A SEA in the Desert Gallery: July 2017

July 15, 2017

July 15th 2017! We are galloping through the summer! Because of the on going process (2 1/2 years now) of down sizing and moving out of our family home and my large beautiful studio as well as still taking care of the landscape/garden (thank God the rains have begun! so I get a break), the summer is almost half gone before I planned openings for the rest. 10 days ago Laila Ionesco brought in 5 dramatic new pieces running the gammut from humorously political to deeply, emotionally moving, as well as aescethically exciting, for her Show Opening August 19th.
At the end of the same week I drove to ABQ (Corrales) to Carol Hoy's Studio, bringing back 8 wonderful pieces that will serve as an introduction to her show in September. In the meantime the Gallery will celebrate all the gallery artists with a Gallery garden Party on July 29th from 3:30 to 6:00. [More images for Ionesco later and a new Post for Hoy.]

About our Gallery

A Sea Gallery has gone through several stages over a 10 year period. A Sea stands for "Association of Socially Engaged Artists" which began about 2002 with meetings of artist discussing the state of art in Santa Fe as well as politics of the United States and the world at this time. Most of the artists either were or had been political activists, against war, corporate exploitation, empire, etc. and committed to honoring the earth. Over the years since that time I have thought a lot about the artists roll as mirror to a society, addressing social ills and aspirations. It seemed the Santa Fe ‘art scene’ had become increasingly commercial: ‘successful artists’ making a recognizable product for wealthy private collectors or corporations. Much of the art shown was about prestige and investment. The art I was drawn to in major art centers in the USA and in Europe was deeper and more challenging than that. While Santa Fe may have more art galleries than the current economy can support I felt there is room for one more: a gallery of challenging work supported by the artists themselves- a Collective (rather than a cooperative) as the structure is evolving. It’s aesthetic philosophy: Art is shown because of its merit rather than salability. It has an owner (Monika Steinhoff) but no profits are taken out of the gallery. Artists participate in paying expenses, gallery sitting and decisions about running the gallery. Proceeds from sales are between 50 and 70% to the artist, depending on artist involvement. The gallery is small and can have up to 10 members. It has existed at its present location in the Railyard since July 1st 2011.