Join us to "Follow The Money" this Saturday!

This Saturday, I will be collaborating with a group of enthusiastic artists and activists to lend a helping hand to New Mexico Governor, Susana Martinez to assist her in following through with her campaign promise of transparency in New Mexico State Government. Where: The Round House, New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico

When: Saturday, February 26^th 11:30 a.m.

This event is created by newly formed NACFR, The National Association for Campaign Finance Reform. NACFR is a project initiated by a group of artists, activists and concerned citizens eager to fulfil their civic duties through supporting and encouraging all Governors and members of Congress in their quest for transparency through events performances and art exhibitions. Learn more at nacfr.org.

NACFR agrees with Susana Martinez that, “Only bold change will end rampant abuse in state government,” (9/15/10 NMPolitics.net). And we know it’s hard, so we’re here to help!

‘Follow the Money’ is the first in a series of local and national events staged by NACFR to encourage and support our political representatives’ commitment to transparency.

On Saturday, Feb. 26th join NACFR’s own “Governor Susana Martinez” for a rare press conference and Follow the Money, patch by patch on her new official, state NACFR jacket, emblazoned with her sponsors, who coughed up cash for her election campaign. She will be flanked by her pit crew, TEAM Martinez, representing Oil and Gas industries, Dairy and Ranch industries, and Medical and Pharmaceutical companies, just to name a few.

“The Governor” will also applaud the US Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, blocking bans on corporate political spending and reaffirming corporate personhood (Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 1819 and Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 1886).

All of this is in the spirit of civil-minded transparency so YOU the voter can decide whose interests are being represented in the Round House.

Hope to see you on Saturday at the Round House in Santa Fe!

18 Days Opening - wow!

The 18 Days opening was absolutely packed with art enthusiasts, both exhibitors and the general public. As we drove up to the CCA, I found myself wondering if there was a big event happening at the nearby church or the Children's museum (there were cars overflowing out of the parking lots onto the shoulders of Old Pecos Trail). All too soon, as we tried to find a parking place at the CCA, we discovered it was all for the 18 Days opening reception. The work was varied and interesting with a wide variety of subject matter encompassed mostly by painting, prints, and drawing but also by photography, fiber, video, installation, welding, and "upcycled" fashion. All work was mounted on the wall, except for a select 3-4 piece,s which were suspended from the high ceiling.

My piece is tucked on the west end of a free-standing wall near the back of the gallery.

My favorite aspect of the opening (besides getting to talk with lovely people of course!) was having the opportunity to observe people to peering at my piece, leaning in close to examine its many small squares stitched together.

If you're in the Santa Fe area before March 20th, I recommend a visit. It is a show worth seeing and not just because my piece made the cut!

Click here for a little promo article from the Santa Fe Reporter.

18 Days

I am happy to announce that my piece, "63 Daily Nested Thoughts", pictured above, has been chosen to be included in "18 Days" Fine Arts Exhibition and Performing Arts Event at the CCA in Santa Fe. Visit my portfolio to learn more about my "Daily Nested Thoughts" series. Please join me and other selected New Mexico women artists for the opening of "18 Days" this coming Friday, (tomorrow) February 11th, 5:30 - 8:00 pm at the Munos Waxman Gallery at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe. More information can be found at ccasantafe.org. The Exhibition runs February 11th through March 20th at the  The Munos Maxman Gallery. The Gallery will be open Fridays and Saturdays 12-5 and Sundays 12-4 during that time. If you can't make the opening, hope that you can stop by the exhibition in the next six weeks.

Recycled Art Workshops at the Harwood!

For the past 3 weekends, I team-taught 3 Recycled Art Workshops at the Harwood Museum of Art with Taos artist, activist and educator, Sienna Sanderson.  It was wonderful to work with Siena and I loved the opportunity to provide a creative outlet for kids and families to create art using repurposed and recycled materials. The Taos News did a little feature on the project as well. You can read it here.

Sienna and I chose the theme of “nature in spring” with a focus on birds, flowers and bugs. Each week we had a particular focus with creating birds, then bird housing (bird houses and nests both bird-sized and kid-sized) and then food (bugs, caterpillars, slugs and snakes) for the birds along with lots of lowers, eggs and other inspired creations from participants’ imagination.

In the installation we chose to bridge the indoor and outdoor museum spaces by installing work both out of doors and inside the education installation area. For me the most exciting aspect of the workshops was witnessing and participating in the transformation of what would usually be considered "junk" into creative innovative, and beautiful birds, birdhouses, eggs, bugs and other creations. One of my favorites was the "bird nest hat" above made by Ewan from an unknown rubber ring, wire and a piece of badminton

The creations from the workshops are installed in the Education exhibition area of the Harwood Museum on Ledoux St. in Taos through the end of May 2010. If you have the chance to stop by, do it! You won't be disappointed!

We hope to be offering more opportunities to participate in other recycled art adventures at the Harwood! Visit the Harwood online at http://www.harwoodmuseum.org/

Also - I am mulling over some ideas for offering some recycled art workshops out of my studio this summer. I'll keep you posted on that as well.....

Wetlands in the Desert Project Blog.....

The posts have been thin on the ground here of late. However I have been chronicling a new project, "Wetlands in the Desert" at www.wetlandsinthedesert.blogspot.com. The focus of the project is a wetlands not far from my home. I am monitoring it, interacting with it and allowing it to drive my arts practice for a year.

Check it out, let me know what you think, get in touch, share an idea for the project or come with me for a walk in the wetlands.

Dispersal/Return Reception Invitation

Dispersal/Return: Land Arts of the American West 2000-2006

August 28th - December 20th, 2009 UNM Art Museum, Center for Fine Arts, Albuquerque

Claire Long and Anna Keleher invite you to join them on Friday September 25th, 5-7pm at the Center for Fine Arts (Popejoy Hall), University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque for the reception of  Dispersal/Return: Land Arts of the American West 2000-2006.

To visit the UNM Art Museum website click here.

Approaching an Exchange: Albuquerque

Potentising elements of our lives, cultures and times

A collaborative project by Claire Long and Anna Keleher

An inter-temporal "Exchange" initiated in Dartmoor National Park, England now comes to New Mexico! Through the idea of exchange, the participatory project presses against boundaries of time and preconceptions of past and present peoples and cultures. Film short - UNM Art Museum, August 28th - December 20th Visitors to Dispersal/Return at the UNM Art Museum are invited to experience "Approaching an Exchange: Dartmoor", a short collage of sound and image collected from visitors to a Bronze Age roundhouse on wild and windy Dartmoor during the project’s UK pilot phase.

Live events - September 29th and October 3rd, 10 am - 2 pm Artists Claire Long and Anna Keleher invite you to add your voice to the growing community of Exchange participants, journeying with them to a nearby prehistoric, archaeological site to share elements of your lives and cultures with the original inhabitants. Light lunch will be provided. Reservations required; early booking recommended; places limited.

For reservations or more information visit the museum, call 505-277-2868, email clairabell22@hotmail.com, or visit www.claireandanna.com

Claire Long (New Mexico) and Anna Keleher (Devon, UK) and  have been collaborating since October, 2007. Their collaborative practice arose from shared interests in archaeology, Dartmoor National Park, walking and sound collection and has evolved through continued exploration of place and site-specific works.

Presented as part of Dispersal/Return: Land Arts of the American West 2000 - 2006 August 28 – December 20, 2009 University of New Mexico Art Museum, Center for Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque And Land Arts New Mexico www.landartnm.org

Radical Raven Adventures

Today details were finalized on an upcoming 3 day summer camp that I will be co-facilitating with Roberta Salazar, executive director of Rivers and Birds. The camp will explore sustainability and ecology through art, games and other hands on projects. If you have kids who might be interested in attending, please call us at 575-776-5200 to reserve a place by June 25th, 2009. We hope that this will be a pilot project for camps and workshops in future years!