Heroes, Saints, and Expeditions

by: Jessica Cassyle Carr

Ray Maseman explains the etching process.

Ray Maseman heralded in Heroes, Saints, and Expeditions on the first Friday of February. The show, which runs through the end of the month, is the loyal artist’s ninth at New Grounds. Maseman’s newest collection of multiple plate etchings portrays lingering “meditations on existential questions of purpose, home, and the burdens and responsibilities of adulthood,” he explains in his artist statement. This existentialism is depicted through a lighthearted collection of animal characters engaged in a variety of brave odysseys and industrious undertakings.  A cavalry of carpenter penguins forges onward with their rulers, hammers, and saws. A contemplative ram and potted tree are adrift in a wooden boat. The characters’ activities are often set in vast ocean scenes, inspired by Maseman’s residencies afar in the Faroe Islands (an archipelago located between Iceland and Norway and north of Scotland) during the past two summers. Other scenes play out in desolate, jagged, ochre environments - an indirect reference to the New Mexico landscape.

Friday’s opening was a convivial evening - thank you to all of the art appreciators who attended. If you didn’t make the event, please stop by and ponder life’s purpose / see the show before the month’s end.

Maseman's daughters mingle with opening attendees.

Multiple plates await a printmaking demo

New Grounds artists joke around in the office.

Enjoying the social side of art

The artist and his daughter

The Making of Landscapes, Jacqui Lewnes' solo show

Jacqui Lewnes Stands in front of one of New Grounds' presses in preparation for her demonstration.
I am not alone in saying that I am very proud of Jacqui and admire her as an artist and as a person. Jacqui overcame many hardships with grace, perseverance, and a great sense of humor while creating beautiful, ethereal, and emotional monotype landscapes of New Mexico for her solo show this month at New Grounds.

Jacqui gives us a "serious and thoughtful" pose in front of two of her pieces. A great example of her playful personality.

Selfie time! Gallery Assitant Tanya, myself, and Jacqui take a quick photo together during the show.

In additon to Jacqui's show David Welch and his wife Cynthia Winster had a spectacular show in the Matrix gallery. David (in purple) speaks with a student and her parent in the front studio in New Grounds.

Director Regina Held stands with our new intern Jessica Carr near the entrance greeting guests as they arrive.

New Grounds artist and Local Treasure Mary Sundstrom leans against the press and speaks with a visitor.

A guest admires the work done by New Grounds artist and Serigraph instuctor Ren Adams

Former member and current art model Mike Rudal and his wife Wendy arrive to see Jacqui's show.

Guests gather in Matrix to take in work by David Welch and Cynthia Winster.

A crowd gathers to watch Jacqui's monotype demonstration. To watch the demo please click the links at the bottom of the page.

Photos and Blog by Kaitlin Reese, New Grounds intern.

Ren Adams Alchemy of Image/ The Language of Information Space

Artist and Teacher Ren Adams speaks with a close friend while setting up for her demonstration. Ren's images are meaningful and complex and are created through hybrid printmaking, using a variety of techniques such as screen printing, intaglio, stamping and lithography.

In addition to  Ren's show the Pastel Society of New Mexico had their Signature Membership Show in Matrix. Artist Mike Mahon demonstrated pastel painting the duration of the evening.

UNM print lab manager Brooke Stieger  greets Ren inside New Grounds. Many students and alumni from UNM printmaking came by excited to see Ren and congratulate her on the success of her show.

Ren is in additon to being a talented artist a wonderful teacher. In her upstairs studio she offers classes on drawing, book binding, and painting, she is also the instructor of the New Grounds screen printing workshops.