Please consider making a contribution - it is tax-deductible if made before December 31, for the 2020 tax year. Are you a member? It's a great way to show your support, with memberships available from $10 on up. Join or renew your membership now – all amounts large and small are welcome. Just click below for Paypal or find our member link near the close of this letter. To pay by check, mail to: PO Box 1025, Questa NM 87556. Other ideas for contributing? Email us at questacreativecouncil@gmail.com
|
|
Many thanks to Peggy Trigg for her two years of service to the QCC as Board Chair and for her key role in establishing the QCC from our ealry days. She continues her service as a project leader for two signature programs – the Questa Studio Art Tour, Wild Rivers Plein Air Festival, and spearheading the Northern New Mexico Artists website. (That's her on the lower right of this photo.)
|
|
From Our New Board Chairperson
|
|
First, I'd like to express my thanks to all our members and supporters. During this unpredictable year, we could not have stayed active without your loyalty. With that loyalty, we hosted three very successful virtual or hybrid events, were awarded an additional emergency CARES grant from New Mexico Arts, and re-ordered some of our internal Board positions. We've also added to our Board, increasing the diverse skills and experience we draw on to keep the arts relevant for our community. I look forward to further developing my own flexibility with this great team beside me, and your own confidence backing us up! – Alberta
Our mission and vision remain the same: strengthening community through arts, culture, history, and education.
QCC Board Members:
Alberta Bouyer (Chair)
Flavio Cisneros (Exec. member-at-large)
Martha Shepp (Treasurer)
Nancy Parker (Secretary, with aid from Yolanda Acosta), Kate Cisneros, Claire Coté, Jeannie Masters,
Linda Betz, Ellen Wood, and Judy Rutledge
|
|
|
|
Make sure to select the "Art Kits" option from the dropdown menu.
|
|
|
This holiday season, from November through December 15, the QCC is again hosting an art supply drive for local “art kits” to be donated to our community’s school-age children. We held a successful drive last year and distributed 57 art kits to local youth, raising over $800 in donations. This year, the need is even greater, with much schooling happening at home because of the pandemic. Your monetary donation will go toward buying basic art materials – a sketch book, watercolor set, and colored pencils. Please donate today! Go to questacreative.org and select the Art Kits options in the dropdown menu of the donation button.
|
|
Shop Local Artisans at NorthernNewMexicoArtists.com
|
|
Are you starting to think about the holidays? Do you want to find something unique, inspiring, and beautiful? Are you trying to stay home because of the current COVID -19 risk? Why not shop local through our NorthernNewMexicoArtists.com website? With over 47 local artists represented, you are bound to find that perfect, keepsake gift. If you want to special order something, now is the time to contact that artist or craftsperson!
Many types of work are represented on this site. Shoppers will see textile art (quilts and custom western shirts) by the Questa Quilters Guild and Joan Young. Woodcarving is represented by Armando Vigil and Mose Rainault (furniture), Andy Jaramillo (burl bowls), Clarence LaCome, and Marcus Herrera (folk art carving). Local potters include Mike Ridder, Kathy Morsell, and Sandra Harrington. Area painters include Peggy Trigg, Roger Harrington, BJ Konior, Cami Thompson, Maria Mikhailas, Joan Norris, Scotty Mitchell, and Karen Ahlgren.
Mixed media art is represented by Monique Belitz, Diane deFremery, and Martha Shepp. Local printmakers are Betsy Peirce and Barrie Andrews. Other local crafts include leatherwork by Michael Coleman and Torre Strong, and jewelry artists Julienne Hadfield and Audrey Kunkel. We also have our local author Ellen Wood and herbalist Cathy Hope. This large assortment is not a complete listing of all the local artists represented on the site.
|
|
If you are an artist who is interested in joining the site, please contact Peggy Trigg at pegtrigg@gmail.com. This project is sponsored by the Questa Studio Arts Tour and the Questa Creative Council.
|
|
Thinking Inside & Outside the Box
|
|
An open call for participation in the NeoRio online exhibition has resulted in 28 diverse submissions this past September. Participants include practicing artists as well as groups of kids, teens, Questa junior and senior high school students, parent-child duos, grandparents, teachers, graphic designers, entrepreneurs, coaches, outdoor enthusiasts, an herbalist, a medical practitioner, a salon owner, and a librarian!
All were provided with a common starting point: a 7x7x7" wooden box with a removable lid, made specially for this project, as well as the prompts, “What does home mean to you? Think inside and outside the box!”
Each participant was also asked to submit a short audio reflection or story. The creations and reflections received are diverse, heartfelt, and wonderful! Although the artworks were submitted in late September., the online exhibition and video recordings of Zoom Artist Roundtable Talks document participants’ creative interpretations, experiences, and insights on home during this unique time. You can see them at Leapsite.org.
|
|
Participating artists are: Amy Stroh, Anne-Marie Emanuelli, Ashton McKenney, Carol Schrader, Cathy Hope, Connie Long, Crystal and Ariessa Medina, Danielle Lacome, David Vargo, Diane de Fremery, Emelina Medina, FiTaos 2nd and 3rd Grade after school group, FiTaos Nature Art Group, Geneviève de Vellis, Gillian McCombs, Jaydyn Cintas, Jennifer Vialpando, Joshlyn Medina, Joy Purcell, Kaitlin Bryson, Lee Lee and Thatcher Gray, Malia Reeves, Martha Shepp, Mary Hanrahan, Ruby Sofrae, Ricky Pass, Robbie Steinbach, and Sarah Parker.
|
|
Check Out the NeoRio Artist Roundtable Videos
On October 9, 10, and 11 as part of this year's NeoRio project, we hosted three dynamic Artist Roundtables via Zoom, exploring their diverse cube artworks, home reflections, and stories. Thank you to all of you who joined us on Zoom and especially to our participating artists.If you missed the live Zoom sessions, you’re in luck! They are now available as videos on the LEAP website - click below.
|
|
Thank you to all our participating artists, volunteers, and everyone who has made NeoRio possible this year. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, Taos Community Foundation and Drawing on Earth, with additional sponsorships from Questa Economic Development Fund, Questa del Rio News, Questa Visitor Center, Taos Public Library, Zia Event Design, North Star Toys, Questa Lumber and Hardware, and generous individual donors and volunteers.
|
|
Live Classical Music Happened!
Dancers, Poetry, and Music at La Sala
|
|
|
|
Getting ready for their dance "Outside Looking In," dancers Tuesday and Faust and Amber Vasquez warm up.
|
|
|
Gabrielle Herbertson (left) and Phyllis Landis attended the concert in style, with garden seats.
|
|
|
On Friday, September 18 at 11 am, ten folks attended the in-person version of this concert, in socially distanced seats in the garden outside La Sala. La Sala is the building across from ArtQuesta in the south part of the village on Hwy 522, where the Questa Chamber Music Series concerts are often held.
Pandemic restrictions made us get inventive, so concert attendees sat outside the building in the last flowering of the beautiful garden and could hear and see through windows while inside, musicians and dancers performed. La Sala owner Gaea McGahee was there to speak the interludes of poetry from within the garden, sitting amongst the attendees.
The direct experience of art, creativity, and imagination in times when most activities are telescoped down, virtual, and isolated is truly essential for our spirits.
The Quetave Quartet is a summertime group who enjoy playing together made up of amateurs and professionals: Andrea Gore (viola and violin), Rebecca Caron (cello), Suzie Schwartz (violin and viola), and Martha Shepp (piano). Dancers: Tuesday Faust and Amber Vasquez. Choreography by Tuesday Faust.
This concert was funded in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts. You can see the video recording on the QCC YouTube page here.
More info: sheppmartha@gmail.com (575) 776-7579
|
|
How can you support projects like these into the future?
Your help is most welcome as a volunteer. Each of our events are in need of volunteers. Positions ranges from an hour to three or four. Interested?
Email us at questacreativecouncil@gmail.com. Your generosity has direct impact and is very much appreciated.
|
|
|
We are grateful to those who sponsor our projects:
|
|
|
|
Some of these projects are supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
