Artist Towns? (Las Cruces, Silver City, Hope: houses, condos, rent)

[moko]

Originally Posted by stormweary

thanks Moko,
In general, what is the cost of living in t or c? Are apartment/houses available to rent ? Studios? Can one find an old commercial building and live and work in the same place?
Just checked out the web page you posted. Very nice and I am impressed! There looks like a "healthy" list of artists in the county. Encouraging.....

Sorry for the late reply to costs of living in T or C. Studio spaces range from 200-400. Apt or houses for rent range from 400-700(? I think). There are comercial places that have live-in quarters, but they are hard to come by. There are a few just outside of the downtown area that might be easier to get, but the downtown ones are the best ones for being noticed. There might be one or two available for rent (or for sale, if your lucky). If I remember correctly, there is one downtown for sale for about $175,000 with the potential for live-in quarters.

Good Luck.

[Crackerjack]

Stormweary, Durango is one of the mildest of the mountain cities to live in Colorado. Grand Junction and Cortez are the mildest of all in Colorado, but they are desert areas. Grand Junction, north of Durango, grows peaches and has a lot of wine vineyards. I talked to my sister-in-law, who lives in Durango. She said she rode her bike today with no jacket and it was in the 60s and very nice and sunny. Durango has over 300 sunshine days. The cloudy days are almost all in the summer when the monsoon comes. The nights are cold, being so high up, but the days are usually very nice. It doesn't snow a lot in Durango proper. It will up at the ski resort and north of Durango, but Durango and south of Durango, it melts on the roads very quickly and south of Durango, it doesn't snow much at all. The roads don't have ice either, like they do back in the NE. They don't even use salt. They don't need it. The sun is so warm, it melts it off and the roads are dry.
Yes, Durango's home prices are pricey. You can get a house a lot cheaper out from Durango like in Aztec, NM, a little over 30 miles away, or Bayfield. Cortez is another town with lots of ranches and ranchettes all around the area and not bad on prices at all.

Durango is so art oriented. You just can't be bored there. If it isn't all the music things going on like jazz, classical music or many other concerts going on, you have art showings, dance recitals, independent movie showings, all sorts of activities from wine tasting to bluegrass festivals. There is also so much to do nature wise. Hiking, biking, horse trail riding, kayaking, boating, mountain climbing and on and on. There is so much to do that you really don't need a TV set! I never was much for TV, but living in Phoenix with all the heat, you have to stay indoors under the AC, so much so that I do watch TV. I long to be in Durango where I can send the TV out the door! I like that the people in Durango are so eco-minded too. They recycle, have community trash clean ups, have great health food stores and are a physically active bunch. People I know there told me they can spot newcomers because newcomers are usually overweight, but give them a few years in Durango and the weight will come off!


Ontheroad, your post was really a pleasure to read on what speaks to you! I agree about the beauty of nature in NM and the towns could have been better. I know about the pueblo you are talking about and it is indeed so beautiful and in harmony with nature. That is why I try to pick a town that is as close to the natural beauty I can get. I guess that is why I like Silver City and Durango so much. They are so near the mountains. There are some beautiful areas like Red River, Angel Fire, Chama, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, but the snow and cold is pretty extreme and they are small and isolated, so I like that Silver City and Durango are milder and bigger. Silver City needs more businesses, but I think that is coming. I also wish man could integrate homes with the environment. I am for underground homes and homes that just "sink" into nature. I think NM is changing. Poverty has affected so many in NM that that is one major factor for the towns and homes not being a part of nature. More money coming in will bring changes. I hope for the better.

[tcburns]

Hey folks. Just found this site & forum and after reading through this thread thought i'd add some to it.

I'm a chicago artist who is determined to get out of chicago! We started off with these books to do research:
Places Rated Almanac ~Savageau & D'Agostino
--very useful; buy it.

America's most charming Towns & Villages ~Brown
--ok, but get library copy first.

Best Small Towns ~Crampton
--ok, but library copy too

The 100 Best art towns in America [4th edition is 2005] ~Villani
--we read the ink off of it LOL

Once we narrowed the search to colorado and new mexico:

Moon Handbooks: Colorado; New Mexico
--very very useful once you get there and are eyeballing those areas/towns on your list to checkout. Lots of different info, and author will say when they think the local chamber of commerce is leaving some facts out.

I'd lived in Clovis NM and Tucson AZ before [well stationed in both places really] so understood the pace of sw life style, not a problem for me.

It wasn't until my wife and I spent several weeks driving to the towns on our list that the reality check of personal experience balanced out the book research. Some towns dropped from the list like hot irons: Ruidoso [to much pretensious wealth, and way off out budget, so-so gallery scene], Truth or Consequences [high on the list until we saw it, dont' know how galleries there survive, but good art work - basically one long main drag with -as of august 2005- 50plus empty store fronts].

Silver City ~pretty much as advertised; great gallery scene, some darn good contemporary art/artist, very nice annual art show; major drawbacks: don't expect to eat out, restaurant choices are pathetic, especially for a town of this size and locals admit it. Move there and open a gallery/dinner, you'll make a killing.

Others jumped onto the list as we checked them out using the attitude 'Well, we're here, lets look..." Deming, which is way down there, was a great surprise. An art co-op gallery, which directed us to a private gallery down the street as worth the look. No kidding, 4000 sq.feet and the owner was expanding into another 3,000 sq. feet. Killer art, easily would fit into any contemporary gallery here in Chicago. Also Socorro, one gallery, community of artist then was about 45, very pleasant area. Not an art town, but a good place perhaps to live and send work elsewhere.... except my wife couldnt figure out what kind of job she might find.
I'd been to Santa Fe on several week long workshops, printmaking, etc. and liked it, and compared to Chicago not really expensive, but would rather be in galleries there than live there, can't say why exactly.

One major surprise throughout the state: the large amount of fine quality, contemporarty art. Sure, still a lot of regional stuff, but I was impressed by the range, and quality of work that fits into gallery scenes found in Chicago, New York, or Europe.

This coming summer we're headed for Belen and Socorro again, to spend more time and look for and hopefully buy land to build on. And maybe a few days down to Las Cruces again - but it was darn hot last Sept.!

Art stores - yeah, would be annoying if you need one tin of lamp black and could just stop and get some, or want to touch the new print papers etc. But I find that living here in Chicago, with many excellent art stores some the best anywhere, that i often buy from their on-line catalog as fighting traffic to go to say Villa Park for Graphic Chem and Ink makes to big a hole in the day,

Finally, what we did, besides to look was 1. check realestate listings 2. go to chamber of commerce and get info and talk, 3. went into every gallery, and talked to owner/artist/clerks, and customers. Good luck with your search.

[Pallentine]

HI there,
I live is St.Louis & just recently was accepted into a gallery in your town.
I don't want to move from my location, I just want my art in other states.
I read what the people are saying & their concerns about art supply stores. I think they should be looking to their local gov. to why they are not building in some of the larger towns.
That's a crime.
St.Louis is tradionally not an art town. They have their sports,food & music. Which are all ok things, but Art is not truly supported. That's why I'm so glad I will be exhibiting in Chg! yahoo.

[stormweary]

tcburns,
thank-you so much for your insight and info!! I particularly appreciated the comments on the styles of art.Sounds like contemporary art is alive and well in N.M. i wondered about the regional subject matter and it sounds like there is room for both. I'll add Deming to my list.

ok Crackerjack, I'll put Durango back on my list Perhaps one of the areas around the city would be more affordable while being close to such a super place. I still worry about the snow

ontheroad,
i understand what it is you are saying but unfortunately that is not the mind set for most Americans. (living with nature)Maybe over the coming years with talk of global warming, people may pay more attention but didn't we have this discussion in the '70s??? I hope to eventually to find my spot and as crackerjack suggested, make my own place. Or modify an existing one. I'm afraid that ideal place doesn't exist but if you find it ,please, let us know. I'll be right behind you moving in.....

moko, thanks for the info, t or c sounds like worth a look even tho tcburns wasn't impressed. I am hoping to find a place that hasn't been discovered yet, and t or c may fit the bill. Of cource, after I move there it can be discovered and then all those people with money can come buy my art.
ok, silly, but I can dream....

[tcburns]

Pallentine brings up a good point, which is to look beyond the city you live in or will hope to move to, when thinking about making it as an artist, exhibit as widely as possible. I don't currently do fairs [can't decide if i want to either] but want to keep chicago area gallery connections, and make as many as possible in NM and AZ. [BTW - way to go Pallentine!]

One darn good reason for talking to as many gallery folk down there as possible is to feel out if your work would fit into the local scenes. I plan on being a NM located artist and on hitting galleries all over that state, so being in say Socorro, or Las Vegas NM would be no great hardship with limited local galleries. BUT what kind of community of artists does the town have? Deming had a nice co-op representing some good people; other places fit that bill fine.
Actually I suspect that given the number of local artists in and around T or C it would fit the criteria of a strong art community. [tho 50 empty store fronts was scarey in other ways - economic health etc.]. But by all means go to the places on the list you make! Gotta be there eyeball-to-eyeball with the towns to know if one fits your style/needs.

Another thing to look for as index to health and community: how many local banks are there [this tells you something about the economy]? Is there a book store? Higher ed. institution? Art stores do seem far and few between down there, so close to UPS and FEDX? And one we came up with last year, the price and quality of food in each town - generally NM was cheap with good quality, but prices varied quite a bit.

[Crackerjack]

Thanks Tcburns for the great post!

Stormweary and Tcburns, Durango is one of the healthiest places to live. You will see some of the fittest people there. Many pro bikers live there. National Geographic listed it as one of the top ten places to live. They are building many new banks there. As I write this, some monster size banks are being built in Durango. They have so many art and entertaiment things going on that rival many large cities. They have a college with about 4,000 students. MANY great places to eat! Even Oprah Winfrey's chef friend is a chef there. Oprah said she loves Durango. It is worth a look, I assure you!

[stormweary]

tcburns:
Ideally, I hope to get into one of the Santa Fe galleries but I know how daunting that can be. It sounds like alot of the art has spilled into other parts of N.M. from there and I think that is a good thing. Moko mentioned in an earlier post that there are artists in t or c that do show in santa fe. Right now, it seems for me, a choice between a smaller more afforadble place with fewer amenties or a larger city with more stuff but also the stuff that goes along with bigger cities (crime, traffic). Having lived in both i know it is a trade off and I've thought of making a list of things I HAVE to have vs. what I can give up.
if you have gallery rep.in Chicago, then more power to you. I've been able to show a little but never had the rep.
I really do appreciate your impressions of the places you have visited. And I understand that what works for you may not for me. thanks again.

Crackerjack: I'm convinced to give Durango a look/see. I am not a big exercise person.( I walk to and from my classes ) But maybe if I were to live in an area like Durango, I' do more. I also worry about an area that is growing rapidly. Here in Fl. there has been growth but uncontrolled for the most part. I hope that is not the case in Durango.

[Pallentine]

TCBURNS, I have an artist advisore in Napa,Ca.,it took a long time over a yr. to be placed on her web page & that in itself was quite an honor. I have no page of my own, therfore any presence on the net (be it good/impressive) is a plus. When I am not painting, I am researching galleries all across the USA. + marketing my work.
I look at their w.pages to see what the gallery looks like, what the art looks like: will I be a good match & if they are accepting submissions. Some, I have even called directly to ask that very question. I have been supurised in some cases when they will say, could I just send them a couple of jpgs. or an address of some web presence to see my work. Portfolios are expensive to send. I have a CD of 76 paintings (@ this time) with price list & bio + resume. Included is also a cover letter, business & show cards. With a plactic folder which holds the CD & business card, plus folders for paper work, it runs me 8$ for postage both ways. That's down from 15$ when I was sending a ring binder.
First impressions are everything. You must look successful to be successful.
They also want to know how you are selling. Who wants work that is not? I have sold 47 pieces in less than 3 yrs. 10 in just the last week. If the gallery likes your work, they will request a piece to test the market (their buyers). You pay the shipping for that, if returned, they are responsible.
My work will not fit in many NM. galleries, b/c many are more hispanic in flavor. But I am trying to find one, it just takes time. Time...there's another issue. It takes a gallery 4 to 6 months to review work. They receive tons of submissions...so you must waite,waite,waite...it's hard!
I have over 30 pieces farmed out in various venues throughout St.Louis.
Galleries who are open to the trades (desigers), framer/galleries, coffee shops & so on. Exposure is very important. I have also done some outdoor shows, but the weather is so risky.
I have not always done fine art, I have learned quickly how to work the system in this type of art. There are lots of rules & many games. If I can answer any questions for you all....I'm here. Maybe some of you already know all this stuff, but many do not. so there ya have it.....

[stormweary]

Thanks, Pallentine,
i am in the process of getting digital images of some of my work. (finally got a digital camera) Friend of mine here says I need a web site and I find people ask more and more if I have one. I need help in setting one up altho I know its probably much easier than the days where you had to know html code and all that.....
What has been so frustrating for me is to contact a gallery, they say yes, send some stuff and then after 2-3months,nothing, followup calls, nothing..6-8mths nothing. they could at least say, sorry not interested. At least that was my experience in New Orleans a few years back.
I am glad to see that someone has figured out the "system" were they live. Any info on the business of art is appreciated by me.

Moko, you mentioned that several of your artist friends show up in Santa Fe. what did they do to get the foot in the door? Are Santa Fe galleries more open to new artists?