Art 101Learn about different types of artwork.At the bottom of each article is a list of galleries and studios offering that kind of art. |
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Art on the Wall: Two Dimensional  |
Freestanding Art: Three Dimensional
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| Contemporary Craft Mediums: 3-D |
Native American / Hispanic / Other Cultures |
| Collectors' Special Interests |
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Art on the Wall: Two DimensionalWhen unschooled people say “artist,” they frequently mean “painter.” This is because painting and other two dimensional works of art have long been the most significant mirror of the cultural mindset. All art is simply a visual language that transcends literacy and speaks directly to the heart's eye. Two dimensional work is the most easily produced, immediate and pervasive of all artforms.
Freestanding Art: Three DimensionalSculpture is an interactive medium, always concealing some of its facets while revealing others. It requires the viewer to move around it in order to see it fully. A good piece of sculpture, whatever its style or size, works well from any viewing angle. It reveals its ideas by means of mass, form and proportion. Wherever it is set, it inhabits and defines the surrounding space. Contemporary Craft Mediums: Three DimensionalEver since the debut of snobbery (which occurred right after the invention of the wheel), certain fine art mediums have been accorded more respect than others. The Renaissance exalted oil paintings and marble sculptures over watercolors and bronzes, and relegated most other materials to the realm of noncreative production of utilitarian objects. Today, most such distinctions have become irrelevant. While it is true that honest crafts such as production tableware are still made of clay and glass, there are also important sculptures being created from the same materials. Even some perfectly functional chairs or vests may be elevated by their content to the designation of fine art. Native American / Hispanic / Other Specific CulturesNew Mexico has a long, distinguished history as a center for multicultural arts. The Pueblo Indian communities, who still inhabit their ancestral lands rather than reservations, are renowned for their fine traditional weavings and ceramics. With the arrival of the Spaniards (themselves an important factor in the art of the region) in the late 16th century, and the later appearance of Anglo traders, the Indians began to adopt European mediums such as painting and silversmithing. They also incorporated some designs and techniques brought in by the early settlers. Today, many contemporary artists still produce these classic styles. They coexist with the work of some of their colleagues who have evolved in dazzling new directions. The art of other ethnic cultures, both current and historic, has also established a strong presence in the New Mexico gallery market. These galleries provide comprehensive information to interested people.
Collectors’ Special InterestsIn the wide world of collecting, nothing is more captivating than the uncommon focus. Certainly the benchmark of true connoisseurs is their devotion to the high road less travelled. Whether the emphasis is upon rarity, historic interest, a certain subject or sheer ambiance, these collections are as unique as the individuals who acquire them. Anything under the sun can become a private passion, requiring only that the collector recognize and cherish the very best of the genre. |
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Visit the Calendar of Events Search Page for complete exhibit and performance information. LAST MODIFIED: September 21, 2010 |
