At the end of 2022, I had the pleasure of being contacted and interviewed by Shoutout Colorado. The article was published December 20th, but I've just now gotten the opportunity to post about it here on my blog. According to their website, "Our mission is to help change the way people spend money. We want people to spend more of their money with mom-and-pops, small businesses, independent artists and creatives. We think one of the most powerful ways to do that is by putting small business owners and creatives at the center of discussions designed to spark conversation within the community." I am grateful for the opportunity, and am happy to play a small part in their purpose! Click the image/link above to view.
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of contributing to a public painting project called Paint For Peace in downtown Albuquerque. Spearheaded by the fine folks at OT Circus, the project aims to liven up the drab and desolate-looking Central corridor after a majority of businesses closed as a result to the Covid-19 outbreak. Windows and doors have been locked and boarded up for months, especially after tensions escalated when a peaceful protest turned violent, resulting in broken windows and damaged properties.
In an attempt to reclaim some of the overall visual appeal of downtown Albuquerque, a collective of local artists were recruited to make some lemonade out of life's lemons. With approval by the city and consent from the owners of each business, we were each urged to lay claim to any of the plywood boards affixed to the building and do what we do best. Some of us even made it onto this week's news report! https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/artists-create-murals-on-boarded-up-downtown-storefronts/5786615/?fbclid=IwAR0DZZKJS5s_KcGMEUhZsfE1dhum9rtifQVMJK7z5sIB0ezsFqBCR5ZFXuA Needless to say, I'm ecstatic to have been offered such an opportunity, as developing the large-scale mural and public art aspect of my repertoire is one of my priorities as an artist. Of course, it's a pleasure to have something up alongside some of the other dope artists from around Albuquerque for such a good cause, but if and after our nation regains some sort of normalcy beyond this pandemic, the boards will come down and the art will be auctioned off. I'll have more info on that as things progress. In the meantime, if you're in or around downtown ABQ and have about ten minutes to spare, do yourself a favor and take a cruise down Central Avenue for a free art show. You won't regret it! Shout outs to: OT Circus Jennifer DeSantis Victoria Van Dame Jessica Nicole The Paint For Peace artist team City of Albuquerque All the business owners who gave the green light to us artists A few weeks ago, I had the surprise on-a-whim pleasure of being invited to contribute some graffiti artwork to one of the local brewpubs here in Albuquerque. It's been a serious minute since I'd done any sort of large-scale work with, especially with spray paint (and I'm pretty sure that the majority of what was doing at the time was illegal), but that's neither here, nor there. What matters is that IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME, and it gave me the bug to want to do more large public pieces.
If ever you are in Northeast Albuquerque looking for a place to grab a bite and sip some suds, visit out Desert Valley Brewing Co. on the corner of Wyoming and Comanche and check out the progressing urban graffiti theme taking over the walls inside. It's been about a year and a half since my last blog post. My art has been ever-so-slowly been making progress, as I have majorly been working at my own leisure. What can I say? It tends to be the conditioned pace at which I find small windows of opportunity between work shifts, home maintenance, my relationship and other life aspects to dedicate to art. It seems my work is always in a perpetual, stagnant state of "in-progress" as it sits in my studio...
...that is until an opportunity presents itself that provides my work public exposure and me with a deadline. (Due dates and deadlines have always lit a fire under my ass; it was true at university, and it's true now.) I'm beyond excited that that opportunity comes in the form of one of my first public art shows since moving back to New Mexico. Not only that, but it worked out into a collaborative show with one of my very good friends from childhood, Eric Pullins. This Friday, August 3rd, is when we will both showing our latest works for all of Albuquerque to see. Held at the OT Circus gallery, this event will be a fraction of the goings-on around downtown as local businesses participate in First Friday's ABQArtwalk. I am so honored to be able to participate in this event, and I hope it to be the initial shove of the proverbial "ball" that desperately needs rolling. Consider this an open invite to all! Not only is the event free and all ages, but it's a good reason to spend a summer evening among Albuquerque's creative talent as we transition into August! We hope to see you there! ...that it has been an entire year since I've update my blog. It's even crazier to think that I've been back in my home state of New Mexico for just over that year. In all the time that's passed, there have been some pretty significant milestones, the biggest of which has been securing the mortgage of my very first home; and with it comes plenty of extra room to play around in!
I have turned one of the spare bedrooms into my own music and art studio. I plan on separating them into their own individual work spaces with some future additions to the property down the road, but for the meantime it's perfect. I know I've posted photos of this painting before, but it excites me to get back to it after such a long hiatus, not to mention getting back into my oil paints period. I've now entered the intricate detail-oriented phase of this painting, and I'm stoked :) Slow and steady progress... What's up, everyone?
I just want to invite you to join us at the Kaktus Brewery Nob Hill location on Saturday, February 13th for the debut of Art Goggles! Caitlin Padilla and I will be instructing groups of folks (just like you!) on how to paint simple, yet, beautiful compositions on canvas while enjoying a pint or two of your favorite Kaktus brew. This is the first time I will be doing something of this nature, so I'd love to have you join us for this event. Spend opening evening with your significant other or your best friends as we first demonstrate how to paint this pair of love birds cuddled up on a branch, then gift your masterpiece to that special someone the following day - Valentine's day! There are a limited number of spaces available, so act fast. $35 admits one and gets you your first drink as well as all the supplies you need to paint. And, if you stay for dinner afterward, you'll receive 10% off of your meal! Visit the Art Goggles website for ticket purchases and more info. Thanks, and we look forward to your presence! Will Wooten "Brad Lyn Lewis" |