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Blue Rain Gallery130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite C | Santa Fe, NM 87501(505) 954-9902 | www.blueraingallery.com

UPCOMING SHOW PREVIEW / SANTA FE, NMApril 3-25, 2015

From an oil painting of a Dia de los Muertos-style interpretation of American

Gothic to a graphite drawing of a Native American delegation on ledger paper to a photograph of surfers, the subjects and styles at the 3rd Annual Invitational Show at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, provide a diverse offering of new works.

Owner Leroy Garcia found five artists new to the gallery for the show, including his wife, photographer D’Nelle Garcia, Chris Pappan, Iva Morris, Yatika Fields, and Josh Clare, Leroy says perhaps the only thing uniting the work, around five pieces per artist, is that it is all one of a kind, giving visitors an opportunity to collect from artists who are not overexposed, despite their level of talent.

Pappan, whose drawing The Seven Kanzaa depicts members from his native Kaw Nation, often uses photographs as inspirations for his drawings, frequently drawn on ledger paper. Residing in Chicago, where he says the Native American art scene is virtually nonexistent, showing at Blue Rain provides him an opportunity to gain exposure for his culturally influenced work.

“For me, my art is a personal journey and about learning who I am and where I’ve come from,” Pappan says. “If you know that, I think you’re more of a down-to-earth person.”

Pappan, who says he enjoys working in graphite because “you can’t have a good painting without a good drawing,” has previuosly known fellow invitational

exhibition artist Fields, a painter who has produced graffiti works. Fields’ series of paintings focuses on the anticipation of warm summer weather, colorfully reflected in his oil Awaiting Bloom, which also relates to his evolvement as an artist.

“It reflects me in a lot of ways, from where I’m at now, to where I’m going,” Fields says. “I think everyone is always waiting for something new, and that relates to me. My paintings are very colorful and

alive, and I want that summer spirit to get people to get excited and uplifted.”

Another artist in the show who loves color is Morris, a regular among the Santa Fe art scene in her home state, who approached Blue Rain Gallery to show her work. The self-taught painter says she aims for her paintings to be like billboards, with clear messages immediately apparent to viewers, and often comments on women’s role in culture and politics in her works. While some

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of her pieces carry deep messages, such as the oil Liberty featuring a “for sale” sign on the opera glasses the female is holding up, Morris’ paintings are often bright and pretty, no matter how serious the subject matter.

Viewers will also find beauty in the breathtaking scenes in D’Nelle’s light- and color-inspired photographs, including those of a train, a sailboat and a horse, and in the landscapes of Clare, whose oil South Rim transports you to the Grand Canyon world wonder.

“This world is unbelievably beautiful, a constant fl ood of inspiration for anyone who takes the time to look,” Clare says. “I want to see more clearly and appreciate more fully, and I create to help others do the same.”

Leroy says this year’s show stands out for its impressive roster and supports the gallery, which has been in business for the past 24 years, in its mission to promote exceptional talent.  

“Their ideas are very innovative in their subjects and mediums, and they’ve worked to refi ne their art,” Leroy says. “When you have that combination, it’s really exciting.”

1Josh Clare, South Rim, oil on canvas, 24 x 36"

2Iva Morris, Southwest Gothic, oil on canvas, 36 x 48"

3D’Nelle Garcia, Untitled (train), C-prints on Fuji crystal archival paper, 20 x 40"

4Chris Pappan, The Seven Kanzaa, graphite (pencil) on found substrates, 20 x 20"

5Yatika Fields, Awaiting Bloom, oil on canvas, 36 x 36"

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