TRIPLE TREAT
Two metalworkers and an acrylic painter team up for Corrales show
Chris Turri, Michael Copeland and Cassidy Watt have a long history of working together.
The three men, all successful artists in their own right, are teaming up for the annual Paint and Patina Show in Corrales this weekend. The event, which has many pieces that are affordable, is running in conjunction with the Old Church Fine Crafts Show in Corrales.
“I enjoy working with these guys,” Turri says. “We’ve each got our own style, but it goes together.”
Turri works primarily with metal — reclaimed metal, that is.
The New Mexican can often be found taking road trips across the Land of Enchantment picking up the remnants of old automobiles.
“I often work with the skins of old vehicles — ’40s, ’50s and ’60s,” he says. “I love the rich colors and the character of the pieces I find buried in the salvage yards.”
The colors aren’t the only elements to reveal themselves to Turri.
He has been working with an old tractor drive shaft, in which he will carve universal symbols at the base.
Turri, who grew up in Alamogordo, is heavily influenced by Native American culture.
“Native cultures tell stories of their people in a simpler time,” he says. “I incorporate universal symbols and a variety of petroglyphs to weave a tapestry of history, to help keep the stories alive and give rise to new ones. The meanings can vary depending on the area, the tribe and interpretation. Some of my favorites are from Three Rivers in southern New Mexico and the Canyonlands in Utah. Animal symbols — deer, elk, ram and antelope — intrigue me because they talk about the survival of a people and of the planet.”
Turri believes in using reclaimed materials to lessen the impact on the earth. He also has a device that helps him rust the metal quicker, which gives it a worn look.
“Working with each piece is different,” he says. “While metal is forgiving, the fun of working on my art is what will be revealed at the end.”
Watt, based in Madrid, works with copper and brass.
In addition to his own artwork, Watt owns Metallo Gallery in Madrid, where he shows his remnant totems — copper and brass on a wooden panel.
“I don’t use any paints or enamels,” Watt says. “It’s all a chemical reaction, and all these patinas are my own formulas that I’ve created over the course of seven years.”
While Turri and Watt work with metal, Copeland works with acrylics.
The Alamogordo based artist paints whimsical characters from another universe.
“My work leans towards allegorical,” Copeland says. “I fool around with the absurd by putting humor or mystery in each painting. I challenge myself to create something that wasn’t there before. I create characters with enough layers for people to enjoy.”