It was another great year for Santa Fe’s annual ArtFeast and the Edible Art Tour. The tour, which pairs galleries with chefs from around the city, kicked off the weekend’s events on Friday evening.

At Waxlander we teamed up with Chef Charles Dale of Terra at Encantado Resort once again to bring everyone a Celtic-themed evening complete with food, music, and kilts!

Our menu was inspired by the Celtic story of the Salmon of Knowledge. The tale tells the story of Cormac, the son of Art, who ruled Ireland.

As princes tend to do, Cormac overspent his riches and, in looking for a way to feed his merry men, began to covet his neighbor’s bountiful lands. Knowing his neighbor was wise and fond of his lands, Cormac went to a Druid for guidance. The druid advised the prince to seek a salmon in the enchanted waters of the western lands, which, if caught and eaten, would give such wisdom and good fortune to the eater that he would be successful in all his endeavors.

And so Cormac lost no time in setting out to find this lucky fish. He discovered the dark, deep pool where the salmon was said to reside and found it full of fish. He and his men caught fish after fish, broiling them on the nearby stones, and yet Cormac became not a wit wiser and very sick of fish.

They caught so many fish that Cormac could not taste them all, and so began to throw back those he deemed to small or sickly to be the salmon of knowledge. One evening a poor spent fish was caught and thrown on the banks of the river to wriggle its way back into the waters.

The fish was spied by a boy in the prince’s party who thought it would make a fine dinner, spent or not. The boy built a fire and tossed the fish on to broil. Before long he noticed a swelling blister forming on the fish’s side. Not wanting its nutritious juices to go to waste, the boy popped the blister with his finger and then stuck the finger in his mouth to cool it off. The instant his finger went in his mouth he was overcome with wisdom. All of his future glories, all the failures of his foes, and all of his own achievements flashed before his eyes. He saw that Ireland would ring with his fame, and he stepped into his destiny.

Chef Charles, inspired by this fable, recreated the salmon of knowledge for the Edible Art Tour. Participants ate to the tune of traditional Celtic songs, and our staff completed the theme with kilts and Celtic-inspired attire.

Friday was a fabled night at Waxlander. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to share the in the fun and in the Salmon of Knowledge! We greatly enjoyed celebrating Phyllis at the artist luncheon on Sunday and we love being a part of such a worthy, and successful event!

Sweet Cherries -Sangita Phadke

Here at Waxlander we are excited about one of our new artist, Sangita Phadke. We think you too will love the captivating works she creates with pastels…

Sangita has come a long way in her short life as a painter. Fortunately for the art world, she gave up a career in finance and consulting to pursue art full time in 2007 and has acquired an impressive resume since.
Sangita’s subjects aren’t just still lifes. They are everyday fruits, vegetables or flowers that hold a second life in her art. Her larger-than-life vegetables, fruits and flowers now hang in U.S. embassies, private collections, and fine galleries around the country.

The self-taught artist was also named one of the “21 young artists to collect now” by Southwest Art Magazine. She was inducted into the International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle in 2010 and was awarded the distinction of “Master Pastelist” by the Pastel Society of America in 2011.

Confetti Rose - Sangita Phadke

Nature Brought to Life

Sangita’s newest collection is titled “Purely Pastel” and is inspired by the rich bounty of fruits and vegetables available during the spring harvest season.

“Every week new flowers, fruits, and vegetables flood the markets, and I am the first in line to get my hands on them, “ she says. “I am on a never-ending quest to find bold, colorful, and exciting subject matter that will inspire me to create my next painting.”

Juicy Tomatoes-Sangita Phadke

A Story of Its Own

Sangita has always been drawn to storytelling, and each of her pieces has its own story, with a narrative forming in her mind as she paints.

“Each story evolves while I am painting and finishes as I sign the piece,” she says. “The stories are mostly whimsical and are inspired by the fruit, vegetable, flower or egg I am painting.” Often the name she gives a painting offers a hint to its story.

In the painting “Take a Bow,” for example, a pear occupies a bright spot of light. It looks simple, but Sangita’s rich imagination has woven an entire back story for the painting. The first thing she noticed was the dramatic bend in the middle of the pear. She placed the piece of fruit in a bright spot of light, and her story began to take shape. She imagined the pear as the star of a Broadway play at the end of a rousing performance. While taking its final bow, the crowd erupts into applause, leaving the pear overjoyed.

Peaches - Sangita Phadke

An Eye for Detail

Color, light, and an obsessive attention to detail are the hallmarks of Sangita’s paintings, and her newest collection is no different. With each piece displaying rich textures and multiple layers, you have to look closely to fully appreciate its depth.

“The collection will showcase everything from the smooth translucent texture of a rose petal to the bumpy, uneven texture of a lemon,” she says. “If you look closely you will find a scratch, a dent, a glistening dew drop, or some characteristic that makes each piece distinctive.”

You have to see Sangita’s work up close and in person to truly appreciate its detail and beauty. Stop in at the gallery for the chance to discover the intricacies of your favorite piece. We are sure you will find yourself lost in its beauty!

If purchasing a piece off the blog, mention that you found the piece on the blog and get a special discount!

Charm V - Childers-West

We’re so excited to be showing new work by the husband and wife team of Justin Earl West and Josiane Childers. This Arizona duo creates gorgeous, contemporary painted sculptures with steel and Plexiglas. Their work is strikingly original and wonderfully creative in color, composition, design, style and texture.

Josiane’s medium is acrylic on canvas and Justin’s obsession with old cars and trucks naturally led him to work with metal. When these two collaborate, their painted wall sculptures reflect the influence of Arizona’s spacious skies and desert landscape.

Josiane was born in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains and grew up in upstate New York, drawing and painting at an early age. Her high school art instructor, Nicholas Todisco, inspired her to pursue art, and she went on to study at New York’s Purchase College and in Amsterdam.

Justin was raised in Colorado, Germany, upstate New York and Arizona. He worked in construction and as a mechanic, honing skills that laid the foundation for his career as a metal artist. His painted steel sculptures depict landscapes, abstracts and three-dimensional textures.

“I have been a sculptor all of my life.” Justin says. “I love the freedom of mixing mediums. I have worked with almost anything you can think of from clay, Plexiglas or fiberglass, and wood to concrete, drywall or steel.  Whatever a sculpture needs, I can bring it in.”

For Josiane, color, lines and the very act of working with paint provide inspiration. “Every piece that I paint is an emotional journey through color,” she says. “I am continuously inspired by the extraordinary world around me as well as the exciting possibilities of infinite color relationships. Every single color is beautiful and has a place. I love how the colors ask for each other and vibrate in unison in creation of a new color world. Or one crooked line asks for another crooked line in the continuing quest for balance.

“My painting style always involves a search for perfection and balance in chaos,” she continues. “I begin most paintings with random choices and movements and then solve the puzzle as I go. I am always trying to reach a mathematical perfection with color and form. There is always motivation to paint and I am in love with the paint itself.”

Come in and see for yourself their amazing art. All of their creations are stunning, including their latest. We would like to congratulate the duo on the birth of their baby.  For more information and to see their pieces visit http://www.waxlander.com/artist/52/Childers–West.

 If purchasing a piece off the blog, mention that you found the piece on the blog and get a special discount!

Phyllis Kapp - You Are Perfect

This year’s ArtFeast is just a couple short weeks away. It is the weekend of February 24th-26th, and we hope that you will be able to join us for what has become one of the treasured events of the winter season here in Santa Fe. With three days full of food, dance, art, fashion, homes, and more food, it is a celebration of culture that is not to be missed!

The weekend kicks off Friday with the Art of Fashion runway show and luncheon, followed by the Edible Art Tour, which we will be participating in once again this year, and then Feast or Famine to finish off the night. Saturday’s events include the Art of Home Tour with the gala Gourmet Dinner & Auction that evening. It all concludes Sunday with day two of the Art of Home Tour and the Artists’ Champagne Brunch & Auction.

Edible Art Tour – Our Participation

Our annual participation in the Edible Art Tour is one event that we are looking forward to. It is sure to be a vibrant and exciting evening as you have the opportunity to enjoy more than 30 downtown and Canyon Road galleries. We are honored to once again team up with Executive Chef Charles Dale of Terra at Encantado.

If you have never had the pleasure of tasting the American Cuisine at Terra then you will not want to miss this opportunity. Chef Dale is preparing a Celtic themed menu for the evening, and the food will pair well with the Celtic music and drums that will fill the gallery for the night. Make sure to buy your tickets to join us for the tour, and support local art education.

Artists’ Champagne Brunch and Auction – Our Featured Artist

The weekend’s festivities conclude Sunday with the Artists’ Champagne Brunch & Auction. We are very proud to have world renowned painter, Phyllis Kapp, as our honored artist at the Brunch, as it gives just one more reason to attend this great event. It is the perfect chance to enjoy a wonderful brunch, champagne, and talk with some of your favorite Santa Fe artists.

“I love to play while I paint. I love to make people smile.” -Phyllis Kapp

Undoubtedly the Southwest’s most delightful watercolorist, Phyllis continues to capture in spontaneous fashion the landscapes of the state, all the while earning her the adoration and adulation of collectors and fans. Phyllis’ spirit pours through her work and elicits a sense of joy in all who experience it. “My art is about the land and sky,” she says, “but it is also about a state of mind, a feeling of joy, of being one with the universe.” Be moved by one of Phyllis’ works by clicking through to her artist page.

Again, please enjoy amazing treats from some of Santa Fe’s favorite restaurants while helping us to support art in the schools. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit ArtFeast online at http://artfeast.com/artfeast-events/.

If purchasing a piece off the blog, mention that you found the piece on the blog and get a special discount!

Chris Turri - Story Totem : Diamond Ridge

You have most likely heard the old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Metal sculptor, and Waxlander artist, Chris Turri takes this statement very much to heart.

“I’ve always been a junk collector” he says. “There is so much waste in our world, I look at a lot of it and see a piece come together. It’s amazing the jewels people leave behind in the junk pile! I’ve landscaped, constructed buildings & furniture with the scrap left on a construction site, now I build sculptures. It’s the perfect transition for me. I love to see the old and new come together.”

A “near” native New Mexican, Turri spent years as a Silversmith and Tradesman. In time he began to take those skills and expand upon them, working on larger sculptures and with other metals. With roots in traditional native silversmith techniques, his love of and connection to indigenous cultures across the world and his desert environment, it is easy to understand why his work has become widely loved and cherished. His signature “Spirit Masks” and “Shaman” series are now collected around the country, including here at Waxlander Gallery.

When you view Turri’s work, you get the feeling of an artist who has with a deep connection to his work. In describing his process he says, “Sometimes I see the piece and I go out in search of the materials I need. Other times, the materials tell me what to create, and I just go with it.”

To see more of Chris Turri’s work, visit his artist page at http://www.waxlander.com/artist/28/Chris-Turri.

If purchasing a piece off the blog, mention that you found the piece on the blog and get a special discount!