Into the Light
Leaning into the light, into spring and into color
“‘INTO THE LIGHT’ EVOKES THE LENGTHENING OF SUNLIGHT AND EMERGENCE OF COLOR AND HOPE, especially after these hard years of COVID-19, climate change, politics and, now, Ukraine,” said artist Margaret Nes of the exhibition she and three other artists — Norlynne Coar, Gretchen Ewert and TJ Mabrey — are sharing this weekend (April 14-18) at the Stables Gallery.
The quartet welcomes everyone to the opening reception of “Into the Light” on Thursday (April 14) from 1-6 p.m. The show continues through Monday (April 18) during the hours of 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Admission, as always, is free.
The work of the four artists, approaching the concept of light from different perspectives, is a harmonious blend of varying mediums. Part of the complementary energy may derive from the similarity of their backgrounds: all four are well-traveled (two have family ties to the U.S. Foreign Service) but settled in Taos, where they found their true home.
“This is a great group of women; we all have a similar history and vision,” noted Ewert, which makes “Into the Light” such a treat for the senses.
In addition to the signature pastel paintings of Nes, Coar is showcasing oil paintings and small clay and rock sculptures; Ewert’s work includes large drawings and colorful clay pieces; and Mabrey is featuring cut paper and aluminum three-dimensional wall hangings.
Nes has long been critically recognized for her exquisite pastels and her mastery of shadow and light. Whether utilizing exuberant primary colors or gentle pastel hues, the works of this self-taught artist are immediately recognizable for their saturated pigments, clean lines and stark depictions.
“My work is mostly sparked by what I see and love in the world, rather than my own imagination, thoughts or dreams,” she said. “Nature, light, people, community, my environment, interactions and memories all come into my work without asking.”
Coar is known for her original and organic approach to her paintings and photography, “all of which illustrate my particular affinity with the ocean, earth and sky.”
“I am a searcher. I like to look into the surface of what I see and to consider it from different perspectives, attempting to discover something new, or something beyond, in the process,” she said.
“I’ve selected pieces for this show that focus on cycles of the coming and going of light, the sun and moon and the renaissance that comes with the return of light,” she continued. “Diving below the surface, gazing beyond the horizon and up into space, and delving into the dark and toward the light compose much of my visual lexicon.”
Much of Ewert’s inspiration comes from the immediate surroundings of her home and studio. “My ritual is to sit outside my studio to watch the twilight sky transform into the Milky Way, vivid and distinct, from my 360-degree perch high on Hondo Mesa.”
“The paintings, sculpture and pinched bowls [showcased in the exhibit] are all variations on my relationship to nature, sky spaces and the mythic world of natural phenomena in my imagination. I consider my work to be metaphorical, but I don’t want to tell people how to interpret it.”
“I keep an open mind and eye to the visual art produced today, yesterday and in ancient times. All of it is our cultural history and, with our contribution, will be part of the cultural future,” mused sculptor Mabrey.
“My artwork for the exhibit is embossed paper and aluminum, which is done on an etching press. It