Welcome to
Collectors Corner!
Ed Sandoval Gallery's Newsletter
102-B Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571
edsandovalart@gmail.com
(575) 770-6360
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Construction & Encountering the Police
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Teaching Jewelry Making (1975 Yearbook)
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This is kind of fun – I’ve been asked to build a fireplace in Taos (an outdoor kiva). I do miss my construction days, and I have an itch to strap a nail bag around my waist again.
How did I get into construction? Well, for years and years I had been teaching at Los Alamos High School in the Art Department with the dreadful Mrs. X
(
read here
)
. Although I loved teaching my students and watching their young imaginations and creativity blossom and grow, I started getting restless. Those of you who know me probably wonder how I ever survived for so long in a normal workplace that had set hours, supervisors, rules… Ha ha!
But it was more than that… Looking out into my future, I started doubting if I belonged there. Would I wake up 20 years down the road, still in the same classroom, still teaching down the hall from the grumpy Mrs. X, still wondering what my life could have been if I had just taken a chance and done things differently?
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I bailed. I wanted more time to focus on my own art, but I knew I had to make a living. What could I do? I decided to become a contractor. I learned construction from my dad and godfather, who took me on job sites when they built houses and barns.
At first, I helped to make adobe bricks using Nellie our old plow horse. We dug a big pit, filled it with dirt and straw, and poured buckets of water all over it. Next, we led the reluctant Nellie into the pit, who slowly stomp, stomp, stomped the straw into the mud. Then we harnessed Nellie to a big metal scoop, and she grudgingly pulled the mud out of the pit. Finally, we poured the mixture into forms to make the adobe bricks. As I got older, I also learned how to dig footings, set windows and doors, do the electrical and plumbing, place vigas, plaster the walls, etc.
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My Dad (Right), Me (Middle) and Uncle Luis
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Freshly Made Adobe Bricks Drying in Sun
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Laying Adobe to Form the Layout of the Home
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After taking a business law class to learn about New Mexico’s rules and regulations, I got my contractor’s license and off I went. At first, I did little jobs, like small additions, but eventually I decided to start my own company: "Environmental Adobe Homes."
We built houses everywhere – in New Mexico of course but also out of state. It was a lot of hard, hard work but also fun. I worked right beside the guys, but I admit that from time to time I would tell them what needed to be done and sneak off to paint. I loved building, but my true dream was to be an artist...so I'd find a quiet place on the job site to sketch and paint.
For the most part, building was uneventful. We got along, worked long days and went home. Pretty normal. But this one time – things got weird. We were building a home up in Los Alamos (on Barranca Mesa), and it was the last day before Christmas break. I wanted to give the guys a little party before they left for the holidays, so I got in my truck and headed to a liquor store for some “Christmas cheer.” I bought some booze (not that much) and placed the bags in the truck.
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I may have been in a hurry to get back, and the next thing I knew I was pulled over by the police.
This stern policeman came up to the truck, stared at me and looked at (and IN) the bags. The bottles were all sealed, and the receipt was right there, but for some reason he said, “You need to follow me to the police station!” I asked why, but he wouldn’t say anything except to follow him, which I did.
Once there, he took my arm, walked me in and led me to the back to be FINGERPRINTED!
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I kept asking why I was having my fingerprints inked and rolled onto a card (just like a TV crime show), but he ignored me – he wouldn’t say a word. After that, he went off and checked whatever it was that he was checking, came back and told me I could go. No explanation, no apology, no nothing. It was all extremely odd, confusing and unnerving. When I got back to the guys, they were alarmed by the story too. I guess I’m bring this up in light of recent current events… It is quite scary to find yourself in such a powerless situation.
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My Los Alamos Crew Finally Got a Christmas Cocktail: Me (Right), Fidel, Andres, Gilbert and Victor
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Me (Right): Mr. Fashionista in a Green Jumpsuit (LOL)
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I built homes from the late 70's into the 90's and started showing my work in galleries during the 80's. I finally got to open my own gallery in 1993, but I still did construction work for a while. In fact, my last job was for my great friend Me
ntor Williams. You might know him from his songs - he wrote "
Drift Away
" (sung by
Dobie Gray
) and
co-wrote "
When We Make Love
" (sung by
Alabama
). One day I'll write about him and his partner, Lynn Anderson. I built them a lovely chapel. Great people. Time flies...
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Quoth the Raven "Nevermore"
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I've completed the move from the plaza gallery to my old gallery (119 Quesnel). Everything's in place, and I'm open by appointment for the moment - waiting to see how things go in Taos before I open permanently.
Yes, I will still be painting outside. I've got my easels set up on the grass, under a huge shade tree by my outdoor picnic table. And, I have a couple of new friends.
A pair or ravens live in that tree. They've been there for years, and they keep a close eye on us. We often feed them leftovers, like french fries, on the picnic table. The very second you walk away, they fly down and gather up the goodies. They know!
Last year, I started wondering if they were crows or ravens, and I didn't know the difference. So I Googled and learned:
"You probably know that ravens are larger, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies overhead. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. Ravens, however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail appears wedge-shaped when open."
(
Source
)
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My New "Painting Outside" Set Up
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My Raven Friend that I Named "Poe"
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These ravens are so smart! When I feed them french fries, they're too dry and hard for them to eat. But that doesn't stop them! They take those french fries in their mouth, walk over to the small water bowl I keep filled up for them, drop them in, wait for the fries to plump up and get mushy, and then they pluck them out and eat them! It's quite amazing. Once, I caught a mouse and put it out there. One picked it up, walked it over to the water bowl and washed it off before he flew it up in the tree to eat it. Quite incredible.
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Featured Paintings
To inquire or request a high-resolution photo, contact
575-770-6360 or
edsandovalart@gmail.com. For all available paintings, click
HERE
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NEW: "Ranchos Rain" (30" x 40")
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NEW: "Our Shadows Form a Heart" (30" x 40")
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"Headwaters of the Rio Grande" (36" x 48")
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"Pilgrimage to Chimayo" (31" x 50")
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La Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (Church of the Sacred Heart)
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Since the coronavirus is making it nearly impossible for most of us to travel, I thought I’d do a series about some of my favorite places. If you can’t travel to New Mexico, at least you can hear about and see some of our treasures.
First up is my hometown of Nambe, nestled along the high road from Taos to Santa Fe. If you get the chance you should really take the high road one day – it winds through little, rural villages tucked away in the mountains, and most of them have beautiful old churches. For example, in Nambe there is La Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (Church of the Sacred Heart), originally built in 1610 as a Spanish mission.
This church is special for my family – not only are my parents and ancestors buried in the church yard, but every family celebration also happened here (mom and dad’s 50th wedding anniversary, my kids’ christenings, countless weddings, etc.). On top of that, my father helped to rebuild the church when it burned down during Holy Week of 1946.
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It has actually burned down numerous times, like during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and a few other times through the centuries. It keeps being rebuilt – the community makes sure of it – and I find that incredibly beautiful.
Because of it's history and my family's connection, of course I have painted Sacred Heart many times over the years. One of my first...that I can remember...is "Nambe Shadow" that I painted in 1994 (see below - the church is in the background).
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"Nambe Shadow" 24x30 (1994)
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"Sacred Heart" 24x30 (2004)
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Would you like to be a featured collector?
If so, please send your personal story and photo(s) to edsandovalart@gmail.com.
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Contact
Ed Sandoval Gallery
102-B Paseo Del Pueblo, Taos, NM 87571
www.edsandovalgallery.com | (575) 770-6360 | edsandovalart@gmail.com
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