“Back to Blue” refers to a series of floral images I created late last summer and early fall, and called “The Blues.” Done in shades of blue, the reference was as much to emotion and mood as to color.
Two images from that series have recently been recognized.
This image will be exhibited in New York City from May 6 – 17, with the Opening Reception of May 8. I am pleased to have this image shown in this venue! Many thanks to the New York Center for Photographic Art and to Stephen Perloff!
Another image from the series, “The Blues,” Ephemeral, was chosen as a Nominee in the 7th Annual Photography Masters Cup:
Ephemeral – Fully open datura flower
This is a fully open datura flower. These open at sunset, and began to fade at the first light of morning. The plants themselves are quite hardy, but the flowers truly are fleeting – and very beautiful.
These were my two favorite images from the series, and having them recognized in two very different venues brings me a great deal of pleasure. I am happy for the opportunity to share them again, although my current work seems to be dominated by bright colors and bold designs.
The 25th Old Church Fine Arts Show presented by the Visual Arts Council of the Corrales Historical Society opened on Friday, October 4 with a wonderful reception for artists and their family and friends. The 2013 Exhibition of Fine Art is open daily from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closing on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 4:00 PM.
Fine Arts Flyer
Net proceeds and donation from Artists’ sales go to the preservation and maintenance of the Old Church. Visit the Visual Arts Council on the web at corraleshistory.com.
The Old Church is a beautiful venue for a Fine Art Show, as these images from this year’s show indicate:
25th Old Church Fine Arts Show
All adobe structures require constant maintenance. The Old Church is a much-loved historic structure, and this spring it received its annual “mudding.” On July 26, 2013, the Albuquerque metro area along the Rio Grande River was hard-hit by a strong, severe storm, eventually described by the National Weather Service as “hurricane strength.” Odd for the desert, but it did happen. The north side of this beautiful old historic building was severely damaged. A lot of time and money will be required to restore it to its condition before the storm.
Old Church north wall
Winners were announced at the Opening Reception on Friday, October 4. Congratulations to Frank Dobrushken for Best of Show with his black and white photograph, “The Dancers.” Cheryl Cathcart was awarded Second Place for “Suspended in Air.”
I was very pleased to received Third Place for “Floral Fireworks.”
Thanks to Jurors of the Show, and to the Visual Arts Council.
Floral Fireworks
I have a second piece in the show, “Cycles of Life: Sacred Datura:” sacred datura
The Corrales Fine Arts Show, held annually during Balloon Fiesta at the historic Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales, New Mexico, is set to kick off the fall fine arts show season in the Albuquerque region. This will be the 25th Annual Fine Arts Show held by the Visual Arts Council to raise money to support the upkeep of this beautiful old adobe church. This is a venue in which I love to show my work. The show has all kinds of work in it, not just photography. While there is photography, there is also painting of all varieties, especially oils and watercolors; textiles; pottery; just a great variety.
I would like to thank this year’s jurors for selecting two of my pieces for inclusion in this show: ‘Floral Fireworks’ and ‘Sacred Datura.’
Floral Fireworks – Gladiolus that always blooms on the Fourth of JulyLife Cycle of Sacred Datura – an iconic plant of the Desert Southwest
The show is open 11:00 am – 5:00 pm daily, October 5-12, 2013, and
11:00 am – 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 13, 2013.
You may find more information on the Old San Ysidro Church and direction to it at this link.
If you live in the area, or if you will be visiting during Balloon Fiesta, make the Old Church and the Fine Arts Show a stop on your visit. There is no charge, and parking is free. The church is a part of old New Mexico, and part of the proceeds for the sale of artwork goes for maintenance of the Old Church.
A big thank you to the jurors of this year’s show.
ANMPAS 2012 – the Annual New Mexico Photographic Arts Show – will open this year on December 1 and run through December 28. As in previous years, the show will be held in the Fine Arts Building of EXPO NM. This is juried show of New Mexico photographers.
The Opening Reception is Saturday, December 1, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The show will be open to the public December 2 – 28, from 10 – 5 daily. The show will be closed Tuesday and December 24 and 25.
This year I have four images in the show, one shown as a single framed print, and the other three shown as a framed triptych. All are from the Adobe in New Mexico series. They are just a small part of a large, ongoing study of the disappearance of adobe structures in New Mexico. Adobe was once the defining construction material in New Mexico. It was highly functional and “dirt cheap” at one time, but adobe requires regular maintenance such as yearly “mudding.”
Adobe is rapidly being replaced by more modern and longer lasting construction materials. Abandoned adobes dot the New Mexico landscape. Many are unstable and dangerous. Some will be demolished, as the one depicted in all four images in the ANMPAS show. Others will gradually weather away and return to the earth from which they came.
Over time, it is highly likely that the only adobe structures that will remain will be those that are cared for and maintained by communities, because it is simply too expensive and time consuming for individuals. Examples of adobe structures currently being maintained are the Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales, New Mexico, and also the historic Martinez House in Corrales.
Abandoned on the Bosque #2. In the background is a large adobe with attached mobile home. That adobe, as well as a smaller one, were scheduled for demolition in 36 hours.The Original one Room Adobe. No one knows the date of construction of this adobe. By the middle of the second day, this is what was left of the adobe structure with attached mobile home seen above.Demolition of the Original Room Progressing. As you can see, this phase was very dusty. I had to have my camera professionally cleaned after the week spent photographing the demolition of two abandoned adobes on the bosque.The adobe construction, with the adobe bricks and plaster are clearly seen in this image
I hope to see many of you from the Albuquerque area at the ANMPAS show this December.
Over time, as I work through the more than 1,000 images I have so far on adobes, abandoned adobes, maintenance of adobes, and demolition of adobes, I’ll be showing more of the Adobe in New Mexico story here and elsewhere.
Welcome to Susan Brandt Photography News. Over the years I have had a variety of blogs on different subjects, but nearly all involved photography to some extent. It seems time to put the photographs and news about them in one place.
Those of you who have followed my work will recognize this first image, ‘Lily.’
Bronze Medal, 2012 PX3 Prix de la Photographie, Paris
This image was a Bronze Medal winner at the 2012 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, as well as People’s Choice Third Place winner in the same competition. It was juried into the 2012 Corrales Fine Arts Show and was shown at the Old San Ysidro Church in October 2012.
Px3-2012-Bronze
Prints of this award-winning image may be purchased here.
