Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. The colors last week on the Rio Chama and Abiquiu were stunning. This is a short post this week with an image of the fall colors in Abiquiu and a flashback of two tipis this week in the San Cristobal Valley in 2012.
Thank you to all who came out to see my exhibit, it has been an exciting and successful show. A very big thank you to those who purchased a work of art! Thank you!
Stay tuned for more info on my next group show in Taos.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. We went to Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch, and the Rio Chama this week. We had the most changeable weather I’ve ever experienced in one eight-hour day.
If you’ve watched the movie “Silverado“ you’ll recognize this location in one of the earlier scenes. The four main characters come galloping across this landscape with a backdrop of spectacular lighting. If you haven’t seen the movie join me on a photo tour/workshop and I’ll take you out this way. On this day we were on an outing with friends Ron and Monica. It snowed, rained, and hailed with intermittent blue skies and sunshine, making for some dramatic images.
Ghost Ranch, NM landscape.
The landscape and light at Ghost Ranch, NM.
Returning home from Ghost Ranch we pulled over for a second time during the day. We watched it snow over the hills and Rio Chama as it winds and decides its way through to Abiquiu. The colors were astounding and the moisture made the air come alive.
The Rio Chama overlook with colorful cottonwoods.
My solo exhibition at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos continues through October 31, 2022. The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on Saturday, October 29, or by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you. If you purchased a piece of work in the show, thank you so much and please come by on Sunday, October 30, or Monday, October 31 to pick it up your new acquisition.
Bareiss Gallery is located at: 15 State Rd 150 Taos, NM 575-776-2284
Greetings from the beautiful San Cristobal Valley, Arroyo Hondo and Taos. The valleys are currently adorned with the colors of cottonwoods, and multiple hues of reds and golds.
Last weekend, we had rain that made the colors pop against the dark rain-laden clouds over Pueblo Peak, (Taos Mountain).
Last weekend, we had lots of rain that made the colors pop against the dark, rain-laden clouds over Pueblo Peak (Taos Mountain). This first image is from El Prado (the meadows), one of my favorite views of Pueblo Peak with a dramatic sky overhead. The cottonwoods here are more silver of bare branches interspersed with swatches of yellow and gold.
After a trip to the grocery store, this was the scene that caused me to pull over. The sky and the shadows moving swiftly across the meadows brought the place to life following a day of grey, overcast skies.
Pueblo Peak, (Taos Mountain) with cottonwoods in the late afternoon light.
The second image is of my favorite cottonwood in Arroyo Hondo. I was on a photo tour with Bob and Anne. We captured this view as the sun broke from behind a cloud. Within a few minutes, it was shrouded in shadow again. It made a fitting end to a great day with my guests.
Arroyo Hondo cottonwood is spotlighted by evening sunlight.
It’s fall and temperatures are dropping as New Mexico takes a magic carpet ride into the throes of winter. The aspens and cottonwoods shroud the landscape in a cape of gold, glowing against the blue skies in the pristine light. At this time of year, the night skies are crystal clear. The moon, constellations, galaxies, and milky way light up the night sky like few other places on earth. Join me on a photo tour or private workshop of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
Continuing Exhibit.
“Those who came before” at Bareiss Gallery Taos – 40″x38″ Sold
My solo exhibition at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos continues through October 31, 2022. The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on Saturday, October 22, and Saturday, October 29, or by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you. G
Bareiss Gallery is located at: 15 State Rd 150 Taos, NM 575-776-2284
Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. Autumn colors and clouds reflecting in Hopewell Lake and two images from my solo exhibit at Bareiss Gallery. My show is up until October 31, 2022. So far, visitors, sales, and many new collectors have made the show very successful. Thank you to all who came out, I am honored and grateful.
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Autumn at Hopewell Lake, NM
The cottonwoods were peaking when we took a short walk along the lake shore. I’m on a photo tour/workshop this week and we’ve seen some color changes on a grand scale. Hopewell Lake on Highway 64 is a go-to location, and if I go nowhere else in the fall I’ll be happy.
Cottonwood colors Hopewell Lake, northern NM
Two images from my show titled “The Eloquence of Silence, #1 and #2” I would welcome the opportunity to share my exhibit and new work with you. I’ll be in the gallery Saturday from 11 am -5 pm. I look forward to meeting you.
Eloquence of Silence #1
Eloquence of Silence #2
Silence has an eloquence surpassing that of speech; creating a space in which the heart’s thoughts can resound, and deeply-felt emotion can echo with a voice profound in another’s heart, that listens in the silence. (Howard Owen Smith – My Dad).
These two images work very well together as a pair.
My solo exhibition at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos continues through October 31, 2022. The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on Saturdays and by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you. G
Bareiss Gallery is located at: 15 State Rd 150 Taos, NM 575-776-2284
Friday is the day for the opening of my solo exhibit, “Have a Seat”. You’ll see what it’s all about if you are able to attend the opening or visit the exhibition during the month of October in Taos.
Below is one of the prints in the show. My photography is combined with my sculpture to create a show where the chair is the conversation.
“One in the Aspens”
Artist Statement
“Have A Seat” – Bareiss Gallery
What you see before you is the confluence of my life experiences where I have explored relationships, the search, and the desire for connection. Photography, carpentry, design, writing, and sculpting have led me to this place. This work is the exuberant expression of a eureka moment, and there have been many such moments with their outward manifestation of inner joy, conflict, passion, and peace.
Life is a conversation. Chairs often facilitate that conversation. A chair is where people sit, gather around a table to discuss and resolve conflicts, share a meal, and debate views and values. We sit in chairs to be entertained. We stand on chairs to reach things when a ladder would be much safer. A chair represents a place to rest and experience a relaxing moment; to read a book, enjoy the view, catch one’s breath, or just do nothing and stare. A chair is where old friends reminisce, discuss life, and hold conversations.
In these new pieces, the chairs become the conversation. The chair is a constant, emotion-evoking icon.
Geraint Smith San Cristobal, NM
October 7, 2022
If you are fortunate enough to be in Taos during October, join me at the Bareiss Gallery. Details above. I look forward to seeing you.
Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. Last weekend, we had a fabulous, showing of work at the Stables Gallery in Taos. I want to thank everyone who came out and for your support in comments, compliments, and purchases. Many new works found homes. Thank you!
It’s Milky Way season! My friend, photographer, and filmmaker John Williams visited us from Boulder during the weekend. We took the opportunity to make a drive out to the Lobatos Bridge that crosses the Rio Grande in southern Colorado to capture the milky way. It was very dark on the edge of the cliffs, but we managed to pull off a decent image when an old truck crossed over, filling the area with light and fumes. One more vehicle drove over a little later, and that was it, just us, the river, the bridge, and the stars in a pristine, clear sky.
The Milky Way is seen at the Lobatos Bridge, Colorado.
The bridge with the ghostly figure of John in the middle.
Lobatos Bridge, Colorado.
Fast approaching is my solo exhibit at Bareiss Gallery here in Taos. I look forward to seeing those who can make it. The opening reception will be on October 7, from 3 – 6 pm (maybe it will last longer). The gallery will be open 9 – 2 pm on weekdays. I’ll be there on the weekends and by appointment. Come and visit. It will be great to meet you.
Bareiss Gallery Exhibit.
As always thanks for looking. Have a great week. G
A flashback photo you may remember from a rainy day in the high country of northern New Mexico.
Colors of Autumn in the high country, NM
Taos Artist Combo II Exhibit/Sale 11 Taos Artists/ 3 Days Stables Gallery/Taos: Sept. 23-25, 11-5 pm Photography, pastels, prints, and paintings, direct from the artists
*Frederick Aragon *Bill Davis *Audrey Davis *Gene Gray *Sara Jean Gray *Celesa Lucien *Rob Nightingale *Margery Readin *George Schaub *Geraint Smith *Doug Yeager
Opening Reception: Friday, September 23, 4-7 pm The Stables Gallery is located at: 133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte Taos, NM 87571
If you are fortunate to be in Taos during the above dates, I hope you will stop by the Stables Gallery to see all the work and say hello! I’ll look forward to seeing and meeting you.
Greetings from San Cristobal and beyond. This week features a few images that highlight what we saw during a three-day photography workshop, this time with Scott a talented photographer from Houston. His enthusiasm inspired me. I think I inspired him.
Our last day was spent in the mountains. If you follow me or have taken a photography workshop with me you might recall this place, Comanche Point in the Valle Vidal, (Valley of Life). It’s looking a lot like fall up there. It won’t be long till the aspens turn color. In fact, it’s already begun.
Comanche Point, Valle Vidal, NM
We spent a couple of hours at our first stop in Ojo Caliente, working at this location and looking for an interesting composition. This is what I came up with on this trip. I look forward to seeing Scott’s interpretation. Here’s one from a visit last year.
Church of Santa Cruz, Ojo Caliente, NM
The Rio Grande Gorge is home to many bighorn sheep. Every now and again a ram will pop up when you least expect it, and strike up a pose where you would want it. In this case up high against a blue New Mexico sky.
Bighorn sheep ram, in The Orilla Verde RA, Rio Grande Gorge, NM
Close up of bighorn sheep ram, in The Orilla Verde RA, Rio Grande Gorge, NM
Restoration, repairing, and mudding are underway at the San José de Las Trampas church on the high road to Taos. The doorway arch has been replicated to an early look. The big doors were closed for weather sealing which allowed me to shoot a new angle. Usually, the doors are staked open which often provides a nice framing element.
At first glance, the scaffolding looked interesting and I had an idea to make a documentary image. Then the sun came out from behind a cloud and added shadows to the scene. Fortuitous.
Restoration mudding at San José de las Trampas, NM
The partially closed doors created a different look at one of the belfries.
Through the big doors at the Las Trampas Church.
Closing this week’s post is the harvest moon, shot from the deck as it rose over our mountains.
Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. It’s time to announce the winners of the New Mexico Treasures calendar. Drumroll, please!
There were 116 entries.
Congratulations to the winners of the drawing for the New Mexico Treasures 2023 Calendar, Bob Freudenheim, Mary Alston, Linda Flanagan, and Joe Riter. I will be in touch this weekend to get your mailing addresses or send me a message here on my website with your mailing address through my contact form.
Thank you to everyone who participated. It was fun for me to read all the comments and although there were too many to answer, I read every one!
This coming week I’ll be on photo tours on the High Road to Taos, the Rio Grande Gorge, Abiquiu, the San Luis Valley, and Salida, Colorado.
I’ll have some new images to post next week from the above locations. In the meantime, I’ll be preparing for my two upcoming exhibits.
I’m honored to join the other fine artists in “The Taos Artist Combo II Exhibit and Sale” join us and bring all your friends and family for this special Taos art celebration and gathering at the Stables Gallery at the TCA in Taos from Sept 23-25. A special meet the artist’s reception takes place at the Grand Opening Friday, Sept 23 from 4-7 PM. Artists include Frederick Aragon, Bill Davis, Audrey Davis, Gene Gray, Sara Jean Gray, Celesa Lucien, Rob Nightingale, Margery Reading, George Schaub, Geraint Smith, and Doug Yeager. The gallery is open Friday to Sunday from 11 AM – 5 PM
The Stables Gallery is located at: 133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte Taos, NM 87571
And…
… coming up in October! Mark your calendars.
On October 7-31, 2022, I will have a solo exhibition of my Sculpture and Photography, all new work, at the Bareiss Gallery here in Taos
If you get a chance to visit either show or both shows it will be great to see/meet you.
Preparing for the exhibit at Bareiss Gallery, Taos.
As always, thank you for looking, your support and friendship, purchases, comments, and compliments. Geraint.
Every motel had a cafe, making it a one-stop for travelers. Some of the motels have an enclosed garage with each room. Popular on a lot of cross country routes. Which motel to choose? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner ‘in our cafe’ no less, as opposed to in your room.
The Colt Motel.
Dog and pony show at the Colt Motel.
Schwede’s Saloon, Raton, NM It says on the board “B E SAFE”, followed by “GODB LESS” and a phone number.
The Servomation van has been parked for several years in a downtown alleyway. I enjoyed the bricked-in patterns in the wall.
Then around a corner on a side street, five pots and two downspouts with a solitary cloud.
Architecture details on walls and sidewalks.
American flag and a bicycle through the blistered reflective window covering.
“Smile”. I didn’t see any cameras around the back of this building but it did make me smile!
Spirit figures in the plywood paneling on the boarded up Texan Motel. With all the stories these empty buildings can tell, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than just these impressions floatining around beyond the panels.
With all the boarded up buildings whoever has the plywood concession in this town must be doing well for themselves.
The town maintains a mighty dignity through it’s years of economic drought, and as the sign in the window says…
After a fun day walking around different areas in town it was time to make the drive home.
We had to make a stop in Cold Beer, NM on US 64, formerly known as the Colfax Tavern …
… for a cold beer and some portrait making in the natural window light.
Good friend and all round good bloke, R. David Marks.
I hope you enjoyed a trip around the block. As always, thank you for looking. G
