Peek at a Current Project

Kasha Katuwe

Soon I will add encaustic wax to this stack of board and wood (along with another section not shown) to recreate a place, Kasha Katuwe, Tent Rocks National Monument. All part of works I am doing on the topic of land.

• Excerpt from Portfolio - Current project concepts surround the topic of land and how it is built upon, utilized, and restructured to suite the needs and wants of the public pursuant of preservation and restoration with a requisite of use.

New Look & Features!

ParksArtworks© has been and will be going through some changes in the way it looks, and in the way you navigate. Things have been streamlined and made more efficient in order to bring a better online experience.

There are two main pages: The Blog and the Encaustic Resources.

Don't forget you can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter- whatever might be your favorite way to stay connected.

If there are any concerns, question, suggestions, or comments- which are very much appreciated, do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you

Sincerely,

ParksArtworks©

Encaustic: What's Next?

I started working with encaustic a decade ago, drawn to it's sculptural qualities as a painting medium. (Image- one of the first encaustic painting that I had ever painted: Untitled 10" x 10" 2002.)  I set up the Encaustic Resource Pages to provide basic to advanced tutorials and information, plus supplemental info., such as where to purchase supplies. Now... the next step is up for suggestion.

Beyond the information out there that wasn't out there just a few years ago, the more recent information, personal blogs, websites, YouTube videos, instructional DVDs- all rely mostly in suggestions and personal technique. I myself suggest using one tool over another, say one is better suited. I can give you information on temperatures, substrates, brands, or safety precautions. And, I have given much of this, this kind/sort/type of information on those resource pages. However, I would like to offer more, but it is clear to me that this is quite difficult to do or to decide upon not knowing the express needs of the individual. I could further the site with more photographs or videos of step by step visual instruction on a topic. As visual artists there is no harm in offering more visual aids. Knowing, sometimes it is easier to see how, than to be told how.

So what is next for my Encaustic Resource Pages, particularly Tools and Techniques in encaustic (outside of video/image tutorials), is there something drastically missing? Is there something you are looking for that isn't there? Perhaps a full fledged website would be nice (no money for that right). Better navigation never hurts. A collection of works from artist who use wax or encaustic as a medium would be cool. This is all open to suggestion- even if you don't work in encaustic.

Personally I will be trying to keep up by posting news on what I am personally doing art wise, including encaustic- primarily in a sculptural realm. So stay tuned, comment, ask question, and/or wait.

As always, thank you for reading,
Jonathan 

Current Work Continues: Installation?

Lately I seem to get stuck with the idea of: Should I or should I not make what I am working on an installation? I have not come to all the ideas of what it clearly is- therefor it is difficult to say that I want to take that route. Anyway, here is another glimpse, an addition to the project I posted previously- a display cabinet, adding to the fourteen foot long piece of meandering wood and encaustic sculpture. I hope to add more encaustic 'parts' or 'pieces' to the whole thing at a later date- so I will continue.

Current Encaustic Project

Path | 1 x 168 in.

A glimpse of my current piece, encaustic and wood. This project is intended as sort of an installation, titled, "path," it is one of several in a series of pieces on the topic of land. It is building on the idea of the trail, a confined pathway that is natural and unnatural. The piece is intended to cut through a space much like a pathway or trail cuts through , meandering, conforming to it's environment. The piece is to be suspended and pictured here as a work in progress, temporarily installed in the artist studio floor.

Current Happening

Recently I had the pleasure of designing this ad... as well as photographing the art- which was used in the header design, within the ad, and on Ghost Ranch's website.

FROM THE AD

Opening Reception: Saturday August 27, 2011, 2-4 pm
@ Ghost Ranch Piedra Lumbre Education and Visitor Center

The Illusion of Colors, featuring a variety of bright energetic colors as creative expressions by artists who participate in the VSA Day Arts Program at North Fourth Art Center. In their varied and artistic ways, the artists interpret and celebrate different hues and ranges of color in the art of quilt making, unique ceramics and mixed media painting. Color has a great effect on us all, both emotionally and physically, and the artworks presented encourage interaction and discussion.

"We believe that art is to be shared, to be given and received with appreciation, respect and awareness. The red and yellow cliffs of Piedra Lumbre makes a magnificent backdrop for our artists' colorful work," said Lina Jabra, Community Development Director.

The goal of the exhibit is to highlight the artistic achievements of individuals with disabilities and provide opportunities to exhibit and sell their artwork statewide. Currently a portion of the sale of each work goes to support the Ghost Ranch Piedra Lumbre Education programs with the remaining portion going directly to the VSA artists.
________________________________________________________________________________

The visitor center is located on US Highway 84 between mile marker 225 & 226, just north of the main Ghost Ranch entrance. For more information and hours of operation
please call (505) 685-4312 or visit www.ghostranch.org.

REMINDER: Allyson Packer

REMINDER of upcoming exhibit.

Allyson Packer; fellow artist and friend, is having an upcoming exhibition of her work in Albuquerque, NM at the Harwood Art Center; I wanted to take a moment and offer her my support.

Allyson Packer works in a variety of media, taking subject matter from her own life and using it to examine the human need to seek out structure and understand our place within it. She received her BFA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and has shown nationally in Maryland, Minnesota, and New Mexico. She was the recipient of the Harwood Art Center's 2010 Crissey Emerging Artist Fellowship and has been named a 2011 fellow at the McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, NC.

Her upcoming exhibition, "As Much as I Can Carry: Personal Plans for Survival," the artist creates installations reflecting on her experiences surrounding time she spent living in New Mexico. Using the theme of survivalism in the desert, her artwork tells the story of an individual searching for meaning in a desolate environment. Serving as a site for the projection of an internal conflict, the desert reveals both the conscious desire for autonomy and subconscious desire for comfort and inclusion.

You can find out more about Allyson and her work at these websites, http://allysonpacker.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/user/allypak.

So if you are in ABQ, go see Allyson's show, Opening Friday, July 1, 2011 6pm-8pm.

As Much as I Can Carry: Personal Plans for Survival

At the Harwood Art Center main gallery

1114 7th Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 242-6367

http://harwoodartcenter.org

Thank you for reading,

Jonathan

P.S. Thanks A.P., for the info :)

World Refugee Day

Hello All,

As part of World Refugee Day, it would seem that some of the lessons on encaustic monoprints came front and center. Come out and support- wherever you are in the world.

As always- thank you for reading,

Jonathan

For more information on World Refugee Day, search World Refugee Day or visit http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/.

Americorps Exhibition at VSA N4th Art Center

Hey folks,

I have been a little busy co-curating an upcoming exhibit dedicated to all the hard working Americorps at VSA N4th Art Center. Exhibition details can be seen on the postcard to your right and below.

It has, from what I understand, been a tradition to offer an exhibition to those artists who come to work and teach their talents; offering their skills through N4th's programs. Such talents range from theatre, music, visual arts, and more- they all are more than grateful for this opportunity to display their artistry. So...

Come out and support those who have dedicated their time, energy, and talents; opening reception is June 3rd from 5 pm. to 7 pm. at:

Support Some Good Folk

Hello All,

I wanted to divert from typical posts and throw out some support for friends, family, and just a couple of random things I just happen to like.

I would like to start with music, and with music, it is easier to listen than read; so I will keep it brief. The Albuquerque Boys Choir (ABQBC), a a'cappella, acoustic, folk band; two ladies I had the pleasure of working with my first year as Americorps; sound pretty good and not to mention, friends:)

ABQBC has this thing at there house every once and again that they call, "Communion," where a bunch folks get together and play music and such and have a good old time. Anyhoo, those little shindigs led me to mention, The Good Ship S.S. Perry, good luck in NYC. Which all led me to Bandcamp a website for musicians- where I found lots of stuff to listen to while making art, like  Lemelo (cool to be the first from NM to buy:), Jeans Boots, and many other great bands (that I don't personally know but like their music).  Point being support friends and small bands and stuff alike, cus well I'm a small, (uh- artist) myself.

Speaking of artists, a little reminder, Allyson Packer, and also check out another friend, lamagnolia. Easier to see than me write; but they are worth a looksy.

I don't want to forget my sister sells stuff, so check out hurricanehetta. Stuff she makes, stuff she finds, stuff that's vintage, stuff that's a good price.

Also if you know me, or- eruh- I guess don't know me, shoot me a link of similar subjects and I will post it (as long as it is not to objectionable).

Thanks for reading, and looking, and supporting, and well anything else
Jonathan

*ABQBC photo credit Eric Parthum