New shows fill galleries in January

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

"Freedom," 4'x8' acrylic on canvas, by Pamela Jeanne Weston. Primal Image Gallery in downtown Gallup will be hosting a reception for Weston on Saturday during the January Arts Crawl. Weston's show, "Communication with Spirit," will be on exhibit through Feb. 2. (Courtesy Photo)

GALLUP — This Saturday's Arts Crawl in downtown Gallup will feature five new art show receptions, live music, and a benefit to assist relief efforts for Tsunami victims.

The Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial office will begin the day's events. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Ceremonial office, 202 W. Coal, will host a fine arts show of Native American art. The show will feature the work of Fernando Benally, Lyndon Tsosie, Anderson Benally, Sheldon Manuelito, and Floyd Becenti. The event will also include native dancers, native food, and a silent auction.

Gallup muralist Be Sargent will hold her monthly "High Tea" social gathering at her home studio at 113 E. Logan. The public is welcome to attend.

Two galleries will begin their Arts Crawl receptions at 6 p.m. Native Hands Co-op, 506 W. Highway 66, will host a reception from 6-9 p.m. for artist Jerry Brown and his new show, "Bright Colors." Brown's show will be on exhibit through the month of January. Native Hands is located inside the Catholic Indian Center.

Primal Image Gallery, 233 W. Coal, will host a reception from 6-10 p.m. for artist Pamela Jeanne Weston. Her show, "Communication with Spirit," will be on exhibit through Feb. 2.

The remaining Arts Crawl receptions will be held from 7-9 p.m. The Coffee House, 203 W. Coal, will feature watercolors by artist Matt Vojik. The Coffee House is also sponsoring a Tsunami Relief Benefit on Saturday evening with live music by one or two local bands. Community members are invited to drop in during the Arts Crawl (with their checkbooks), enjoy the music and art, and help support Tsunami victims in Asia.

Gallup painter and muralist Andrew Butler will be opening his new show,"Death by Water," at Crashing Thunder Gallery, 228 W. Coal.

Gallery 211, located at 211 W. Coal, will host a reception for its two current art shows, one of which will be closing after this weekend."Gifts Shared" is a group exhibition featuring fine contemporary art by local and regional artists. The exhibit will remain running through Jan. 29 in Gallery 211's main gallery.

Saturday will mark the closing reception for "Notes from the Edge," an exhibit of paintings by Jay Dickens and Floyd Nelson on display in the solo gallery.

Gallery 211 will soon host its annual student art and poetry show in tribute to the late Martin Luther King Jr. "I Believe I Can Fly" will be on exhibit from Jan. 13-29 in the solo gallery. The show will feature the art and poetry of second and third grade students from Washington Elementary School, and a poetry reading will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, Jan. 17.

Red Mesa Center, 105 W. Hill, will continue to exhibit the artwork of local artists who submitted proposals for the City of Gallup's Downtown Mural Project.

Two downtown businesses, Dominic's Downtown Restaurant, 303 W. Coal, and Primal Image T-shirts, 231 W. Coal, will also be open during the Arts Crawl.