Is there any doubt that Altamira Fine Art changes things up as fast as humanly possible? The gallery is a powerhouse, turning its artists into big stars. This summer Altamira opened a new show every two weeks, and each, save Nieto’s, featured two to three artists.
Now Altamira Fine Art is opening a second gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. A Grand Opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 7th, 7-9:00 pm (taking advantage of Scottsdale’s “Fall for the Arts” ArtWalk). Location: 7038 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ, in the Downtown Arts District. Artists Glenn Dean and R. Tom Gilleon will be featured at the opening.
The new gallery will provide a unique presence in Scottsdale. A boutique gallery, Scottsdale’s Altamira is being designed at a scale of approximately 1800 square feet.
“Our Arizona clients have been asking when we might open a Scottsdale gallery,” Altamira director Mark Tarrant said. “Now we can serve important markets in two locations.” Tarrant founded Jackson’s gallery in 2009, immediately capturing the best of the Western Contemporary art market. Scottsdale’s Altamira Fine Art will focus on the secondary art market—artwork being sold after its initial sale.
Congratulations, Mark! Success breeds success! However: please don’t be a stranger and get to likin’ Scottsdale TOO much!
For more information, phone 307.739.4700. www.altamiraart.com
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A highlight of last week’s Wyoming Arts Council (WAC) annual conference was listening to stories and presentations by artists around the state able to realize projects and gain audiences with the help of WAC. It’s so difficult for us all to be together, and e-communications and conferences offer connectivity and provide perspective. Two WAC state “Bright Spots” are Lovell’s Hyart Film Festival and Wyoming Fiber Trails.
Just over 2,000 people populate Lovell, Wyoming, but that didn’t stop Lovell resident Jason Zeller from founding the Hyart Film Festival. Lovell’s Hyart Theater, the festival’s home, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in the 1950’s, it’s an awesome piece of period architecture, a location scout’s dream. Zeller, a film buff, has accomplished a feat; he spoke about his festival with infectious passion and humor. Having attended countless film festivals, he found he didn’t like a lot of them. Existing festivals were either overpriced, pretentious, or focused on themes Zeller deemed over-exposed and predictable.
So, he fixed his sights on building his own film festival. Zeller wasn’t interested in exploring other locations; Lovell was it. There was this really cool theater, after all! Film-goers love it—-they post testimonials expressing how much the revitalized theater means to them—read those testimonials here. Zeller has shown cultural films produced in Afghanistan and Australia; film categories also include horror, children’s films and dramatic entries. He’d love to see more Wyoming films submit to the Festival, so log on to Hyart’s website here, and get in touch with Zeller.
Everyone enjoy a good trail, but there’s an especially creative, historic trail winding its way around Wyoming. Wyoming’s citizens are mostly separated by big spaces; when you’re alone in a big space creativity reaffirms personal narrative.
Wyoming Fiber Trails is “a treasure trove of individuals who do everything from horsehair hitching to rug braiding, spinning, felting, dolls, horse gear, leather work and a host of unusual activities,” says founder Sue Blakely. Blakely and her partners are chronicling fiber artisans around the state; each artisan, gallery and shop they uncover possess distinct Wyoming voices manifested in fiber.
“How many people knew we had a yak farm in Wyoming and that they had gathered yak fiber and had it commercially spun last year? ” asks Blakely. “A lot of us know about the sheep ranchers, even llama, alpaca and buffalo. But not yak!”
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Two new Art Association exhibitions open this week. “Rendezvous: Ceramics Contemporary Invitational” and “Printegrated” share an opening reception at the Art Association on Friday, October 25th, 5:30-7:30 pm. Both shows remain on exhibit through November 29th, 2013.
Ceramicist Sam Dowd is co-curator for “Ceramics Contemporary,” along with University of Montana associate professor Trey Hill. The show hones in on the themes of utilitarian and sculptural ceramics, and is comprised of selected works from around the country. Hill and Dowd will give a talk on November 22nd, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, at the Art Association Gallery, and a clay demonstration on Saturday, November 23rd, 10am – 5pm in the Art Association’s Clay Studio.
For information, email [email protected], or phone 307.733.6379.
“Printegrated,” says the Art Association, “is a local survey of artists making handmade 2-D print work. Pieces include: block prints, lithographs, screen prints, intaglio, posters, books, zines and other printed ephemera.” Contact Thomas Macker, Art Association Gallery Director, at [email protected], or phone (310) 428.4860 for info. www.artassociation.org
Tammy Christel 
