Santa Fe: Edging Toward Contemporary

The city’s ever-growing art scene shines in contemporary art.

by Mary Anne Redding

The Land of Enchantment has long been known for its tradition of Native American and Southwest art, but of late New Mexico — the nation’s third largest art market after New York and Los Angeles — is again enjoying the international artistic spotlight for its bold and exciting contemporary art.

The brightest minds and most discerning eyes are turning to Santa Fe, which enjoyed a full-page article in The New York Times’ Arts & Leisure section last January, as SITE Santa Fe — one of the nation’s most innovative nonprofit exhibition spaces — continues to capture the imagination of collectors, curators, dealers, and enthusiasts from around the world. SITE mounts compelling and important exhibitions throughout the year, but the institution is best known for its biennial — and 2008 is a biennial year.

Independent curator Lance Fung, calling his curatorial process “controlled chaos,” has partnered with 19 institutions from around the world and 23 artists — three from New Mexico — to create site-specific installations of an ephemeral nature. Lucky Number Seven will open to a weekend of festivities, June 20-22, 2008, and continue through Oct. 26. Fung and SITE director Laura Stewart Heon brought the artists to Santa Fe last winter for a weeklong tour of snowy northern New Mexico. Their installations are expected to attract international media attention and tourists. (See interview with Lane Fung)

Across from SITE are the top-drawer Railyard galleries — James Kelly Contemporary, Tai Gallery, Evo Gallery, Gebert Contemporary, and William Siegal Gallery. They all deal in blue-chip and well-established modern and contemporary art, each with its own aesthetic vision. A walk through James Kelly will reveal everything from Ellsworth Kelly and Oli Sihvoen to Roni Horn and Tom Joyce. Tai Gallery specializes in exquisite bamboo sculpture and Japanese photography. Evo has a program that’s at once world-class (Ed Ruscha, Bernar Venet, Agnes Martin) and daring (Ligia Bouton, Herve di Rosa, Robert Ehrlich), while the wide-open Gebert Contemporary has a dynamic mix of well-established contemporary painters and sculptors working in a variety of media, including monumental ceramic dangos by Jun Kaneko and color-field frescos on linen by Marcia Myers. William Siegal juxtaposes impeccably selected ancient textiles and ceremonial objects, sculpture, and textiles from pre-Columbian, Asian, and African cultures with the works by carefully chosen contemporary artists.

Behind the Railyard galleries are Santa Fe Clay and Box Gallery, where emerging artists enjoy big exhibition spaces under the visionary direction of owner Michelle Quellette. Ted Laredo’s Reflective Phosphorescent Paintings emit pulsing vibrations that change under different light. Other Box artists to seek out are Emily Kimball, Christy Hengst, Timothy Nero, and sculptor Jack Slentz.

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art opened its 10,000-square-foot space on two levels with a 20-car parking lot in May. The gallery represents Los Angeles sculptor Guy Dill and has upcoming exhibitions for Swiss minimalist Olivier Mosset; Tony Soulie and Donald Woodman, photographers from France and New Mexico, respectively; and Gunther Forg, a well-known German artist who has influenced many young European painters.

Last year, the American Planning Association named Canyon Road — rich with galleries, shops, and restaurants — as one of “10 Great Streets” because it “exemplifies exceptional character and highlights the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.” Don’t miss Turner Carroll Gallery (especially Igor Melnikov), Klaudia Marr Gallery (contemporary realism), and Bellas Artes, celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Off Canyon Road on Garcia Street is Photo-Eye Bookstore and Gallery. Between the offerings at Photo-Eye, Monroe Gallery, and the Andrew Smith Gallery (now with two locations, San Francisco St. and Grant Ave.), photography collectors and enthusiasts have a fine selection of dealers.

Specializing in traditional and contemporary American art, Gerald Peters Gallery is like visiting a small, carefully planned museum with a research library and bookstore. The gallery has a deep roster of artists and solid curatorial vision.

Linda Durham Contemporary Art features the large-format photography by Michael Eastman and oddly beautiful coffee-stained muslin sculptures by Barbara Zusman.

Charlotte Jackson Fine Art — which has a wonderfully monochromatic program balanced with dynamic works by Charles Arnoldi and Frederick Hammersley — has an excellent space downtown on Marcy Street and a massive new project space, open for special events and by appointment, at 7511 Mallard Way, just outside of town. Jackson founded and continues to direct Art Santa Fe (www.artsantafe.com), an annual contemporary fair at El Museo de Cultural. Started as a biennial in 1995 to attract international art representation to Santa Fe during the Opera season, the fair’s growing success has lead to annual summer art events sponsored by Art Santa Fe.

Another must-see space downtown is Riva Yares Gallery (Hans Hofmann, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Milton Avery, Morris Louis, Roberto Matta, Manuel Neri, Kenneth Noland, and the A-list of contemporary artists goes on).

Around the corner is LewAllen Contemporary, which features works by Judy Chicago, Forrest Moses, and other established artists.

Also off the traditional routes are the Center for Contemporary Arts and Dwight Hackett Projects. CCA has nearly completed renovations to the Muñoz Waxman Gallery. Visual Arts Director Cyndi Conn continues to bring cutting-edge contemporary art to the center.

The last weekend of August brings the annual Indian Market to the Plaza featuring more than 1,200 artists from nearly 100 Native American tribes. Among the incredible examples of traditional Native art forms are contemporary artists redefining what is Native art. In November 2008, the Governor’s Palace opens Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe, a photographic history of Santa Fe, the oldest capital city in North America, as it celebrates its 400th anniversary. Visitors will likely see construction behind the Palace, as the state’s New History Museum is completed. Across the street is the New Mexico Museum of Art. Curator Joseph Traugott’s brilliant re-installation of How the West is One: The Art of New Mexico — featuring objects from the museum’s collections representing an intercultural history of New Mexico art, from the arrival of railroads in 1879 to the present day — is on view through April 2010. This is a great way to appreciate that what we consider contemporary today may be classic tomorrow.