Creation Migration Artists on the Move

Betsie Miller-Kusz has returned to San Francisco to resume restoration work on the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts mural project, La Puerta en el Puente del Tiempo, also known as the Puente Project (see post from spring trip: http://creationmigrationstories.blogspot.com/2016/06/).

Betsie is hard at work on the scaffolding. She is working with a minimal crew and much of the time she works on a section alone. Yes, that's her up top!!

Without a doubt the mural will be stunning when it is completed, hopefully in a few weeks or months time.

Meanwhile, Donna Caulton has gone into Betsie's home stomping grounds, Jemez Springs, NM. She had two pieces selected to be in the Earth Day exhibit, What Goes Round at Jemez Fine Arts Gallery.  What indeed, as every possible iteration of the circle/round was appropriate for this exhibition, as long as some recycled material/materials were used tin the making.Donna's pieces are shown below.
(2 views of assemblage piece, Incubator).

Mitochondrial Matrix, acrylic with collage

We're thinking about "Shields" for our next exhibition. Stay tuned!!

"Descansos Along the Ancestral Road" now open in Albuquerque

On November 4th, 2016, Descansos Along the Ancestral Road opened at FreeStyle Gallery in Albuquerque. In spite of rain and street repairs, an appreciative crowd came to participate. Each artist in the exhibit developed his or her work with care and attention to honoring meaningful moments of their ancestral or present day life stories. Love and nostalgia is evident in each heartfelt piece. Of all the exhibits in the Creation/Migration series, this latest seems most personal and close to the hearts of the creators of the work. The viewers, therefore, were curious and personally touched by the meanings within the artworks.

Equally touching and poignant was the poetry reading by Max Early. The ancestral voices and stories of Max's Laguna Pueblo family and culture resonated through the gift of his words.

Here are some photos from the exhibit.

Jaymes Dudding, "Fire Fighters' Memorial Flag"

Kai Harper, "We're on our way to no where"

Jean Nichols, "Altar de Amor"

Betsie Miller-Kusz, "Cruz del Tiempo". Donna Caulton, "Journey Between Two Worlds"

Donna Lea, "Valles Caldera Descanso" and "Altar"

Max Early, "Carry Your Canteen on Your Journey Home"

Ralph Greene, "Artifacts"

Krystofer Meadows, "Alabama Now and Then.....ancestral memories"

Poetry Reading, Max and Betsie

Set-up Preview: "Descansos Along the Ancestral Road".

The Creation/Migration Group, as it approaches the end of its 4^th year, presents an exciting new exhibit honoring the pathways of their ancient, mythical and modern day forefathers and mothers. Returning to Freestyle Gallery, site of their first exhibition in 2012, founding members of the group, Betsie Miller-Kusz and Donna Caulton, have selected the title theme, Descansos Along the Ancestral Road.

This installation of personal altars and descansos explores the stories and journeys of honored ancestors, loved ones and children who have crossed from and to other worlds, over the rough seas and harsh lands of emergence and migration. Since the Descanso is a specific roadside marker for those who have died in transit, it has formed the starting point for the visual representation of these journeys.

The northern New Mexico artists presenting work in this exhibit are Donna Lea (fabric), Jaymes Dudding (mixed media), Kai Harper (mixed media), Jean Nichols (assemblage), Max Early (clay), Ralph Greene (painting), Krystofer Meadows (collage), Betsie Miller-Kusz (mixed media) and Donna Caulton (mixed media). The artists come from diverse heritages, which will be richly reflected in their work.

At the time of this posting, the show has not been completely installed, the lighting is not set, and all hands (and artwork) are not yet on deck. But please enjoy a couple of sneak peeks of some of the works that will be seen. Hopefully these will stimulate your curiosity enough to realize this thought provoking exhibit it not to be missed. 

Ralph Greene has only begun his installation as seen on the left. He is incorporating many meaningful ancestral artifacts with his own personal imagery. We are all waiting to see what is yet to unfold.

Fabric artist, Donna Lea, has incorporated her two pieces, Valles Caldera Descanso, and Altar, along with other fabrics and symbolic additions (see below) into a stunningly luminescent altar.

Sitting within her Altar de Amor is artist Jean Nichols. This is exactly what she would like the viewing audience to do. The piece is interactive and there is more than one way to "be" within its surround. Listen to its voice and yours.

Cruz del Tiempo by Betsie Miller-Kusz honors the sacred interaction of earth and air and memory. 

There will be a public reception for the exhibition on Friday, November 4 from 5-8 PM with refreshments celebrating the Day of the Dead festivities in Albuquerque. At 7:30, during the reception, there will be a poetry reading by Laguna Pueblo artist and poet, Max Early, whose poetry so eloquently expresses his respect for his ancestral ways.

"Under a Common Sky" Exhibit Extended to February 25, 2016

The adobe colored hallways of Taos Town Hall have been a graceful backdrop to the varied and colorful artworks in our exhibition, Under a Common Sky  since mid-November of 2015. Now we are pleased to announce the continuation of this exhibit until the 25th of February.

To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Taos Society of Artists, we included a "Hall of Fame" in the exhibit which displays a photographic portrait of each of the Society's original members. Their photos are shown here in this order: E. Irving Couse (above), Ernest Blumenschein, Joseph Henry Sharp, Bert Phillips, Oscar Berninghaus, W Herbert Dunton, and .

Also, please enjoy a few more artworks that are in this exhibit that celebrates the common sky of our world.

"Cloud Bank", Nick Beason

"Gold in the Morning", Harriette Tsosie

     

"Sky Script", Betsie Miller-Kusz

"Cielo-Bracion", Jean Nichols

"Passport", Jim Forcier-Call

"Between the Realms; Blood Moon Eclipse, 2015", Donna Caulton

"Homage to Georgia O'Keefe", Mary Cost

"Baja Beach Sunset", Trish Booth

"A Good Day Under Heaven", Lorrie Garcia

"Rockland Row Boat", Ralph Greene

"Summer Triangle", Theodore Greer

"Cosmic Angel", Kimberly Pollis

"Nightfall", Lise Poulsen

A New Direction for Creation/Migration: Under a Common Sky

It is with great excitement that Betsie Miller-Kusz and Donna Caulton plan a new direction for Creation Migration. Two of our founding members, Belinda Edwards and Harriette Tsosie, have retired from the collaboration (see right sidebar, "retired founding members"). While open to the inclusion of new artists to the group, a thoughtful process is involved in making that happen. To have a group come together and coalesce in the magical way that this one did requires time and incubation. For now the structure has changed and the planning process has also taken on new life.

We are very excited to have been invited by Taos Arts Council to produce the closing exhibition of the year long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Taos Society of Artists. Opening November 13th, at Taos Town Hall, is what promises to be a thoroughly engaging exhibit, "Under a Common Sky", the first in a series of exhibits that feature the diverse works of multiple New Mexico artists. 

The focus of this exhibit, in keeping with the anniversary celebration, is to recognize the works of artists who have gathered here under the magical skies that surround us, invite us here, and hold us in the Northern New Mexico mountains. Some of the artists have spent their entire lifetimes here, but most have migrated from other places. Many work in tradition manners, others add new slants to traditional art languages, and still others bring entirely new ways of working. Without doubt, all are influenced by the skies above and the land that holds us side by side with the native peoples of the region. It is a place like no other.

Fifteen artists join this upcoming exhibit. The small selection of pieces shown here are examples of the works of some of the exhibition artists. They are not the exhibition pieces, but provide an idea of the diversity we will be displaying. The final pieces will include each individual artists' interpretation of the theme, "Under a Common Sky",

EXHIBITION ARTISTS (alphabetical order):           

Chevrons, Nick Beason, monoprint

Nick Beason, Llano de San Juan, prints

Esteban Bojorquez, Santa Fe, assemblages

Trish Booth, Truchas, paintings

Donna Caulton, Chamisal, paintings

Mary Cost, Santa Fe, tapestry

Jim Forcier-Call, Jemez Valley, mixed media

Lorrie Garcia, Rio Lucio, retablos

Ralph Greene, Albuquerque, paintings

Theodore Greer, Jemez Valley, photographs

Betsie Miller-Kusz, Jemez Valley, paintings

Michael Miro, Taos, glass

Jean Nichols, Llano de San Juan, mixed media

Kimberly Pollis, Chamisal, tinwork

Lise Poulsen, Llano de San Juan, felt

Harriette Tsosie, Albuquerque, encaustic

Distant Rain, Mary Cost, tapestry

Retablo, Lorrie Garcia

 

Oil on Canvas, Ralph Greene

In addition to the fine selection of artworks this exhibit brings to Taos, there will be a preview event featuring poets from locations throughout the United States. Each of the ten poets will select a piece that strongly resonates with his or her poetry. Both the poems and the matched work will be presented on November 7 at a reading in the Mural Room of the Old Taos Courthouse at 7 PM. This event was organized by Andrea Watson, writer and Taos Arts Council representative.


Opening event:
Taos Town Hall, November 13, 2015
5-7PM
Exhibit runs through Feb 5, 2016

Twilight, Trish Booth, oil on canvas

Opening of "Honoring Our Ancestors" at Gaucho Blue Fine Art Gallery, Penasco, NM

Some memories of long ago shimmer with a golden glow than makes one wonder if they really happened. The April 19 opening of the Creation Migration "Honoring Our Ancestors" was such an event. It has that glow already, even though it just happened a few weeks ago. It was a well attended, well received and long to be remembered special event for the project artists as well as the community at large.

Blessing Place

The ancestral "Blessing Place", a collaboration created by the artists for this exhibit, was the center "stage" for the opening ceremonies. Symbolic articles were added to the piece to be inclusive of the major cultural and religious foundations of the region: Picuris, Spanish, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Ugandan, as well as a range of symbols making it's representation more widespread, even universal.


In this chapel-like setting  we were honored by a blessing from Picuris Elder, Cat Tsosie. The buffalo skull was loaned for this exhibit by Cat, and later in the event he presented a talk about "Buffalo" as a meaningful symbol in the lives of his Pueblo, as well as for Native Americans in general. With his natural mix of humor and the sacred, Cat brought many gifts to this special event.

Cat Tsosie

In order to honor the elders from  the local communities, we chose the oldest person from several of the High Road villages. Jerol Arguello, historian, and Miguel Torres of the New Mexico DNA Project greeted the elders or their representative family members. The elders honored for this event, from the eldest to the youngest, were as follows: Lucia Lopez of Chamisal, age 101; Margarita Torres of Truchas, age 100; Abenicio Sanchez of Ojo Sarco, age 95; Tillie Romero of Vadito, age 95; Delia Montoya of Rodarte, age 94; Ofelia Aguilar of El Valle, age 92; Theodore Sandoval of Rio Lucio, age 92; Rudolfo Ortega of Llano de San Juan, age 91, Gabriel Gonzales of Placitas, age 91; Clara Lopez of Las Trampas, age 90 (?); and Rose Allrunner of Picuris, age 85.  Additionally, the well known and well respected community member, Armando Martinez of Penasco, passed away in December of 2013 at the age of 100 years.  We were happy to honor him and his many community contributions during this event.

Theodore Sandoval with Lugarda, his wife of 66 years

As the evening progressed Miguel Torres presented a power point and discussion about DNA. His position in the New Mexico DNA project has prepared him well in the topic.

Following Miguel's presentation Jerol Arguello, an avid researcher of his family's genetic background, told of the long trail undertaken by the early Spanish immigrants and the settling of the land grant of Las Trampas. Jerol is directly descended from these original settlers, specifically of Sephardic Jewish heritage.

Jerol Arguello honoring the elders

 Although the opening officially began at 3PM, people began arriving at 2:30 and by 3:30 the gallery was filled with artists, friends, community members, and families of the honored elders. The place was "abuzz" until closing at 7PM.

Artists from the surrounding communities submitted pieces that spoke of their ancestral stories and/or their migration to New Mexico. In addition a collection of old photographs dating back to the early 1900's is on loan from the historic collection of the Ancianos Community

Miguel Torres, NM DNA Project

Center in Chamisal.  Community and cultural histories were documented by photographs from the community at large, and by two community quilts from a Penasco quilt project of last year.

New works by each of the project artists enlarged and enhanced the issues surrounding identity and sense of place brought to life by this opportunity to "Honor Our Ancestors".

Please enjoy this selection of photos of the  project artists discussing their works and enjoying friends. Also represented are some images of the works of other community art submissions.

Harriette Tsosie with her work

Agu, Betsie, Belinda, Linda, Donna's work

In addition to the above mentioned special guests, contributors and presenters, we wish to express our deep gratitude to Gaucho Blue Fine Art Gallery owners, Nick Beason and Lise Poulsen. Their generous spirits and beautiful gallery provided a rich environment in which this project was able to flourish.

Jean Nichols of Art For the Heart provided unending support as well as the lovely roses for our elders. Thanks to Cindy Alford, Jim Martin, Deborra Berlin and Marlene Santillan for keeping the food available and beautifully presented for guests.

And special thanks to Jim Martin for the amazing photographs he took at the opening event.
We are a community after all!!