Art with Heart
Show opens on Saturday

Artwork lines the hall at the Double Six Art Gallery in Grants Wednesday as the gallery prepares for it's latest show entitled "Have a Heart" . The show opens Saturday with a public reception at 5:30 pm. (Photo by Jerry Wilson/Independent)

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

Artist Renee Post helps set up the next exhibit at the Double Six Art Gallery Wednesday. The gallery will hold a reception for it's new show entitled "Have A Heart" Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Photo by Jerry Wilson/Independent)

GRANTS — "Have a Heart" is the theme of a new art show beginning Saturday at the Double Six Art Gallery.

Executive Director Trecia Wilson said the show's theme was developed to urge local artists to blend the passion of Valentine's Day with compassion often seen in great art and great hearts.

"We have 30 plus pieces of art that will be on exhibit through April 1," she said, "and I expect more by Saturday."

Some of the artists worked in obvious themes for the show and some were subtler, working to relate pieces to the current United States' actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the starvation in Sudan and the recent victims of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean countries, she said.

In the show will be art entries of acrylics, oils, ceramics, porcelain and retablos.

"The retablos are Hispanic tradition from Northern New Mexico and are paintings of saints," she said. Retablo artists use paints created from natural substances such as plants.

There is a linoleum block print, where the artists carves the art into linoleum, puts ink on the carving and transfers it onto paper.

Another entry is by artist Brad Beauchamp, who was recently profiled in New Mexico Magazine and named in Smithsonian Magazine, Wilson said.

"He molds and hammers horseshoes into shapes. This piece is called 'Kissing Horses,' and has two horse heads kissing in a heart," she said.

Other pieces show Mission San Juan in Old Laguna, carved wooden horse heads, and heart-designed silver jewelry by metalsmith artist Karen Sorenson.

The show also includes charcoal drawings, pastels, sculptures and mixed media.

Ed Scott, a master bowmaker is submitting "Cupid's Bow," Wilson said.

The show opens Saturday with a reception at the gallery at 117 N. First St., at 5:30 p.m.

The two-hour artist's reception will offer food and beverages and a number of artists in the show are expected to attend, Wilson said.

There are a number of artists in the Gallup area and Wilson said she would love to have them come to the Double Six Gallery and participate in the art shows.

Hours for the show, and the gallery, are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

A silent auction to raise funds for the gallery is also being held at the reception. Pieces up for auction includes painted china porcelain plates and wood scroll work. All auction pieces are donated by the artists.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin@blackmesa-isp.net.