“The Proposal”

“You could say I’ve been an artist all my life,” says Laurel Peterson Gregory. It’s true, though she might not have called herself that for a while. She was a mechanic, a master electrician and a building official before becoming a sculptor. For Laurel, one art lead to another.

 Laurel attended Humboldt State University in Northern California for Industrial Arts and worked for years in that field before taking an interest in art in 1993. She started studying classical figurative sculpture and experimenting with different mediums and styles, and by 1994 was showing her work professionally.

The sculptor’s first works were varied in medium and subject matter. She experimented with figurative bronze reliefs, raku-fired ceramic wall fountains, mixed media works in ceramic and copper, and abstract ceramic-and-steel sculptures. The common thread was their impeccable quality, a result of the skills she’d gained from her past jobs.

“Poodle Twist”

Nowadays, the artist has turned most of her focus on a rather adorable subject: animals. From her home in the foothills of Colorado’s Front Range, she sculpts abstracted bronze creatures that dance on their hind legs. Bears bump, poodles twist and bulls engage in a “Wall Street Waltz”.

“I minimalize reality, stripping away non-essentials to reach the essence of whatever it is I’m sculpting,” Laurel says. “Although my form is now highly stylized, I still rely on the fundamentals.”

Laurel’s process is classical in its devotion to the idealized figure. She approaches each piece as an engineer would, creating hundreds of photographs and sketches of the animals before casting them into dynamic motion. These creatures might be performing impossible feats, but their bodies look elegant and their dances effortless.

It’s a task that could only be accomplished by an artist of all trades.

You can see more work by Laurel Peterson Gregory here, and learn more about her on our Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest pages.

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!

Waxlander Gallery is pleased to welcome back Fletcher and John back this Christmas. This will make for a wonderful holiday at Waxlander, and it is their very special gift to all of us. Please join us as we enjoy their performance of Christmas carols.

Fletcher and John are a regular sight here at Waxlander Gallery, as they often play at openings, and are a well known sight elsewhere along Canyon Road. Make sure to visit their website at  http://fletcherandjohn.com/ .

Each year on Christmas Eve, Canyon Road hosts one of the most beloved holiday traditions in Santa Fe, the Canyon Road Farolito Walk. It is a beautiful and festive scene filled with bonfires, friends, families, carolers, and many galleries serving hot beverages.

It is one of our favorite events of the year. We love getting to share in the holiday cheer with old and new friends alike, and taking the time to mingle and chat with everyone who stops by. It is also a great opportunity for us to show off all of our wonderful artists and their work.

We will be serving hot cocoa and hot cider along with finger foods. So if you happen to start at the bottom of Canyon Road, we’ll be in the perfect spot to help get you warmed back up as you make your way further up the road.

About 30,000 people are expected to come out for this year’s Walk. There is always a celebratory feel in the air as people come together to spend time with those they love. Besides skiing or snowboarding, there generally aren’t too many reasons to spend an appreciable amount of time outdoors in the heart of winter, other than the Farolito Walk. On that topic, bonfires are generously stationed up and down the road so there is no need to worry about being too cold.

Avo Thompson has been a staple at the Farolito Walk for many years, launching his flying farolitos. Keep an eye out for them!

There will be plenty of music in the air, too! Carolers will be regaling everyone with song. Also joining in the fun, The Flying Farolito Brothers horn quintet will be out and about this year. From the Brothers, “We go from bonfire to bonfire playing beautiful 5-part versions of favorite traditional carols. If you spot a group of 5 cold, but happy looking musicians surrounded by a hundred or so people singing along, that’s probably us, feel free to join!”

Something else to look forward to at this year’s Walk- the world’s tallest elf! Not wanting to be spoilers, we won’t say anymore on that. It’s simply something you just need to see!

Festivities begin at 5pm and continue into the evening. Motor vehicle traffic will be strictly limited after that time and no vehicles will be allowed in the area between East Alameda and Acequia Madre. City buses will be the only vehicles allowed on Paseo de Peralta from East Alameda to Old Santa Fe Trail. Additionally, all are asked to have their vehicles off Canyon Road before 5:00 so as to leave as much room for fun and merriment as possible.

If you have any questions or are looking for more, please feel free to call us here at the gallery at 505-984-2202. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday the 24th if you are going to be in town. And from all of us here at Waxlander Gallery & Sculpture Garden, have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Another beautiful day in Santa Fe.  The snow is wonderful!

Snow in front of Waxlander Gallery!