Now Showing...

Carol L Adamec: "Negoro" 2017, mixed media on rice paper, 6"x6"
SOLD

..."In a Japanese Garden" at Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, Missouri, thru December 15.

"Negoro-nuri" is a style of lacquerware developed in Japan during the 12th century. After several coats of black were applied to an object, dish, utensil, or furniture item, a single final coat of vermillion completed the process.

Lacquerware was ideally resistant to water, acid and heat. However, the charm of negoro-nuri was where areas worn from usage exposed the black lacquer beneath the vermillion patina._________________________________________________
Text and Image ©2017 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Now Showing...

Carol L. Adamec: "Kimono for Internment" 2017. Mixed media on panel, 20"x20"

..."In a Japanese Garden" at Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, Missouri, thru December 16.

In 1942, after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor during World War II, anti-Japanese hysteria arose in the American public. In response, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order #9066, creating internment camps which imprisoned over 120,000 persons of Japanese descent. 

At least 2/3 of those rounded up and removed from their homes and businesses were American citizens. They were often given only 48 hours notice to pack their suitcases and gather up their children and families to board trains and buses for transport.

During the entire war, only ten people were convicted of spying for Japan. They were all Caucasian.
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Text and image ©2017 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Now Showing....

... "In A Japanese Garden" at Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO, thru December 16.

The design on this kimono is an adaptation of Anasazi pottery patterns discovered at Chaco Canyon.

Chaco Canyon, located in the northwest region of New Mexico, is a large US National Historical Park, representing the most significant ancient Native American ruins in North America. The inhabitants of Chaco Canyon were the "Anasazi", the "Ancient Ones", the original ancestral Pueblo people of the Southwest.

Between AD 850 and 1250, Chaco Canyon was a major center of culture, religion, and trade for thousands of pueblo people. Because of its archaeological and anthropological significance, Chaco Canyon has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Unfortunately, the importance and preservation needs of the Chaco Canyon site have been ignored by the Trump Administration. Spearheaded by Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke, fracking, oil and gas drilling, and pipeline activities are being expanded in the area with no regard to the wishes of the Native peoples, environmental impact, or consideration to the American citizens' ownership of public lands.

These are OUR National Monuments being auctioned off, at an alarming rate, to companies such as Encana, WPX, Exxon, and others who will make BILLIONS of dollars from our public resources with no obligation to benefit the general public.

For more information about these issues, go to this site: http://www.sanjuancitizens.org

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Text and image ©2017, Carol L. Adamec

Now Showing....

Carol L. Adamec: "Kintsugi Kimono" 2016. Oil, mixed media on panel, 16"x16". 

..."In a Japanese Garden" at Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, Missouri, through December 16.

The pattern on this kimono was inspired by the crackled glazed surface found on Chinese and Japanese ceramic items.

The small areas of gold are "kintsugi", a 500 year-old method of mending broken or flawed pottery using gold. Rather than hiding such repairs, the gold-filled cracks and spaces celebrate the beauty of restoration over replacement.

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L. Adamec. All rights reserved.

Now Showing....

Carol L. Adamec: "Red Iris Landscape", 2017, original oil on panel, 12'x12"

..."In a Japanese Garden" at Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO, thru December 16.
 
As I painted this closeup of a red iris, the image became a landscape for me, with all the grandeur, sweep, and color of the Southwest. I'm still chasing beauty--through realism--after 50 years of painting practice, and still surprised by what can occur using oil, pigment, and a stick with hair on the end.
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Text and image ©2017 Carol L. Adamec

A Good Time in Joplin...

Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO.

I arrived in Joplin on October 10 to deliver my work for my show "In a Japanese Garden"...and they already had my name on the wall—a very nice welcome after a long drive from Albuquerque.

The Spiva opening was Friday evening, October 13. It's been 8 years since my last exhibit and visit to Joplin, so the opening was a big event and reunion for me. There was a great crowd for the Spiva Membership show in the Main Gallery and my exhibit in the Regional Gallery. I am so grateful to the many Joplin friends who came to my exhibit to say "Hello." My son, and my sister and mom sent me beautiful bouquets for the opening (Thank you, Erik, Karen and Mom), and "Congrats" arrived by text and email from friends and supporters.

There were 39 pieces in my exhibit, beautifully placed and installed by Spiva's Shaun Conroy and longtime Spiva member and supporter Cleo Copeland. Five works sold (Thank you, Jeff and Dace, Terry, Diana, and new collectors), and I received many complimentary comments on the exhibit.

On Saturday I gave a talk about my inspiration and process for creating the artwork for the exhibit. The attentive audience included several cousins, dear friends, and new friends.

I have so many to thank for their support for me and this exhibit, in particular: My cousin Judy and husband Alan, for their excellent care of my every want and need during my visit. The Spiva folks: Josie Mai, Shaun Conroy, Sarah Clements, Cleo Copeland. Jo "Da Boss" and Don, for lunch, conversation, and photos. Cousins Tracey, Steve and Marsha, for making the trip to Joplin to see me and sharing a fun lunch. My sister April and husband John for supportive texts, the lovely handmade kimono card, and generous gift. My cousin Marilyn in ABQ, for watching over my casita; and my dear friend Sondra at Marlowe Farms for taking care of Scrap.

Thank you ALL!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek #7....

Carol L Adamec: "Garden Varieties 2", 2017, mixed media on rice paper, 11"x14"

Here's another 11"x14" mixed media piece completed for may upcoming exhibit, "In a Japanese Garden", opening next Friday, October 13, at Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, MO. 

I'll have at least 35 artworks in this exhibit. I'm getting excited to actually see it all hung together to create the ambience of a Japanese Garden!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek #6...

Carol L Adamec: "The Road to Mt. Fuji", 2017, mixed media, 14"x11" (framed)

Mt. Fuji, located west of Tokyo on the island of Honshu, is an iconic element featured in many traditional Japanese prints and paintings, as well as contemporary advertising and promotion. Considered one of three sacred mountains in Japan, Mt. Fuji stands over 12,000 feet in height and is snow-capped 5 months out of the year.

Today's post is my version of Mt. Fuji, inspired by the woodcut prints of Hiroshige, Hokusai, and a vintage Japanese matchbook cover. And it was fun to do, too!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek #5...

Carol L. Adamec: "Double Gold Kimono" 2017, mixed media on rice paper, 14"x11"
SOLD

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Just two more weeks to work in the studio. Doing the framing at home. Then off to Joplin, Missouri,  for my exhibit, "In a Japanese Garden" opening Friday evening, October 13, at Spiva Center for the Arts.

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek #4...A Summer Garden Yukata

Original by Carol L Adamec: "Summer Garden Kimono" 2017. Mixed media on rice paper, 11"x14"
SOLD

Hot off the easel, another finished piece for my "In a Japanese Garden" exhibit coming up in October. This image combines the profuse color and varieties of a summer flower garden that becomes the pattern of a Japanese kimono called a "yukata."

A yukata is a casual style of kimono, worn by both men and women. Usually made with cotton fabric, it is worn during the hot summer months of Japan, and often features bright colors and bold designs.

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek #3...

Original by Carol L Adamec: "Cinnabar Garden", 2017. Mixed media on rice paper, 14"x11"
SOLD 

The artwork I'm creating for my exhibit "In a Japanese Garden" consists of elements that would be found in a Japanese garden. Rather than painting various scenes or specific views, I am creating images of flowers and flora to interpret the "nature" of a garden, with kimonos to represent the human presence in the garden.

Like the image in today's post—"Cinnabar Garden"—the artworks are intended to delight viewers with the color, line, and texture of Nature's organic forms. So rather than being presented depictions of garden elements, viewers will hopefully experience the ambience of a Japanese Garden, feeling as though they are in that environment, as they wander through the exhibit.

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek #2...

Original by Carol L Adamec: "Furisode Kimono", 2017. Mixed media on rice paper. 14"x11" (framed)

Here's a sneak peek of another artwork for my exhibit, "In a Japanese Garden", opening Friday, October 13, at George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, Missouri.

I just love the long sleeves on this kimono style! The furisode kimono is a woman's kimono, and the fanciest of the Japanese kimonos—worn for very special events, such as weddings, ceremonies, and formal occasions.

The word "furisode" means "swinging sleeves" which can vary in length from 15 inches to 3 feet. Traditionally, the furisode kimono was worn by young, unmarried women and was made with the finest fabrics, most lavish designs, and embellished with metallic threads.

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

My next BIG show...Sneak Peek #1

Original by Carol L Adamec: "Golden Garden Light", 2017. Mixed media, 11"x14" (framed size).

It's been a busy summer! I had a great time in Memphis, at the LRoss Gallery for the "Elvis Has Left the Building" show. There was a DJ spinning old Elvis songs, and a big crowd humming along with the music while viewing all the Elvis-themed artwork.

Also, I have been working on my next one-person show: "In a Japanese Garden", to be exhibited this fall at George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, Missouri, October 14 - December 8. 

As I am finishing up pieces for the show, I'll be posting them here on my blog. So here's the first sneak peek. Enjoy!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Celebrating "Elvis" in Memphis, TN

Carol L Adamec: "Starry Night for Elvis", 2017

If you live in Memphis, August belongs to Elvis Presley, marked by an official "Elvis Week", to be celebrated this year August 11-19.

LRoss Gallery is kicking off the celebration early this month with tonight's opening reception from 6-9pm with the exhibit "Elvis Has Left the Building" complete with great Elvis themed artwork, music, and a DJ!

I am pleased to be included in the exhibit (Memphis was my home from 1986-1994) and I'm in town for the opening.

If you're in the area, come by! It's gonna be quite a party!
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Image and text ©Carol L. Adamec, 2017. All rights reserved.

Back to Painting Flowers...

Carol L. Adamec: "A.M. Morning Glories", digital painting, printed on metal. 7" x 5"

I just dropped off this piece of artwork yesterday to the Weyrich Gallery here in Albuquerque, located at Candelaria and Louisiana NE. If you're out doing ArtsCrawl Friday night, drop by to see it. Thanks!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Happy Fourth of July!

"July Flag", original oil on panel painting by Carol L Adamec. 

"Oh, say can you see..."

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

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Route 66 Show...The Last Picture

Carol L Adamec: "Smoke Signals", oil on panel, 6"x8." Available for purchase.

Last Sunday was the final day of our exhibit,"Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66", at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery in Albuquerque. So this is my last image post from that exhibit.

Many thanks to those who visited the exhibit or saw the work on my Instagram account or my blog here. I appreciate your support and your comments. Thank you!
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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Carol Adamec: Starry Night for Elvis, 2017. Archival digital print, mixed media.

They don't call Route 66 "Main Street of America" for no good reason. The 2,448 mile road from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA, was the primary east-west route across the United States from 1926 to 1984. People from all walks of life traveled Route 66—even the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley!

Not a fan of flying, Elvis preferred to travel by car from Memphis to Las Vegas, NV, for his nightclub gigs during the late 1960’s. On several occasions, he and his entourage would choose the Trade Winds Inn in the Route 66 town of Clinton, OK for an overnight stay en route to and from Vegas.

Elvis liked the upstairs corner suite, Room 215, which featured a king size bed covered with a red faux satin coverlet, a black Naugahyde fainting couch, green pile carpeting, and a vanity. Fans stole the numbers off the motel door so often that the management quit replacing them.

The motel is still in business and maintains the “Elvis Suite” preserved as a time capsule. Maybe Elvis is there?

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Photographer Sondra Diepen, at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery, Albuquerque.

Last week, Sondra Diepen and I met up with friends at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery who wanted to see our exhibit Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66.

While we were there, I took this picture of Sondra standing by part of her photo installation of vintage hood ornaments. There are a total of 9 images, all printed on metal, ranging from a 1947 Packard to an International 1964 Travelall—a great collection of car memorabilia. ( See the 1941 Cadillac Flying Lady on my May 15 blogpost.)

The exhibit can still be seen through June 25, with viewing hours Wed thru Sat 11-8pm and Sun 11am-3pm. Access to the Gallery is via the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th.

Bring a couple of quarters for the parking meters on Central and come see the show. It’s free!
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Text ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.
Image ©2017 Sondra Diepen. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Lee Marmon: Acoma Mission in Snow, 1958, silver gelatin photograph.

Today’s post features one of my favorite photographs by Lee Marmon: Acoma Mission in Snow.

Acoma Pueblo is located atop a 365 foot mesa, about 60 miles west of Albuquerque, and has been inhabited by the Acoma People for over 800 years. The Spanish discovered this pueblo village in 1540 and began building the mission church, San Esteban del Rey, in 1629.

For Lee Marmon, Acoma was only 20 miles “down the road” from his home in Laguna Pueblo, and a place where he often took photographs of the people and their surroundings.

This photograph and six other classic black and white images by Lee Marmon are part of the exhibit Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66 exhibit at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery thru June 25. 

Viewing hours are Wed -- Sat 11-8pm, and Sun 11am-3pm. Access to the Gallery is via the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th.

Stop by to see the show. It’s free!
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Text ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Photograph ©Lee Marmon. Used with permission.

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Carol L. Adamec: Scenic View, Digital painting printed on metal, 14”x11”
SOLD

As a kid growing up in Chicago, my experience of Route 66 was from the backseat of the family car, en route to Joplin, Missouri, for annual summer visits to my maternal grandparents and relatives. That 600-mile day drive seemed endless, and most of the “scenic views” didn’t seem very scenic at all.

“Are we there yet?”

"Scenic View" can be seen in the Then and Now: Rediscovering Route 66 exhibit at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery Albuquerque thru June 25. Viewing hours are Wed–Sat 11-8pm and Sun 11am-3pm. Access to the Gallery is via the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th.

Stop by to see the show! It’s free!

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Sondra Diepen: Cadillac Flying Lady, 1941, Sixty-one Special

Digital print on metal

Another of Sondra Diepen's Route 66 interests is old cars--and the older, the better! In particular, Sondra zooms in to get the hood ornaments. Some of them are pure sculpture, like the Flying Lady she found on a 1941 Cadillac in Barstow, California.

Cadillac Flying Lady and 9 additional photographs of vintage hood ornaments by Sondra are on exhibit at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery in the Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66 show thru June 25. Viewing hours are Wed –Sat 11-8pm, and Sun 11am–3pm. Access to the Gallery is via the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th in Albuquerque.

Stop by to see the show. It’s free!

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Text ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Image ©2017 Sondra Diepen. Used with permission.

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

Sondra Diepen: Westward Ho! Motel, digital photograph printed on metal, 14x9"

Sondra Diepen’s interest in Route 66 includes signage, ranging from fading printed names on buildings to still-working motel and curio shop signs.

Today’s post features a digital photograph printed on metal by Sondra of the Westward Ho! Motel sign located on Old Route 66 in Albuquerque at 7500 Central Avenue. The motel was built in 1948. The neon elements outlining the saguaro cactus were restored in 2002 as part of the Route 66 Neon Restoration Project, a joint effort of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, and the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Office.

Westward Ho! Motel and 3 additional photographs of motel signs photographed by Sondra are exhibited in the Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66 exhibit at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery thru June 25. Viewing hours are Wed thru Sat 11-8pm and Sun 11am-3pm. Access to the Gallery is via the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th.

Stop by to see the show. It’s free!
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Text ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Image ©2017 Sondra Diepen. Used with permission.

Route 66 Exhibit continues....

Indian Ghosts, 2017, by Carol L Adamec
Digital painting, printed on metal, 12"x18"
Available for purchase. Contact Artist.

“Is this a real wigwam, Dad?”

“Well, actually it’s a tepee, Son.”

“Did the Indians really live here?”

“Well, back then they didn’t have beds, or bathrooms, or cable TV, or air conditioners. This is better, don’t you think, Son?”

The exhibit Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66 will be displayed at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery now thru June 25. Viewing hours are Wed— Sat 11-8pm and Sun 11am-3pm. Access to the Gallery is thru the KiMo Theatre Ticket Office, 423 Central Ave NW at the corner of 5th.

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Text and Image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Route 66 Exhibit continues...

The KiMo Theatre on the corner of Central Ave (Old Route 66) and 5th Street
in Albuquerque. Site of the exhibit, Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66.
Photo Credit: Sondra Diepen

WOW! What a wonderful opening reception my compadres and I enjoyed at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery last Thursday! Sondra Diepen and I were thrilled that Laguna Pueblo photographer Lee Marmon was able to be at the opening to talk to viewers about his classic black and white photographs in the exhibit. (See my post on April 22 about Lee Marmon.)

Among the many guests at the opening were several members of the Route 66 New Mexico Association, along with friends, artist-friends, supporters, and family members—including my friend Lisa visiting from Nashville, and my son and daughter who flew in from Memphis to surprise me!

And thank you, dear Collectors, for your art purchases, too!

And, of course, we are grateful to the City of Albuquerque for the use of The KiMo Theatre Art Gallery (inside the KiMo Theatre) for our exhibit. This lovely Art Deco-Pueblo Revival style building, pictured on today’s post, was built in 1927. The KiMo Theatre is our City's best known landmark on Central Avenue, Albuquerque's Old Route 66—the perfect site for our exhibit.

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Text ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Image of KiMo Theatre by Sondra Diepen used with permission.

Show Time!

Tonight's the Night!

Hope to see you at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery, 5-8pm.

Route 66 Exhibit: Sneak Peek #5

Sondra Diepen: Navajo Rugs and Curios, 2017, archival digital print, 27x40"

Today's "sneak peek" from the "Then & Now: Rediscovering Route 66" show is another photograph by Sondra Diepen. This was an abandoned curio shop, located in Thoreau, NM.

When Route 66 was first built in 1926, it wandered back and forth across the railroad tracks between Prewitt and Thoreau. In 1936-1937 the road was straightened out to parallel the tracks. Route 66 was moved to the south side, leaving Thoreau on the north side. Travelers were now no longer passing through town.

"When I discovered this building,"recalls Sondra, "it was located on 3rd Street in a sparsely housed area. Two years later I returned to find several large piles of plaster, wood and bricks on the lot. A double-wide is now occupying its place."

Reminder: The exhibit opening is tomorrow, 5-8pm at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery in Albuquerque.

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Text ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Navajo Rugs and Curios image by Sondra Diepen used with permission.

Route 66 Show: Sneak Peek #4

Original painting by Carol L. Adamec:
Escape from the Den of Death, 2016, oil on gessoed panel, 8"x12"

Well, we are getting closer to opening night (this Thursday) at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery! The artwork is up on the walls, and labels will be installed tomorrow. 

I've had a lot of fun doing this exhibit—and today's post of an old abandoned snake pit in Moriarty, New Mexico, discovered while just driving around, is an example. 

Of course, there wasn't just a snake pit out in the middle of nowhere. There had been an trading post on that site too, called The Hitching Post, that offered gas, refreshment, and curios to Route 66 travelers. 

While enjoying a cool beverage visitors could experience a roadside thrill—a concrete box covered with wire grating, filled with diamondback rattlesnakes, called "The Den of Death." At the bottom of the pit was a sign encouraging lookers to toss a few coins in and make a wish to come true...and adding a little more income to the trading post proprietor's operation.

Over the winter the snakes were allowed to freeze to death. In the spring, a new batch of rattlers was captured and put in the snake pit—except for the ones shown in this painting—the ones that got away.

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Route 66 Exhibit: Sneak Peek #3

Lee Marmon: White Man's Moccasins, 1954, Silver gelatin print.

Lee Marmon is the third artist in the group show, "Then and Now: Rediscovering Route 66." opening next Thursday (April 27) at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery in Albuquerque.

A member of the Laguna Pueblo, Lee has captured the people, culture, landscapes, and traditions of his tribe since 1945. His most famous pueblo portrait, White Man’s Moccasins, became the iconic portrayal of Native American acculturation into modern American life.

In addition to his portraits of pueblo residents, Lee was the official photographer for the Bob Hope Desert Classic for several years, yielding photos of past US Presidents and members of the famed “Rat Pack.” His stunning work hangs in the US White House and in museums around the world. He has received honors and awards ranging from winning the 2016 Western Heritage Award from the National cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to an award from the Hungarian government for photography “that transcends cultures.”

His life’s work, an archive of 100,000 negatives, is now protected and preserved by the University of New Mexico. Lee still lives in his Laguna family home on old Route 66—working in the darkroom that was once the women’s shower rooms of his family’s Route 66 motor court business.

The man in the photo White Man's Moccasins is Jeff Sousea. Lee recalls, "Jeff liked to hang out at the Acoma Mission and tell tall tales to tourists. I saw him there often when I delivered groceries and I always asked if I could take his picture. He always refused. Then one day I brought a cigar with me and said 'How about a cigar, Jeff?' and he told me, 'You've got 60 seconds,' and I took the photo. At first, I called it 'Old Man Jeff,' but one day I looked at it again and changed the name to White Man's Moccasins."

Seven of Lee Marmon's iconic black and white photographs are part of the exhibit, "Then and Now: Rediscovering Route 66" and are available for purchase.

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©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Image "White Man's Moccasins" and quotes by Lee Marmon used with permission.

Route 66 Show: Sneak Peek #2

Tucumcari Tepee, 2017, archival digital print by Sondra Diepen, 40"x27"

Sondra Diepen is one of the artists in the exhibit, "Then and Now: Rediscovering Route 66." opening next Thursday (April 27) at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery in Albuquerque.

With two Nikon cameras and a fist full of sketchy maps, photographer Sondra Diepen, heads out on I-40, exiting here and there, to rediscover the original Mother Road as it once wound through the desolate parts of New Mexico. Her color photographs capture it all—from fading curio shops, boarded up motor courts, rusted classic cars, to motel signs along Central Avenue that still beckon travelers to stop, rest, and see the sights.

Todays' sneak peak is a photograph by Sondra of a curio shop still in operation in Tucumcari, New Mexico, located 42 miles west of the Texas border. Here's what Sondra has to say about her photo:

"TePee Curios was built in 1944, owned by Leland Haynes. It began as a Gulf Station as well as a grocery and curio shop. In 1959 Route 66 was widened through town and the gas pumps had to be removed. The concrete tepee was added to the front, becoming the new entrance to the shop.

"The TePee Curios sign was put in place during the 1960’s. In 2003 the New Mexico Route 66 Neon Sign Restoration Project chose this sign, along with eight other vintage signs, to be restored and lit to recreate the lore of the Mother Road."

"Curios and souvenirs are still sold here. It’s a ‘must stop’ place for today’s Route 66 explorers, where they can buy remembrances of The Road’s past glory.

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©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Image "Tucumcari Tepee" and quotes by Sondra Diepen used with permission.

Route 66 Show: Sneak Peek #1

"Cool Daddy (Elvis Ate Here)", 2017, mixed media, 16x20"
by Carol L. Adamec
Contact Artist to purchase.

Back in the 1960's, the Porter House Cafe was a 24-hour diner in the Route 66 town of Weatherford, Oklahoma, where Elvis Presley and his retinue would stop to eat on their Memphis-to-Las Vegas trip.

The Porter House Cafe was a Valentine Diner—a manufactured portable steel sandwich shop with 8-12 stools and a limited menu, popular from 1930-1970.

Now a museum, the Porter House Cafe displays a spiral notebook “guest book”, where Elvis signed his name on April 22, 1960, and left the comment “Cool Daddy.”

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

The next BIG show...

Opening Reception: 

5-8pm • Thursday, April 27

at the

KiMo Theatre Art Gallery

417 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque 87102

Free and open to the public.

I'm very excited to announce this Route 66 exhibit, featuring the classic black and white photographs of internationally recognized Laguna Pueblo photographer Lee Marmon, color photography by New Mexico photographer Sondra Diepen, and traditional and digital paintings by me.

It is a special honor to have the exhibit at the KiMo Theatre Art Gallery, the best known historic building in Albuquerque, opened in 1927 and located on Old Route 66 (Central Avenue).

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting images that are in the exhibit. So watch this blog, and mark your calendar to come to the opening reception on April 27.

See you there!

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Text and "Cool Daddy" image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved. 

Images by Lee Marmon and Sondra Diepen under separate copyright. 
Use with permission.

A Peaceful Place...

Elena Gallegos, oil on panel, 5x7”, $145

On exhibit thru June 2, at Sacred Arts Gallery

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Albuquerque

The Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque are special to me—a quiet peaceful place to rest, rejuvenate my spirit, recharge my inspiration, and to paint. So today’s post—in honor of Easter and Spring—is a painting of Elena Gallegos, one of my favorite places in the Sandias.

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Busy Time for Exhibits (Part 3)

Quiet Place #2, oil on panel, 6x8”, $195

at Sacred Arts Gallery

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Albuquerque

Last month, the Monday Painters Plein Air group opened a show at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. I have three artworks in that exhibit—one of the Sandia Mountains that I painted en plein air is featured on today’s post.

The Church is located at 431 Richmond Place NE, Albuquerque, 87106. The exhibit, which continues through June 2, can be viewed during Church office hours: Mon—Th, 9am-2pm. 

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Busy Time for Exhibits (Part 2)

Rising Moon Kimono, mixed media on rice paper, 12x16”

Original painting by Carol L. Adamec

on exhibit in "Merge IV", at Expo NM, Albuquerque

thru April 30, 2017

Last Friday was the opening reception of "Merge IV", the annual members exhibit organized by The Society of Layerists in Multi-Media. (I know, that’s a mouthful, so we members call refer to it as SLMM (“Slim”).

SLMM is an international art organization started by Mary Carroll Nelson, an artist, teacher, and author of several books about art, artists, and spirituality. I “met” Mary Carroll Nelson through her 1994 publication, Artists of the Spirit; and after moving to New Mexico I was honored to be in a 3-person exhibit, “Affirming Wholeness”, with her at the Weyrich Gallery in Albuquerque in 2000. Mary invited me to become a member of SLMM and I did so in 2001. (You can learn more about this organization at www.slmm.org)

The current "Merge IV" exhibit celebrates the 35th year of SLMM and features 122 artworks by 60 artists from all over the US. So I was pleased to have two paintings accepted into this show, including the new kimono painting I just finished a few months ago, featured on today's post.

The exhibit—free and open to the public—is on display at the African American Performing Arts Center (AAPAC) at Expo NM (The Fairgrounds) thru April 30. AAPAC is open Tuesday thru Friday 10-5pm, and Saturday 10-4pm. I hope you drop by to see the show!

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Busy Time for Exhibits

Bugs and Roses, Oil on panel, 12x16”

Original painting by Carol L. Adamec

SOLD

A lot has been going on since I posted a month ago. The Harwood Open Studio Night / Encompass event on March 4 was a lot of fun, as usual, with many friends stopping by my studio and new lookers passing through.

I sold some paintings that evening, including Bugs & Roses, featured on today’s post. The new owners wrote me a sweet note saying, “We love it, love it, love it! Bugs makes me smile every time I walk into Fred’s office.”

Now that’s what I consider a “successful” painting!

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

You're Invited...

Free and open to the public!

Last 3 Days of "Biologique"

Cinnabar, mixed media on rice paper, 14x11."
SOLD

This is the third artwork of mine included in the current exhibit, "Biologique", which I am pleased to report sold during the exhibit.

I have create several versions of this image, with different colorings and materials. For me the design has an Asian feel to it, and with this coloration reminded me of Chinese cinnabar--hence the title.

The "Biologique" exhibit runs thru this Saturday at the New Mexico Art League, 3409 Juan Tabo NE in Albuquerque. Viewing hours are Tuesday thru Saturday, 10am-4pm.

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Last Week to See "Biologique"

Rising Moon, original mixed media, 10x8".
SOLD

This is another artwork of mine included in the current exhibit, "Biologique" at the The New Mexico Art League, located at 3409 Juan Tabo NE (just behind the Albuquerque Public Library on the west side of the street). Open Tuesday thru Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Everyone seems to love those blues! (And many thanks to the gallery visitor who purchased this piece!)

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Text and image ©2017 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.

Last Week to see "Biologique"!

Royal Garden, mixed media, 18" x 14" framed, $595.

I was very pleased to have all three of my entries accepted into this exhibit at the New Mexico Art League, located at 3409 Juan Tabo NE (just behind the Albuquerque Public Library on the west side of the street).

I was out of town for the opening, so I went to see the show last week. The theme of "Biologique" is Nature and natural forms, and there was quite a variety of interpretations in the exhibit, done in every medium imaginable, all very high quality.

Shown above is one of my art works in "Biologique." This piece is from my "In a Japanese Garden" series, and is named Royal Garden for the purple color, which was a hue only worn by royalty or those of high rank in Japanese traditional culture.

The show ends this Saturday, February 25. The NM Art League is open Tuesday thru Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Happy Love Day to You!

Hearts & Flowers (Dotted Swiss), mixed media on rice paper
Available for purchase on ETSY.

"Love is a canvas furnished by Nature

and embroidered by imagination."

—Voltaire