Welcome to
Collectors Corner!
Ed Sandoval Gallery's Newsletter
119 Quesnel Street, Taos, NM 87571
edsandovalart@gmail.com
(575) 770-6360
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Things that Never Seem to End... |
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Remember when you were a kid and school was finally over for the year? Oh… those lazy, sunny, summer days seemed to go on and on forever. Or maybe that warm feeling you got during your first crush as a young teenager? You probably thought that wonderful, loving feeling would be everlasting… But I’m not talking about happy moments when time seems to stand still. I’m talking about enduring road construction in Taos! LOL.
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Folks, I’m a patient, go-with-the-flow kind of guy, but this construction is finally getting to me. Our main road through town (Paseo) is torn up and AWFUL. It started right as Covid hit in early 2020, so we have already withstood three years of driving agony. But they are nowhere NEAR finished, and we’re about to enter the FOURTH year of traffic torture. At first it wasn’t bad. In 2020 (Phase 1), they started way down on the south end of Taos (where there are four lanes plus a center turn lane), and the repaving went quite quickly. We were lulled into optimistic confidence because it was exciting to see the improvement. |
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In 2021, it got complicated. Phase 2 started somewhere around Walgreens and moved north to around McDonalds. We locals think of this area as the “chokepoint,” where four lanes go down to two lanes and traffic bottlenecks. The goal (to my understanding) is to widen that whole strip to four lanes (what a MESS!), add sidewalks and replace/repair the infrastructure under the road (old water pipes, gas lines, electricity, perhaps broadband, etc.). That’s a LOT of modernization, so we understood it would need to proceed slowly.
At the end of 2021, we started seeing notices for Phase 3, which would continue north from Quesnel through the historic district (past the Taos Inn). THAT will be a nightmare because there is NO WAY to widen the road – two skinny lanes with buildings smack up against them. Even the sidewalks are ridiculously skinny, like 14 inches in spots. They'll have to close down one whole lane to work on it while making the OTHER lane one way. In other words, all traffic going north (or south... I don't know which) will be detoured onto back roads around that entire section. In Taos, there was a collective groan…
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HOWEVER, here we are, nearing the end of 2022, and Phase 2 STILL isn't complete. They aren't anywhere NEAR beginning Phase 3. I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say that the road will be torn up for years to come.
We are forced run errands based on which side of the road a business is on – going north you can go here and here, but wait until you're traveling south to go here and here. It’s almost impossible to make a left turn out of ANY business, and don’t get me started about the intersection by Smiths. The turn off onto Siler Road (running by Smiths) is closed, and one entrance to the parking lot is also closed. There’s only one way in. If you are driving north and need to turn left to get in, you trap all the traffic behind you until some kind soul in the bumper-to-bumper line of cars going the other way stops and allows you to turn.
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But that’s the good news. With everything torn up and exasperation running high, you’d expect a lot of road rage incidents, but most people understand and take pity on their fellow drivers. They stop (confining everyone behind them) to allow a car into traffic. We do that all of the time. It's the only way someone can turn. We’re all in this together!
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Paint/Sculpt Out & Upcoming Fireside Chat |
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On Oct. 14-15, Canyon Road in Santa Fe held a wonderful event – the Paint/Sculpt Out. Artists represented at dozens of galleries came out in droves to demonstrate their creative processes. At Canyon Road Contemporary Art, I painted with seven other artists showcasing their art.
A couple from Minnesota, who were in Santa Fe for their 11th wedding anniversary, came over to watch me paint. We chatted for a long time, and they made suggestions for the painting that I incorporated. For example, originally only El Viejito was in the painting, but they wanted to see his companion, so I moved a tree over and put her in. Long story short, they fell in love with the painting and purchased it before it was even finished! I’m so happy for them, and when I sent images of the finished piece, they let me know their little kids loved it too. The whole day was such a joyful, unique experience for all of us, artists and visitors alike.
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If you missed the Paint/Sculpt Out, I hope you can join me at the upcoming Fireside Chat Artists Series on Friday, December 2 from 4 to 6pm. Galleries on Canyon Road come together to host seasonal festivities, with farolitos, bonfires, live music, seasonal refreshments, and one or more featured artists. This year, I’ll be the featured artist.
It's so festive! Last year, we had a roaring bonfire to toast marshmallows (for s’mores), hot beverages, music and mingling. So mark your calendars, dress warmly and come to view art and chat by the fire.
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Celebrating My Sister: Pita Burke |
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I wanted to take a moment to honor and celebrate my dear sister, Pita, who passed away on October 16. A gentler, kinder, sweeter soul never walked this planet, and she will be so missed by all of us. Oh she tried so hard to stay with us, constantly fighting a rare blood disease (POEMS) for about eight years, but in the end it was too much for her.
She has visited me a couple of times since then... I know that might be hard to believe, but it's true. Once, sitting in the portale by the fire, I felt her presence so strongly that I began chatting away, telling her all kinds of things and how we would miss her. She was so very beautiful, inside and out, that I wanted to share just a tiny bit of what made her so special.
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When Pita married Frank in 1961, I had never seen such a beautiful bride – she reminded me of Sophia Loren or Jackie Kennedy, an elegant, glamorous princess! In the photos, that's dad (Herminio) and mom (Lucinda) escorting her to the church. At the time, I was around 16 years old, and for years I had been in love with her two door, hard top, turquoise and white 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air. Oh that car... a teenage boy's dream car! Do you know what she did? She gave it to me. "Here Eddie," she said. "This is your car now."
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I was in shock, and so very grateful. But that's how our family is – we are generous and take care of one another. When our parents had both passed away, all of the older siblings got together (including me) and decided to gift the family home to our youngest brother. The rest of us had homes and families, so we agreed and signed away our rights to the property, giving him the deed free and clear.
In the photo, that's Danny, me and Pita last year when we gathered in Albuquerque to look at family photo albums. Pita loved getting together with family and was the first one on the dance floor at reunions and weddings. Rock and Roll... the Jitterbug... all kinds of music made her so happy, and she just had to get up and dance, dance, dance! I will miss her humor, joyfulness, kindness and gentle spirit.
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To inquire or request a high-resolution photo, contact 575.770.6360 or email edsandovalart@gmail.com. For all available paintings, click HERE.
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"Approaching Winter" (20x30) |
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"Autumn Homestead" (36x48) |
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"Autumn Snowfall" (24x36) |
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It's that time of year again! The calendars are being printed, and I will pick them up at Thanksgiving and start sending them out shortly thereafter. The are $49.00 – $39 for the calendar and $10 for shipping (USPS Priority with insurance & tracking).
THREE WAYS TO ORDER:
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Use any credit card – send an email to edsandovalart@gmail.com and I will send back an online invoice.
- Send a check: Ed Sandoval Gallery, 119 Quesnel St., Taos, NM 87571.
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Paypal at my website online store: Click HERE.
**NM RESIDENTS please add $3.34 tax.
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I said on Facebook that I am donating this painting to the Stray Hearts Animal Shelter fundraiser: "The Dog Walker" (36x60). Several of you asked if it were possible to bid on it during the live auction.
I found out the details! The gala will be held on Friday, December 9, at the Wildflower Playhouse in Taos. Yes, you CAN put in an absentee bid! The retail value (36x60) is $10,000. So, for example, a high bid of $6,000 could possibly win if nobody at the event bids higher (minimum bid is $5,000). Contact Stray Hearts at (575) 758-2981.
My dream goal is that someone will buy the painting, giving Stray Hearts much-needed funds to help doggies and kitties, but then GIFT it back to the shelter so it can hang there for the enjoyment of all.
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In the last two newsletters, I covered most of our road trip to Wyoming. There's just one more adventure I want to highlight: a relaxing, scenic rafting trip down the Snake River. |
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You know, people raft down the Rio Grande all the time. I watch them when I’m driving to Santa Fe or fishing, but I had never gone rafting before. We signed up for the leisurely half-day, seven-mile option that included lunch. Basically, we sat back on a sunny day, watching the sparkling water and the stunning scenery go by. It was glorious! Our guide (who did ALL of the rowing) pointed out wildlife, including bald eagles, and told us information about the river, history of the area and mountains. He even showed us Sandra Bullock’s house. We called out to her as we floated by, but she didn’t come down. LOL! |
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About halfway through the trip, we stopped for our picnic lunch and chatted with the other rafters. I walked around examining rocks and found a beautiful red, polished stone that I brought home. There were a few “rapids” at the end, but they weren't bad – just enough to be exciting. Such a wonderful experience! Drifting along through the heart of Grand Teton National Park, lulled by the rhythm of the raft and water as we curved around forested mountains, it was a perfect day. |
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER? PAST NEWSLETTERS HERE.
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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
119 Quesnel Street, Taos, NM 87571
www.edsandovalgallery.com | (575) 770-6360 | edsandovalart@gmail.com
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