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

Let's Talk about Wine

You might have seen this photo on my gallery Facebook page – a couple of weeks ago I took paintings down to Santa Fe and stopped by Total Wine. Exciting! While I was happily strolling the aisles, I found an Argentinian Malbec named “Ed!” Lighting up with joy, I grabbed and bought six bottles. After an intense, long day of painting, I love to indulge with a glass (or two... or so) of red wine. Being thrifty, I usually drink Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's (it’s cheap), but, sometimes, I splurge and indulge with a delicious, deep bodied Malbec.

That experience got me thinking... Actually, wine has been a large part of my career and even my art. Have you noticed that El Viejito often has a bottle of wine tucked away in his pocket as he ambles through the New Mexico landscape? Not all of the time, but he often does (see below). It’s for medicinal purposes… and besides, rambling is thirsty work. Ha!

"La Fonda" (Cropped)

"Vino Nuevo Mexico" (20x28)

"Road to Pedernal" (Cropped)

I have a great friend, Jack Galante, who owns a winery in Carmel Valley, CA: Galante Vineyards. I met him in Taos, and at some point, he invited me to his place to paint and have an art show. Stunningly beautiful there – green and lush, with rows upon rows of grapevines climbing up the softly rolling hillsides. For two months in 2005, I woke up each sunny morning, took my easel and paints to a charming spot on the property and began painting, painting, painting. If I got thirsty (and of course I did), I could call down and have a bottle or two of their superb wine delivered to me! Oh it was absolute heaven.

Galante Vineyard (Souce/Website)

"The Ancient Tree" (24x30) Painted on Location

A few times, I drove along the coast, discovered interesting areas and stopped to paint ocean scenes. Those paintings, including "The Sea Expressing Our Love" (photo), are the only seascapes I’ve ever done, and I still remember how the salty cool winds blew in off the ocean. I had to tie my easel down with rope or it would have flown away. In the evenings, Jack often took me to dinner at The Hog’s Breath Inn that was owned by Clint Eastwood. Jack knew Clint well, and when he came in, we would share drinks with him and and chat. Oh what a wonderful time and memory! Clint was so soft spoken that I really had to listen to hear him.

While I was there, we collaborated to turn one of my paintings into a wine label. Jack knew a company that could etch the painting onto the bottle – not just a paper label but actually etched into the glass! AND, the image is hand painted with bright, vibrant colors. Only magnums were produced (no small bottles). I admit that I'm biased, but I think it’s absolutely gorgeous. The art show at The Parkside Gallery was also fantastic – it featured the paintings I completed while staying at the vineyard.

Since then, I’ve been the poster artist for many wine festivals such as the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta, Taos Winter Wine Festival, and even one in El Rancho de las Golondrinas. Santa Fe’s Fiesta was HUGE! Tons of events, and I’ve never signed so many posters in my life. As an artist, the most nerve-wracking part is always the art auction, but both of my pieces sold. Whew!

"The Vineyard" (30x40) Auctioned at Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta 2018

Santa Fe Wine & Chile Painting/Poster

Taos Winter Wine 2019: Painting (Poster) and Demo Painting

Other fun events include the KTAOS Solar Center’s “Art n’ a Glass,” where people signed up for an art lesson (with wine!). It was only $20, and materials like paint and canvas were included. As a guest instructor, I was graced with a few glasses of wine while viewing the students' pieces and providing tips and feedback. Such a good time, and there were some beginning artists that really impressed me! So you see, art and wine go together. It’s a good thing that I love wine.

I'm Your Huckleberry: Tombstone & Bisbee

Last month, I told you about our road trip down into southwest New Mexico but didn’t cover heading over to Arizona. It has been so cold and snowy this past month that we haven’t wanted to leave the cozy casita (except to get firewood or to feed Coyote), so I have no “news” about Taos happenings. Until it warms up, I've stayed in the garage painting. Therefore, I guess my ramblings about Arizona adventures from our last road trip will have to do for now.

Yes yes yes, I know... Tombstone is probably seen by many people as a giant tourist trap, but that doesn't mean it's not FUN! I didn't know what to expect, but I think even the most hardened skeptic would still feel some "little kid excitement." In the historic part, no traffic is allowed (except for horse-drawn wagons), and you walk on boardwalks and dirt roads lined with rows and rows of shops, bars, restaurants, theaters and attractions.

Charming! We got tickets for the gunfight reenactment at the O.K. Corral but had a few hours to kill before our show time (very popular), so, after lunch, we went into every bar we could find. Now you've got to understand these bars are OLD, like 140ish years old.

Big Nose Kate's Saloon

Front of O.K Corral (Left)

Crystal Palace Saloon

We first time traveled to the 1880's by entering Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, which still has its authentic hand-crafted wooden bar and wood floors. The staff are decked out in period clothing, including buxom bar maids. Chatting with our barkeep, we learned she came to Taos to fight the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire. I can't remember her title, but on most days she's a firefighter and works in the saloon on her off time and weekends. We also went to the Crystal Palace Saloon. Speaking of fires, it opened in 1879 (Golden Eagle Brewery), burned in the 1882 town fire and was rebuilt as the Crystal Palace Saloon.

Finally, it was show time. The gun fight at the O.K Corral was a hoot, but I must say that guns firing blanks are LOUD. Oh my ears were ringing after that western shootout, but it didn't stop me from getting a photo with the good guys of that tragic tale.

Bisbee was more "normal," but I put that in quotes because it was so delightfully quirky. Built on mountainsides, the stores, homes and roads (and stairs) twist and go sharply up and down. Rows and rows of cafes, antique stores, breweries, bars, and eccentric places like the Bisbee Hatchet House (where you get to throw axes and swords at targets) and the Bisbee Séance Room (with fortune telling and magic shows).

But hands down the coolest thing we did was tour the Queen Mine, a copper mine. After getting suited up with lights, hats and vests, we climbed aboard a train of sorts that took us deep underground – 1,500 feet into the mine.

What is so cool is that your tour guide is a former miner, who tells all kinds of history and stories about working there: the use of pit ponies in the early days, methods of blasting, dangers of handling equipment and even how they used the bathroom (a train car). The Bisbee Queen Mine is old, in operation for around 100 years before closing in 1975. When the Vietnam war ended, copper prices plummeted and it just wasn't feasible anymore, even though it also produced gold, silver, lead and zinc.

Entering Queen Mine by Train/Tram

Guide Explaining Blast Charges

Deep Underground