Marc Gordon
on The Texture of Time
“These landscapes were taken in New Mexico at the Bisti-de-na zin badlands and in Abiquiu near Plaza Blanca. They do not present a single object as their subject but rather elaborate assemblages of objects that all come from the same geological processes. They appear at all scales from disintegrated fragments of mudstones, to boulders the size of people, to hills of layered strata, to entire vistas of exotic shapes. They reveal the complex patterns that arise naturally through the forces of erosion. It is these patterns that are the subjects of these photographs. In them, I hope to show Nature as a creative process.
I have always been attracted to complexity and this is what led me to photograph these scenes. With a background in science and mathematics I am averse to imposing personal feelings or philosophical perspectives on Nature. I hope to let nature speak for itself.”
Diane Arenberg
Northern New Mexico Series
Original Works of Diane Arenberg
Illinois born, Santa Fe based master Diane Arenberg’s original oil paintings are up through the end of the month. More paintings are on their way but are going fast…fly over today so you don’t miss them!
From the monastery road to my backyard
Plein air pastels of northern New Mexico
September 2023
Scotty Mitchell
Scotty in her own words
“My art springs from looking, looking afresh at the natural world and seeing its rhythyms and flow, shapes responding to each other, colors blaring one moment and singing softly the next. I give my love and attention and nature answers back.
I am looking to convey its spirit, its numinosity, while at the same time creating a piece of art that is more than the landscape, which can be enjoyed on many levels, both representational and abstract. The incredible variety of form and color and the immense scale which Utah offers have been a joyous inspiration.
Painting on site, in a constant dialogue with what I’m seeing, continually changing light, and consequently color and shadow, is my way of creating and connecting to nature. As time passing effects changes minute by minute, I need to be right in the moment on my toes and this gives an energetic edge to the work. For me, being present with my subject is the best way to capture its vitality and spirit.
Our brains revert to not what we really see, but in an almost instantaneous automated abstraction process translate visual information into symbols from what we have known before...I am trying convey what’s there without falling into automated vision.
Monet wrote with regard to on site painting:....”the unique relationship of these scenic elements at this moment, in this singular painted representation, ... reveal something about my experience of the world I can share with you only in this way”
My pastels are a celebration of visual delights and I hope to give the viewer a fuller or perhaps new and different appreciation of the natural world.”
~ Scotty Mitchell 2023
