A SEA in the Desert Gallery: June 2018

June 11, 2018

Hans Harland-Hue

Current show Hans Harland-Hue

Opening Reception: Friday, June 15th, 5-7:30 p.m.

Harland-Hue's drawings will be on display June 9th through July 5th.

Hans Harland-Hue was born in Melbourne, Australia to an American mother and Vietnamese father. He has a dual American/Australian citizenship and makes frequent trips back to his homeland.

Hans is interested in changing the world through sustainable design and Biomimetic process. Biomimicry is the imitation of biological form and translating it into man made means. However, Hans’ focus is primarily on the metaphorical relationships between cellular structures and the urban environment. From this, he is interested in creating stimulus with given space through the movement of people. A cell can only grow with the transfer of nutrients from organelle to organelle just as people need to move from one place to another.

(excerpt from artist statement)

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.