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BADASSERY - Kudos to Jen Sincero, author of "YOU ARE A BAD ASS EVERY DAY"

“If you want to reach a new level of success in any area of your life, you absolutely must surround yourself with high-vibe people, or at least one high-vibe person whom you’re in constant contact with.

Spend time with people who remind you — that anything is possible. People who share their resources instead of their worries, who see your strengths, encourage your dreams, celebrate your successes, pooh-pooh your excuses, inspire you, stretch you, help you, and adore you.”

Badassery doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If you’re serious about changing your life, get your power posse in place.

From “YOU ARE A BADASS EVERY DAY” by Jen Sincero

What Does Your Taste in Art Say About You?

From GALLERY OF GALLERIES.COM Santa Fe, New Mexico Tourism

June 2019

If you’ve always wanted to start an art collection but aren’t sure where to begin, Santa Fe’s multitude of galleries can be intimidating at first glance. With more than 250 to choose from, there’s inspiration on practically every block in The City Different. If you’re dreaming of a beautiful collection but are still trying to get a handle on your taste, start here.

Folk Art

You’re fun and you’re one of a kind. You love vibrant color, and your sense of style would probably be described as whimsical by your friends. You’re not afraid to stand out from the pack, and your joyful attitude enlivens every gathering. You’re starting a collection not only to enhance your living space, but to boost your mood and bring you joy. You probably love to travel, and you love trying the cuisines of different countries from around the world. Folk art lovers often pick up unique and eye-catching pieces on their vacations, and often choose destinations based on the folk art available. Santa Fe is a great place to get started — begin your journey at the Museum of International Folk Art on Museum Hill to get a taste of what else you’ll find in The City Different.

Abstract Contemporary

You’re in the know and you’re sophisticated. You are in tune with the art world and probably subscribe to several collector’s magazines as well as Architectural Digest. Your home and your wardrobe are both beautifully curated, filled with minimalist neutrals and the occasional pop of color. Rather than images of anything specific, you’re looking for pieces that evoke moods. If this sounds like you, head straight for Santa Fe’s Railyard Arts District, The City Different’s gathering place of contemporary art galleries. It’s here that you’ll find spectacular spaces like SITE Santa Fe, galleries that are shaking up the art world not only in Santa Fe, but beyond.

Southwestern

If you love this style, you’ve probably had Santa Fe in mind for a while. You adore turquoise, your Instagram account is full of sunset photos and you’re known to mix a mean margarita. The one-of-a-kind landscape of northern New Mexico has inspired creators for centuries, including the iconic Georgia O’Keeffe, so you’re in good company. There’s plenty of inspiration to be found here, and it’s ideal for beginning collectors because there are pieces available at all price points, from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and textiles. Head to Canyon Road to check out some of the most iconic Southwestern art  in the world, like the Allan Houser gallery. There’s no telling what you might find.

Photography

You’re endlessly inspired by the places you go and the people you meet, and you also find inspiration in the most unlikely things. You’ve got a keen eye for art and design, and you’re empathetic. The raw power of quality photography appeals to you, and you find that certain photographs lend themselves well to endless contemplation. If you’re in search of some unique and evocative photos in both color and black and white to add to your growing collection, you won’t find a better place than Santa Fe. Canyon Road’s Modernist Frontier gallery is a great place to start looking. If you’re seeking pieces that showcase the awe of the American west, you’ll find it here.

Overall, though, there are no rules and there is no one proper way to amass a collection. Taste is subjective, and that’s the most wonderful thing about it. Giant abstract canvases can absolutely hold court with funky folk art pieces, and no matter what you’re looking for in Santa Fe, you’ll find it here.

Notes on Wolf Kahn, shared from the artist's website...

I like to use this blog as a place to take notes on people and things that inspire me. I was first introduced to Wolf Kahn’s world of color over twenty years ago. He continues to influence my work, and I am lucky to have one of his small pastel works in my collection. I had the honor of meeting him at the opening of his most recent New York City exhibition.

“Both as a personality and an artist, Kahn is refreshingly forthright, confident in his ambitions and his stalwart corner of the art world. It would be a mistake to dismiss Kahn’s work as ornamental, soft, or decorative — a reading that Kahn himself seems poised to address. “I don’t want to be a pleaser,” he said. “I like to paint pleasant color, easygoing compositions, but not in such a way that people say, ‘Oh, I’ve seen that before, that’s meant to stroke me.’ You have to have an edge.” He admires other painters — like Agnes Martin and Susan Rothenberg — but he doesn’t have much use for the contemporary gallery scene outside his doorstep (“I’m like all old guys — you deplore what goes after. You think it’s a terrible mistake, the fact that history goes on.”). And he offers some advice that, perhaps, might be of value to a younger generation of painters. “In order to make a living as an artist, you’ve got to be one of two things: A very nice guy, or a bad egg.” Personally, Kahn qualifies himself with a rather appropriate metaphor: ‘I like to think of myself as being a wide spectrum.’ “



Rick meets Wolf Kahn at The Miles McEnery Gallery November 16, 2017

Rick meets Wolf Kahn at The Miles McEnery Gallery November 16, 2017