I Love Santa Fe, NM! (Part 1 of 3)

I can't stop myself. I have to share my love of Santa Fe with you!

If you're an art lover, but haven't yet traveled to Santa Fe, put it at the top of your travel list right now. You will be amazed by the foods, arts, and culture you'll find there.

And I'm not just talking about the visual arts. Yes, Santa Fe is full of galleries. Yes, you can buy a Georgia O'Keeffe print at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Yes, you will find Southwest art in the Southwest (of course), including "cowboys and indians" art. But if your assumptions about Santa Fe are limited to these stereotypes, you're missing the arts and culture experience of a lifetime.

Santa Fe is famous for much more than painters and paintings. It's also famous for weaving, black pottery, and opera. Yes, opera! The open-air Santa Fe Opera Campus is located in the valley between the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains--some of the most beautiful, colorful, and always changing mountains I have ever seen (and I've seen the Alps in Switzerland and Mt. McKinley in Alaska).

The performing arts in Santa Fe are amazingly diverse--from plays, concerts, and ballet to comedians, jam sessions, and poetry slams. If sports are your thing, try women's roller derby (no kidding!). The rivalry between the women of the Sante Fe Disco Brawlers and the Albequerque Dukes is growing as fast as their fan base.

If you're a movie buff and visiting Santa Fe, sometimes you can be an "extra" in a Hollywood movie or Indie film. Because of its long days, excellent light, and proximity to California, New Mexico in general and Santa Fe in particular are often chosen for on-location movie shoots. Alex Baldwin recently shot a movie there, which features the famous Loretto Church and its mysterious, winding staircase that was built in the late 1880s by just one man with only rustic hand tools and no nails. Even today's engineers and architects do not agree how the famous staircase remains upright and strong with no apparent vertical support.

Part 2 (coming soon!) of my tribute to Santa Fe, New Mexico, will focus on my two favorite things about this beautiful town. You might be surprised!

Forever in Love with Santa Fe,
JoAnn

Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing
Spooner, WI
715-635-4548









Above: A bank in Santa Fe, built adobe style. The city prefers all buildings to be built this way to preserve the historical architecture of the region.


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The Framed Signature Mat - Not Just for Weddings

Hello, everyone! Today's post is about a new product I'm selling called the Engravable Signature Mat (see photos).

It's designed especially for brides and grooms, and it's called "The New Guestbook." It's a beautiful way to capture your wedding guests' signatures forever. You'll be able to enjoy your framed and signed wedding photograph in a way that you'll actually get to see and enjoy for years to come.

If someone you know is getting married this year, the Framed Engravable Signature Mat makes a very thoughtful gift.

What makes this Engravable Signature Mat so special is that it's made from a highly-polished metal alloy, not cardboard. The signatures will never smudge or fade, ever.

As a picture framer, I've framed many cardboard mats (you've seen them--white mats signed with black or red magic marker), and they often arrive in my frame shop in pretty bad shape. Not only do they sometimes smell like cigarette smoke, they are usually smudged or worse--they are water (beer?) stained. And within a couple of years, the signatures are usually quite faded.

The Engravable Signature Mat eliminates all those problems while giving the guest(s) of honor a very beautiful remembrance of their very special day.

But let's think beyond weddings--the Engravable Signature Mat is also a thoughtful way to capture the moment of a birthday, graduation, bat/bar mitzvah, retirement, baby shower, and more. Just pop in a photograph of the guest of honor, and everyone will know what to do.

The Engravable Signature Mat arrives at your door as a complete kit--framed and ready to display on an easel or table. It includes a free polishing cloth to wipe away finger prints, a free diamond-tipped scribe for your guests to sign their names (works much like a regular pen, just push a little harder), a free instruction card, and hanging hardware so you can hang your finished piece either horizontally or vertically. Voila!

Prices start at $195 for the 20 x 24 Framed Engravable Signature Mat and go down from there. If you've ever had custom framing done, you know what a good value this is.

To learn more or to place an order, please visit my Web site at http://www.blackirisframing.com/ where you can download an order form. You may also call me at 715-635-4548. I can take your credit card info right over the phone.

See (and sign!) the Engravable Signature Mat in person at Black Iris Gallery on Hwy 63 in Spooner, WI. I'll also be at the Rice Lake Bridal Show on Sunday, February 7, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Hope to see you there!

Happy Party Planning, everyone.

Sincerely,
JoAnn

"Superior Quetico Wilderness," original by Paul Oman

Greetings, Art Lovers!

Shown at left is a watercolor original called The Superior-Quetico Wilderness (65” x 45”).

Depicting one of our region’s finest natural treasures—the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of the United States and the Quetico Provincial Park of Canada—this large piece was painted by local artist and Lutheran pastor Paul Oman of Birchwood, WI. It now hangs at Black Iris Gallery in Spooner, WI.

The Superior-Quetico Wilderness comes matted and framed by the artist in dark oak. Until now, it was priced at $3,500 (framed; $2,450 unframed).

From now through the end of December 2009, you can take advantage of Paul’s 25% OFF Special. This means you can own this original watercolor for just $2,625 framed ($1,837.50 unframed).

Please let me know if you have questions or if you would like to schedule a private viewing of this rare, original artwork. It will make a beautiful addition to any home, cottage, cabin, or office.

Our Holiday Hours are Mon - Sat, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We also take appointments for any other time--just gives us a call at 715-635-4548. See you soon at Black Iris Gallery on Hwy 63 in Spooner, WI. Free parking on Oak Street.

Happy Holidays to You!

Sincerely,
JoAnn

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Art, Framing, and the Holidays - Black Iris is Here for You

Hello, everyone! I have lots of news to share!

Last time we talked I was gearing up for my 4th Annual Black Iris Fine Art Show. I have to say...it went fantastic this year! My best year ever, in fact.

In the left margin are some pictures from the day, and as you can see, both the artists and the customers are very happy. I heard nothing but positive feedback this year.

Above: watercolor artist Vicky Zalatoris scopes out other art booths on a much-needed coffee break; learn more about Vicky at http://www.phluffwerks.com/aboutvicky.asp

Next year's Black Iris Fine Arts Show will be held during Jack O' Lantern Fest again, on October 16, 2010. Please mark your datebook now.

Have you heard the latest framing news at Black Iris Gallery? Perhaps you have seen our cute ad in the Spooner Advocate.

My framer Bill LaPorte and I are running a framing special!

All you have to do is bring in a photograph or artwork to be re-framed, or just bring in an emtpy frame you've had laying around for too long. You will earn TWENTY DOLLARS ($20) toward a NEW frame!

It's called "Funds for Frames" (like Cash for Clunkers), but it's a lot more fun. (THE BEST PART: all old frames will be donated to local art students.)

Above: local fiber expert Alene Peterson demonstrates the art of weaving on her loom.

You will be amazed, I promise, by what a new frame can do for your photos or artwork. And you have to admit, those shiny metal frames are so 1980's. Now is a great time to update a room (without spending a fortune on carpet and furniture).

Holiday Hours at Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing are Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We also take appointments any time.

Please call Black Iris at 715-635-4548 if you need anything related to art, matting, glass, framing, and gifts.

Above: customers making jewelry at a make-n-take station.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Sincerely,
JoAnn

P.S. Only 26 days until Christmas! ;-)

Collectors, admirers laud local photo show

Fine art photographer Bill Voight's dual art shows--Tiger Cruise: USS Nimitz, which chronicles his week-long stay aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier, and Just Between Us: Stories of Form & Figure, which debuts a decade of Bill's work studying and photographing the female form (yes, nudes)--will hang now through August 3 at Black Iris Gallery in Spooner, WI.

The Nimitz show hangs along the ramp in the lower level of the Black Iris building, while the Form & Figure show hangs separately in Suite # 1, just off the upper vesituble on the street level.

Bill's artist reception was this past Saturday, and as you can see from the photo at left, Bill looks very happy! Attendance was strong and sales were good. Bill's softcover Nimitz book nearly sold out (we have 1 left), and he had to replenish his selection of fine art greeting cards before the show even opened because they were selling so well!

We have only 6 hardcover, coffee-table quality Nimitz books left. At $74.95 each, they make an excellent, thoughtful gift for the photographer, Navy sailor, or aviator in your life.

Members of the Northern Lights Camera Club (NLCC) attended the show in full force. Bill happens to be one of only two photographers in the club who shoots film, not digital, photography, and he is the only photographer in the area who develops his prints in his own darkroom.

If you missed Bill's reception with our spicy bruschetta, mouth- cooling cucumber bites, and plenty of fine wine to go with the fine art, that's okay! You can still see Bill's beautiful, elegant photographs at Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing on Hwy 63 in Spooner. Free parking on Oak Street.

Our summer hours are Mon - Sat, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Appointments are welcome on Sundays.

While art is our passion, framing is also our passion and our main business. Please remember Black Iris Gallery for your framing and matting needs. We offer Framing for a Lifetime.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, JoAnn
Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing
JoAnn@BlackIrisFraming.com

Carole's Watercolor Class a Success!

Hello, Art Lovers!

As I type this, Carole A. Burval (shown left, green shirt) is teaching a watercolor class in the hallway just outside my gallery door. Students have come from as far away as Hudson to take Carole's class, and I've heard nothing but positive feedback!

Carole's teaching style is patience mixed with humor and a lot of technique. She shares tips and advice from her many years as a professional painter and teacher, so you don't have to learn the hard way. Carole also asks about your goals for your work, and then she helps you get there. Carole is a sparkling diamond in Spooner's local art scene--we're so lucky to have her here.

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As you may already know, Carole's specialty is transparent watercolor painting. While I don't know everything there is to know about this challenging technique, I do know that what Carole does with thin layers of watercolor paint is absolutely amazing. She can use just one tube of paint (that's just one color--see above left for an example) to create an entire scene with all its moods, textures, shadows, details, and emotions. By changing the value and tone of the pigment (by using more or less water), Carole's works come alive.

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Please come visit us TONIGHT, 6 - 8 PM, for Carole's Artist Reception here at Black Iris Gallery (Hwy 63, Spooner, WI). We'll have food, wine, and fabulous fine art, plus you'll get to meet Carole and her very handsome husband.

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If you've always wanted to learn watercolor painting in a workshop setting rather than from "how-to" books, Carole Burval's classes are an excellent choice. To take a class from Carole, please contact her at her Web site or call 847-840-7731 (that's her cell #, which is the best way to reach her). She can let you know her upcoming schedule.

And now I have a question for you, Dear Readers! Are there other workshops you'd like to take? Are you interested in oil painting, black and white photography, or weaving? What about glass work, metalwork, or wood carving? Do you want to learn how to capture people's faces in charicature drawings? I have several artists who are interested in teaching classes, but most don't have room for group sessions in their home studios.

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To help them and you, I am coordinating an art class schedule for the remainder of 2009...so let us know what medium you're interested in. Please respond by posting a comment, below.

Thanks!

Artfully,

JoAnn

Left: Layer, shadow, & Light Lesson