Albuquerque Now | Fall

A Two Part Exploration of New Art

October 10, 2009 - January 3, 2010

There are communities of artists working in this city whose works are rarely displayed in proximity to one another. They may appear in shows dedicated to specific contexts or genres, such as folk art, abstracts, pastels or photography, for example.

Curator of Art Andrew Connors envisioned an opportunity for visitors to appreciate what he refers to as the ''wealth of artistic brilliance'' in this community. Although Andrew recently worked with Curator of Exhibitions Tom Antreasian to revision and reconfigure the Common Ground permanent collection in the East Gallery, Albuquerque Now will be his first major show curated for The Museum.

Albuquerque Now is a pair of exhibitions, comprised of two distinct installations of recent works created by artists in Albuquerque. A wide variety of media and styles will be featured, from traditional to post-modern, and the artists represented range in age from the mid-twenties to over eighty.

''The more I discover about Albuquerque, the more I appreciate the real, visceral, integral and experimental feel of the art scene here,'' Connors explains. ''Some of our most significant artists possess a pioneering enthusiasm...there’s something about the appeal of New Mexico and the Southwest lifestyle that allows people to be who they are without expectations.''

Albuquerque did not develop with a specific ''art center'' consciousness, like Santa Fe or Taos. Yet the significant support given to the arts by the University of New Mexico, the presence of important galleries and the growing numbers of art enthusiasts and collectors serve to raise public awareness of the gifted artists in our midst.

Connors stresses that these exhibitions were conceived as a broad sampling of the richness of forms, media and creative expression found here. Works encompass jewelry design, ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, video, sculpture, fiber, furniture and even tattoo art. ''I’d refer to it as a contemporary exhibition,'' he notes, ''but in the sense of a particular time period rather than the customary way most people define it, referring to cutting edge or avant garde works. Some works are very modern, others are rooted in the traditional art forms of Native American and Hispanic cultures, yet they do not fit the definition of 'typical' representations.''

Each Albuquerque Now show, Fall and Winter, stands alone. There are no themes or hierarchy, just one work by each featured artist to provide the widest possible exhibition in a large gallery setting. Connors’ only regret is not having more time and space. ''In every exhibition works must be chosen, and there is so much amazing talent here that many more could have been included,'' he explains. ''This also differs from the Biennial Southwest in that it attracts a different group; this is an opportunity to see works from world class artists who don't submit to juried shows.''

Albuquerque Now/Winter

January 24 – April 18, 2010

Click here to go to an archive of past Major Exhibitions

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