Marjie Bassler
Acrylic/Water Media
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Marjie Bassler’s love for creating brightly colored, whimsical paintings of animals began in her youth in New Hampshire where she was surrounded by the family’s many animal friends. Since moving to New Mexico in 1980, Marjie has had paintings accepted into juried exhibits and shows nationwide as well as participating in many invitational and group exhibits. She has served as Co-Director and curator of the New Mexico State Fair Fine Art Gallery, was on the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair, and has been a juror and judge for art shows.
Bassler says: “The brightly colored, whimsical paintings I create today have evolved from my early drawings of my family’s many animal friends. As I continue to have a great time coming up with new and quirky activities for the critters I paint, my ultimate goal is to add fun and lightheartedness to people’s lives. I can’t seem to stay serious!”
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Katherine Irish Henry
Pastels
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Katherine Irish Henry was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, grew up in Decatur, Illinois. Katherine’s earliest memories of finding pleasure in art production began at an early age when she discovered images of masterpieces in the World Book Encyclopedia. Katherine studied art at DePauw University with William Meehan and attended the Tyler School of Art in Rome, studying with Stephen Greene. She also interned with Willard Midgette in New York City in 1974. Katherine received a master’s degree in art therapy from Pratt Institute. She worked with homeless schizophrenics from 1976-1982. During this time, she painted and drew many of the people she encountered in a homeless shelter, on the subways and streets of New York. She befriended members of the Street Painters, including Myron Heise, and attended art critiques in the Bowery. She also took a number of classes at the School of Visual Arts, Pratt Institute, and the Art Students League. She was a frequent visitor to New York galleries and New York’s many magnificent art museums. Katherine’s first one woman show was in New York at the Marie Pellicone Gallery in 1982.
Katherine’s desire to live rurally and paint New Mexico landscapes grew after taking a three month painting trip to New Mexico in 1981. She moved to Taos, New Mexico in 1982. She studied oil painting with Marc Bergerson, from 1985-1990. Marc Bergerson, a New York artist, affiliated with Abstract Expressionist painters, taught her the craft of painting. She exhibited with the E.S. Lawrence Gallery from 1985-1986 and the Burke Armstrong Gallery from 1986-1990. She also participated in many of the juried and invitational shows in Taos, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Art Rental Gallery. Katherine was the curator for the first three Spirit in Art shows held during the Taos Spring Arts Celebration in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
When Katherine’s son, Nathan, was born in 1988, Katherine began a hand painted box business. She sold her hand painted boxes across the United States, Canada and Sweden from 1989-1997. In 1997, she earned a Masters in Counseling and worked as a therapist with traumatized children until 2005, while continuing to paint.
Katherine began working seriously in pastel in 2002. She continued to find inspiration in New Mexico landscapes, the cobalt blue skies and brilliant reds and greens found in plants and geological formations. Sunsets incorporate many abstract patterns as well as beautiful layers of color. She thinks of herself as a “Skywatcher”. Katherine has always thought of herself as a colorist, finding Monet and Turner to be an important inspiration. She has always been interested in the portrayal of light through color. She utilizes museum quality Walles paper and soft pastels. Sennelier, Schmicke, Terry Ludwig, and Unison are her favorite brands of pastel. She frames using museum glass or acid free mats with UV protected glass to ensure that her work begins and ends with the highest quality of materials. She currently exhibits at Sumner and Dene in Albuquerque and Convergence Gallery in Santa Fe. She is a member of the New Mexico Pastel Society and regularly participates in juried and invitational shows.
However, what Katherine is attempting to communicate is found in the looking not the words. Perhaps you will find a sense of quiet, of peace, and wonder at our natural world in her work.
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Ilena Grayson
Acrylic on Textured Board
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Grayson has a Masters Degree in Art Education from the University of South Florida and, after graduation, chose to be a studio artist. Having grown up in Colorado and now living in New Mexico, she has been influenced by the colors and cultural diversity of these western states. She has exhibited in galleries, art centers and museums across the United States and internationally for over 40 years. Grayson is also in several permanent collections including the Albuquerque International Airport.
Grayson says: "My creative expressions have taken many forms and utilized many different materials. I worked in clay for over 30 years exploring shapes and motifs inspired by ancient and primitive cultures. When I had the desire to explore other expressive materials I began working with plaster and found objects. This exploration eventually led me to give up the three dimensional format and begin to work with acrylic paints on textured panels. These new paintings are challenging me to learn new techniques and listen to my inner voice."
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Karl & Mary Hofmann
Pottery
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Karl and Mary Hofmann's influences include Meisssen porcelain and folk pottery of Karl's childhood home in Germany, wedging and throwing techniques learned in Japan, and the Southwest landscape, as they have been Placitas residents for 30 years. The Hofmanns met while studying at Michigan State University. Karl later continued his studies at Columbia University, then earned an MFA degree in ceramics and sculpture from Ohio State. Mary received an MA in painting and art history from Michigan State. Her work has been exhibited in the National Serigraph Society show. Retired from Sandia Prep, Karl has given workshops and served as a juror and participant in juried shows throughout the country.
Karl Hofmann says: "My work is all hand thrown on a potter's wheel or created from slabs of clay. I mix the glazes myself from chemical formulas. I like to create glazes with depth which are painterly in their effect. I am interested in the sculptural shapes of my pots and the negative space created around them."
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