Collectors Corner! Ed Sandoval's Newsletter (Taos, NM)

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Collectors Corner!

Ed Sandoval Gallery's Newsletter

119 Quesnel Street, Taos, NM 87571

www.edsandovalgallery.com

edsandovalart@gmail.com

(575) 770-6360

Happiest of Holidays to Everyone!

Last year, I wanted so badly to share a fun holiday story from my childhood, but I couldn't remember anything of note happening...(click to read "The Most Boring Holiday Story Ever Told?" HERE). I still don't have much to tell, but at least this year I have some photos!

1966: Mom & Dad (Lucinda & Herminio), Sisters Pita & Paulie (with Lee) & Me

Christmas in 1967 or 68: I'm Smiling in the Red Sweater and Shades.

Some people are so great about hoarding and organizing photos over the years, and then there are people (like me) who lose track of them. Thank goodness my family are better at preserving pictures, especially my cousin Ersilia whose car trunk was loaded with albums.

Since I don't have holiday memories to share, I'll tell you about getting our tree this year. We always go up into Carson National Forest, sort of up near Sipapu Ski Resort, back on a logging road that is extremely awful – thank goodness I have a four-wheel drive truck. Last year, there was snow everywhere, but this year, hardly any. We need snow!!!

2020 (Lots of Snow)

2021 (So Warm and Only a Few Flakes of Snow)

2021 (See Me?)

Cycle of Life: Going Around and Around

At this time of year, I get reflective on life. I should probably do that on my birthday, but it's in the middle of action-packed summer, so I'm always too busy to sit and think. In winter, however, spending time by the fire often puts me in a kind of memory trance... There's an ultimate point to this story, but first indulge me as I meander through the past.

This is me in 1966 with Vicki, who would become my wife in 1967 and the mother of my children, Tammy and Bryan. We were so young... I had only been out of high school for two years and had just come back to New Mexico (from a short stint in Los Angeles) to attend the College of Santa Fe. Vicki was two years younger than I was (only eighteen). Pursuing a BFA while working to pay for my courses and support a family, I was full of dreams as most young kids are when they make all kinds of plans for their futures.

We got married, and the newspaper announcement even included where I was working: Dunlap's in Santa Fe. That's funny to me because Dunlap's was a woman's clothing store, and I was the only guy there. No, I wasn't selling dresses (which might have been fun!) but was upstairs doing bookkeeping. Greer Garson would come in to buy clothes (and boy did she purchase LOTS of clothes!), and they called me down to carry her bags to her car.

Me at Our Wedding Reception (My Twin Brother Danny on the Far Right)

Wedding Announcement

Eventually, I wanted to transfer to Eastern New Mexico University in Portales because it had a GREAT art department. We moved, and Vicki's mom (Betty) was so sad to "lose" her daughter. Betty lived in Los Alamos, always had Vicki nearby and was feeling such a sense of loss. Well, in one of my art courses, calligraphy was part of the curriculum, and I had to write out a quote as an art form. Interesting! I decided to pick a quote that would resonate with Betty and give it to her as a gift to help her feel better.

I selected "On Children" by Kahlil Gibran because I loved this line: "For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday." Oddly, that line is in the next stanza, and I didn't include it. I think I ran out of room... and I see that I misspelled "seek," but it's the thought that counts. We all have to move forward and create our own lives, and nobody understands better than a parent whose child is leaving home.

Ironically, Betty got her daughter back home when Vicki was nearing her due date. We were expecting our first child! Vicki wanted to deliver in Los Alamos (top-notch, excellent hospital) and also wanted to be near her mom for the birth, which is understandable. But I stayed in Portales to keep taking classes.

One night, I got the call that Vicki had been admitted. Excited, I jumped in my car to drive from Portales to Los Alamos. Wouldn't you know it – on this particular night there just HAD to be a blizzard. Driving at night in blinding snow, I don't know how I made it, but I did, just in time to witness little Tammy come into the world. So small and fragile, so precious...

Me & Vicki

Me & Tammy: College Graduation

Bryan & Tammy

Time marched on...graduated college, had a son, moved to Utah and back to New Mexico, taught high school, started my construction company, the kids grew up...and, sadly, Vicki and I slowly grew apart. We weren't fighting – in fact, I don't remember ever having a fight. I was extremely busy trying to run a business, Vicki was studying to become a nurse with classes in the day and coursework at night, so we simply didn't see one another. One day, we realized we were living separate lives. We both truly liked and respected one another, and it had been a good marriage, but it was as if we didn't connect or act/think/move as one, as a true couple, anymore. I had my goals, she had her goals, and there we were.

I told you this story had a point...remember? LOL. Tammy grew up and had three boys of her own. One (Jayden, the musician) is getting married and moving to Denver to start his own family. Tammy is thrilled, but there's also that same sense of loss her grandmother, Betty, keenly felt all those many years ago. Vicki, understanding her daughter is struggling, gave her my college calligraphy art as a Christmas present! Isn't that the sweetest, most thoughtful gift ever?

Again, "For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday." I'm a great grandpa now (Estevan Jacob) and still have living to do, memories to make, love to give, art to create and "miles to go before I sleep."

"Fireside Chat Artist Series" in Santa Fe

On December 3, I was the featured artist at Canyon Road Contemporary Art for the 1st annual "Fireside Chat Artist Series." Part show and part holiday celebration, visitors and guests walked Canyon Road and enjoyed farolitos, bonfires, music and refreshments while chatting with renowned artists at each of the participating galleries. Oh that was fun!

The gallery was decked out with garlands, chile pepper lights, wreaths, luminarias, trays of cute little cups of eggnog and even a fire ring to toast marshmallows and make s'mores. The six galleries were clustered together, so people wandered from one to another looking at art and chatting with the artists. I enjoyed the festive outdoor courtyard the best, with the firelight glowing and musicians playing.

American Art Collector did a two-page spread to promote the event, and I got a one-page ad and a two-page write-up as the featured artist too. All the galleries agree that it was so festive, cheerful and successful, they are going to host it every year, with more galleries on board to join! So if you couldn't attend this year, make plans for next year.