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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So Many Branches on a Family Tree |
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A few weeks ago at the gallery, a woman came in and said that my mom’s brother was her grandfather. I wasn’t there, but when I heard that, I took another trip down memory lane. |
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Mom (Lucinda) had three sisters and two brothers (that I know of… infant deaths were not uncommon back then). The boys were Juan and Solomón, and as a wee kid, I always thought they were larger than life, wild and cool.
I’m fascinated by the time period in which they lived and by how they lived, so I started going through old photos. Here’s a 1908 family portrait: grandpa and grandma who I spent so much time with as a boy (Pedro & Luisita Rivera), my mom (Lucinda) held by grandma, Uncle Juan (the oldest child), Albinita (front row left), Candelaria and little Uncle Solomón. My Aunt Aurora was born later.
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Now you wouldn't know it looking at this gloomy photograph (nobody ever smiled in photos back then!), but Juan was full of energy and spirit. I got such a kick out of him – grinning, he'd sneak off to his rusty still that was hidden in the woods, making moonshine and bringing big jars of it to family dinners. He drank a LOT and was always zooming around in his loud trucks. Once, he even ran over my dog, but I forgave him. It was impossible to stay mad at smiling, joking Uncle Juan.
Always the life of the party, I'd race up to him because he was just so darn FUN! That was probably because he had trauma and grisly brushes with death during the war, so he wanted to live the rest of his life to the fullest. Born in 1891, he served in WWI from 1918 to 1920 (over 25 months of active combat), miraculously making it out alive and living it up until 1971.
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Uncle Solomón had a lot in common with his older brother Juan: booze and good times. Ha! He owned a bar in Española, and dad took me and Danny (my twin) with him when he ran errands, which usually led us into Española. Dad bellied up to the bar for a cold beer and a chat while Danny and I played on the floor. Dad gave us Coca-Colas and coins to play music on the jukebox. That was smart of him. As long as we were busy entertaining ourselves, he could relax, sip beer and talk to Solomón, who I always thought looked so handsome in his white apron and tie. He was a dashing, dapper dude, no doubt.
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Solomón at His Bar in Española
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I'm not sure which of the two brothers was this woman's grandfather, but I know who to ask. My cousin Ersilia is the family historian, and boy can she tell you every single detail of our family going back over 150 years. Spirited energy and a sense of adventure must run in the family, because she got a mega dose of it too. My nephew told me that on a recent trip to Las Vegas, he went down and found Ersilia playing the slots at around 3:00 am. Ha! She is a delightfully bubbly woman who has also decided to get the most out of life. |
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Ersilia in the 1950's – Looking like a Hollywood Movie Star!
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Me & Ersilia at a Family Reunion (Maybe 1990's?) |
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It's heartwarming and fun to look back at these photos and remember good times and wonderful people. Our family shapes and influences our lives so much, and I know that I'm beyond blessed. I'm pretty sure I inherited many qualities from them, especially their passion and boundless zest for life.
I want to end with a rare photo from the very beginning, of me and Danny, little twin babies, being held by dad (right) and Uncle Solomón (left). I honestly can't tell which is me and which is Danny, but it doesn't matter.
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Old vs. New School: Learning from Youth |
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A few weeks ago, I got a call from a Taos High School student (Mia) who asked me for an interview. Of course I said yes. As a former teacher, I love to see young people learning new and valuable skills – exploring their community, meeting new people, mastering the art of conversational techniques, organizing information into a nice presentation, etc.
I’ve been interviewed before, so I expected a student to come with a pad of paper and a pen, jotting down notes to write up a report later. Boy am I old school! The door opened and here came four people (three students and a mentor) with cameras, video equipment, microphones and light panels. It was a full-fledged production crew! Shocked, I started to ask some questions of my own, and here’s what I learned.
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These students are part of “True Kids 1” (TK1), a youth media-and-technology education nonprofit based in Taos. It teaches technology and media skills that inspire them to create, communicate, and safely navigate the digital world. I was fascinated. There are in-school and after-school programs in documentary film, print and broadcast journalism, digital illustration and much more. They also have out-of-school programs, like the Emerging Journalists Program where students cover local events, and Professional Pathways where students assist local businesses with marketing and communications (paid assignments). |
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They said segments of our filmed interview would be incorporated into a Future of Our Community project focusing on art. The film will feature various kinds of artists, gallery owners and art students to showcase the past, present and future of art in/around Taos, and it will be screened at the TCA and possibly air on PBS. After learning all of this, I was nervous!
The lights went on, the cameras started rolling and Mia asked me a question, but right then the door opened and someone came in to buy a calendar... Cut! LOL. We stopped for a bit and then got back to business – after all, the show must go on. I sure had fun, and I hope I provided them with some thoughts that will be useful.
Thank you Mia, Kiki, Jesus and Chris! To learn more about TK1, click HERE.
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To inquire or request a high-resolution photo, contact 575.770.6360 or email edsandovalart@gmail.com. All available original paintings are located HERE.
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"Majestic Cottonwoods in Nambe" (40x60) |
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"Silence of Sunset" (24x48) |
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It has been in the 50's and 60's for far too long and doesn't feel like winter at all. We are in early/mid March, but it feels like May. Spooky to not have snow for so long.
Although I'm hoping for snow because we truly need it, I can't help but be lulled into dreamy thoughts of springtime gardening. Each year, I try so hard to produce a robust crop of plump tomatoes. Sometimes the stars align and the little darlings appear on the vines, and sometimes NADA. This year, I went to the experts and am trying a new technique: Root Riot.
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I opened up the shining package eagerly, and it looks just like a tray of tiny chocolate brownies. In reality, each starter "brownie" is actually a nutrient-enriched cube of soil. I carefully stuck seeds in each hole, making sure to water each one perfectly. Now I'm waiting for my seedlings to arrive. I'll keep you posted on this year's crop! :-) |
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If you ever want to go on a beautiful drive, head east on Kit Carson Road (64) toward Cimarron. You wind and curve through the mountains, going up and over the pass to Eagle Nest. From there, the road continues to curve through forests and next to the sparking waters of Cimarron River Canyon.
You may spot deer, but you'll certainly look up in awe as you near the base of massive, impressive cliffs. Cut by the Cimarron River through igneous rock, the Palisades Sill are composed of monzonite rock from about 40 million years ago when the Southern Rocky Mountains were being uplifted.
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A sheer rocky cliff wall going up, up and up. I'm not exactly sure how tall they are, but I read somewhere they tower upward over 300 feet. They are a remarkable sight. |
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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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