Corona, New Mexico (Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Farmington: mobile home, college, to live)

[Pallentine]

What can anyone tell me about Corona?

[Crackerjack]

Pallentine, Corona has around 200 people and is very small and isolated. It is on Highway 54 and way out in no man's land. If you want to feel like the only town left in the world, that would be the place. It has I think a post office, a couple gas stations, mini mart, a cafe, bar, a few small stores, mobile homes and houses. Not much else. It isn't really in the mountains like big mountains but more of high hills, I would call them. I think it is like in the center of NM or close to it.

[Pallentine]

Thanks for the info. I knew Corona was small, but not that remote. I have a fave artist who resides there. I am also an artist with a limited education on NM. I once drove thru the deserted town of Quervo & took pic's. Picked up on all the ghostly vibes & ended up doing some abstract paintings from the expierence. I would like to move to NM, but am firmly planted in Missouri.

[Crackerjack]

Yes, I know what you mean by the ghostly vibe in some towns. I get that in Cimarron, NM where it was once a cowboy town, even though Cimarron still lives on. Here is a link to more ghost towns in New Mexico: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~gtusa/usa/nm.htm

[Pallentine]

I had a simular feeling in Gettisburgh. You could feel the soldiers all around you. I used to paint & travel/deliver for a pottery company in Mo. It gave me the oppertunity to visit many cities & towns I would never have otherwise seen.
I mostly stay put here. The business of art keeps me grounded. Although, I am starting to be accepted into out of state galleries, which would require delivery of my art, those are hard to come by. I have submitted to a gallery in Sant Fe, it takes 4 to 6 mo. to receive a reply.

[Crackerjack]

It sounds like you are really a great artist! I would suggest you take a look at Silver City. It is growing, although small, not small like Corona! It has some galleries and artists and you might be able to break in there. You might even live in cheaper Deming and have a gallery in Silver City. Deming is a total desert but cheaper to live. Once you got "famous" you could live in Silver City. If you have the funds, you can just work and live in Silver City. Other cities with art galleries that don't cost an arm and a leg are TorC, Aztec and ABQ. ABQ being large, it may be too big for your tastes. Aztec, you can show art in art loving Durango or Farmington and Aztec too. Plus it isn't far from ABQ and Santa Fe! TorC, you have Silver City, TorC, Las Cruces and even over in El Paso. I am a mountain person myself and prefer Silver City or around Durango, but these are options for artists who also need to budget.

[Pallentine]

Hey Crackerjack, Well, your'e only as good of an artist as ya think you are.I took a look into Silver City..pop.10,054, wrote to the Chamber C. there for info, thanks. I won't be leaving Missouri, just my artwork. A good gallery is hard to find. Just because you can get in doesn't mean ya should. One here in Mo. has sold 9 pieces in three months. That's a great gallery! My work is well received, it's just finding the hand that will drop into the pocket to give up the $ for the sake of art! Your'e a nite person...hmmmm I live in the morning...all painting & marketing etc. is done by 4 or 5pm...then I cook!
Chow for now.....Thanks for yor time///

[stormweary]

Pallentine,
you may want to check out the artists' thread as there may be a tidbit of info you could use. Also, just drop in on the conversation if you have time. sw

[Crackerjack]

You are welcome Pallentine. I love to cook too! Good Luck on your search and also if you should move, Good Luck to that as well!

[Pallentine]

I have looked at "Art towns Thread"..I have a question/suggestion
I live in Missouri & frankly am very spoiled by the availability of supplies. I
paint abstract on hrdbrd & use a lot of paint with the use of a palette knife.
So my art supply store of choice is Home Depot. I realize many of you in NM
are potters & weavers & such & need art supplies to do your work.
Have any of you heard of Jerry's Artarama? I have never seen one, but googled them & there is a store in Tempe,Arizona (I suggest as I have just done, emailing them on the quandry of why there is a lack of art supply stores in NM!) Mike Gundry is Pres. of the retail division & the email is...
ira@jerrysartarama.com Write to HIM! write to your local Chambers of Commerce, to your local Mayors...make a noise. Your state is know all over the USA for ART, if you don't make a noise, you have no business complaining. UNLESS>>>>>you all have tried this & gotten nowhere. How sad that would be. I can't imagine that there aren't several towns large enough to support art stores & people to work there. Here in St.Louis, we have ArtMart,**** Blick,Michaels, Hobby Lobby & a few small owners. College art students flock to these stores for jobs.
I am not on a bandwagon, but I am a fulltime working artist & always have been for 30yrs. I pay my bills & raised 2 kids all on art. I have worked for a pottery company that had to drive all the way to Kentucky to get redart clay & other towns for wolastinite (forgot how to spell).marbledust, I know how hard it is to be an artist, it takes everything I've got to survive!
I hope I'm not coming on too strongly, but art is my life & I suppose that would be the same for the majority of you as well.
I've said it.....chow for now....