Pollination Show at Open Space Visitors' Center Gallery in Albuquerque

"POLLINATION”
Works by the New Mexico members of the Encaustic Art Institute are featured in “Pollination,” an exhibition opening at Albuquerque’s Open Space Visitors’ Center Gallery with a reception Saturday, May 8th from 1:00 - 4:00 PM. The Gallery is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW between Montano and Paseo del Norte at Bosque Meadows Road. The exhibition continues through June 28th. Gallery hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tuesday - Sunday, closed Monday. There is no admission charge. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Open Space Visitors’ Center will host a series of events exploring pollination and the role of pollinators and a demonstration of the encaustic painting process. Pollination is a natural process but also describes the diffusion of creative ideas among artists. Art works selected for this exhibition demonstrate the variety of ways encaustic (pigmented wax) is used for painting, mark making, collage, texturing, and printing. The encaustic medium is made from beeswax to which a hardening agent (damar varnish) and dry pigment or oil paint (for color) are added. In true encaustic painting, the paint is heated and applied to a rigid surface. Layers are fused with a propane torch, heat gun or other heat source. The word “encaustic” comes from the Greek term “enkaustikos” meaning “to heat or burn in.” Featured in “Pollination” include: Santa Fe artists Guy Baldovi, Fionna Buck, Yvonne Burk, Jackie Butler, Linda Fillhardt, Nicolas Gadbois, Marueen Howles, Douglas Mehrens, Sallyann Paschall, and Cherry Whitener Rohe, Albuquerque artists Sharon Sperrry Bloom, Sally Condon, Debi Dodge, Ernesto, Eleanor Trabaudo, Shawn Turung, F. G. Yost and Susan Zimmerman and Taos artists Michael Carter and Paula Verona

Events scheduled at the Open Space Visitors Center include:

Saturday, May 8th: “Pollination Exhibition Opening Reception,” 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Saturday, May 22: “How to make your own Mineral Paints” with Scott Sutton
9:30 am – 4:00 pm. $20.00. Registration required. Participants will learn how to make their own paints from minerals found here in New Mexico. This method of seeking pigments in the landscape is often utilized as a way to supplement a painter’s color palette. The mineral based pigments can be made into oil paints, encaustic paints and even blended with acrylic mediums. Limit: 10 students, age 7 years and up. Call 897-8831 to register. http://www.scottsuttonart

Saturday, June 5: “Protecting Pollinators: A Beekeeping Demonstration” with Jerry Anderson. 9:30 am. Free. Registration required. Many plants require help with pollination to assure reproduction. Bees are essential pollinators. Beekeeper Jerry Anderson will demonstrate how to host and care for bees. Bring water and sun protection. Limit 20 people. Call 897-8831 to register.

Sunday, June 13: “Encaustic Demonstration” 10:00 am. Free. Registration required. Heat is used throughout the encaustic painting process, from melting the beeswax and varnish to fusing the layers of wax in the painting. An encaustic artist will demonstrate encaustic painting techniques. Limit 20 students, age 12 and up. Call 897-8831 to register.