that. Every time I think of Florida, I think of plastic pink flamingos and astro turf. I should go easy though, as I've never been.

[GIrlnextdoors]

Santa Fe is pricey but has many cultural resources you might not find in the rest of the state, Taos is a bit hyped up but beautiful. I cant remember the name of the town, but on the way from Santa Fe up to Taos (I believe only one road leads up there) there is a pretty cool town famous for brick oven pizza that has a lot of artists. Housing was decently priced there too if i remember correctly. Sorry I cant be more specific.
Also if you are out there don't forget to check out Truth or Consequences. Hot springs and artistically inclined go there, lots of retired folks too...Good luck. I'm from New York originally and New Mexico was one of my favorite places to live. The people are good there and it is so damned beautiful...much slower paced than the East Coast (obviously) but you will be amazed how that changes a person over time.

[ontheroad]

Iriegirl, last I heard from stormweary they were in FL, and had decided to return to LA.

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by ziaAirmac

....... Every time I enjoy the pieces I've traded for, I remember the friends I made at shows and think about what that day was like. My work is decidedly a folk art, so my peers at shows generally trade things that are very utilitarian. I use stuff all the time. Serving trays, mugs, woven baskets... it's great to put it to use.

.........Strange you should say that. Every time I think of Florida, I think of plastic pink flamingos and astro turf. I should go easy though, as I've never been.

I like having hand made or old family pieces in my home for that reason. It reminds me of friends, good times, or reminders of continuity. My great great grandfather's woven coverlet hangs on one wall--I have chairs I bought at an auction in PA that families used in their daily lives--I like the connection.

FL - I just remember being amazed when I went to Disneyland - I had no idea everything was fake. Give me a National park anytime.

Glazes - magic and mystery. I wonder if I will ever find a combo that I like so much I'll glaze everything with it. I doubt it. That one pot I posted on the other thread I have not been able to duplicate. But I've been using different clays to figure out which one I like. I'm almost to a decision about picking two (a white and a red) that I will stick with when I begin high fire again. Everything influences the glaze, especially in gas high fire. The atmosphere of the day, the atmosphere of the kiln, where the piece is in the kiln, what's around it, the clay, slip, wash, glaze. It's endless. I was signed up for a class at college called Chemistry for Everyone just to learn about the chemicals but then I moved here and applied to graduate since I had enough credits. There is a fine line between too little and too much. Now this pot, I didn't do that much to it and it's a mess. Just a wash and one glaze and....

[Lovehound]

Very nice pottery DE! I like the one above even better than the one of the other thread. I have some similarly glazed pots intended for planting house plants, and bought them because I like them.

Let me remind everybody that art IS technology. There was no art until the first cave man slapped some pigments on a rock surface, or until he (or she) started chipping away the rock varnish to make an image. The pigments and the chipping tool are technology. Every artist must understand the technology of their chosen medium, and as they gain a greater understanding of the technology their art improves. ziaAirmac claims some difficulty and inexperience in the glazes. With practice will come improvement leading to making nice glazed pots like DE does.

And the best part of it all is that it's fun learning!

[ziaAirmac]

Good points, all!

[santafescribe]

Originally Posted by GIrlnextdoors

but on the way from Santa Fe up to Taos (I believe only one road leads up there) there is a pretty cool town famous for brick oven pizza that has a lot of artists. Housing was decently priced there too if i remember correctly. Sorry I cant be more specific.

I wonder if you mean Chimayo?

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

Very nice pottery DE! I like the one above even better than the one of the other thread. I have some similarly glazed pots intended for planting house plants, and bought them because I like them.

Let me remind everybody that art IS technology. There was no art until the first cave man slapped some pigments on a rock surface, or until he (or she) started chipping away the rock varnish to make an image. The pigments and the chipping tool are technology. Every artist must understand the technology of their chosen medium, and as they gain a greater understanding of the technology their art improves. ziaAirmac claims some difficulty and inexperience in the glazes. With practice will come improvement leading to making nice glazed pots like DE does.

And the best part of it all is that it's fun learning!

It is fun to get other reactions to my pots because often the ones I think are either boring or odd, other people like. I'm also drawn to this one--I want to try again but thin the wash in order see if that keeps it from being so runny and thick. Technology is important--especially clay--knowing the timing is everything. I'm determined to keep at the wheel in order to get the technology down so I can then decide to use it to create what I want instead of deciding what to do now that it has a bend that I hadn't intended even if I love the pot that way. Playing with glazing is an addiction--one friend wanted me to help her glaze her pots because I'll try anything. I wrote some things in shorthand on the pots and she said her relatives asked what it was. I wish I had little shelves to put all of them for future reference--instead I take pictures and put them in a spreadsheet and then give them away or make candles and planters (crooked pots make good planters--stick a hole in the bottom and practice throwing a plate.)

I'm all about processes--I've always enjoyed watching plants grow but often lost interest in the work of harvesting. Now I grow mainly herbs and flowers although the house I might rent has fruit trees. Might have to get out the canner if I move there but I'll do it the Tom Sawyer way--have a party--whole lot more fun doing it with friends.

[Lovehound]

Making candles too, eh? I might try that myself. In my second incarnation.

Incarnation one: Electronic engineer.

Incarnation two: Artist, artisan, soap maker, candle maker, maybe even pot thrower.

Oh yeah, forgot, Santa Fe resident. It's not impossible...

[ziaAirmac]

If you're not a lifetime learner in Santa Fe, it's your own fault!