ART DISPLAYS & ARTIST

Cindy Maestas | Frank Long | Lorraine Long | Mark and Linda Guernsey & Co.

By:  Gemma Nicholson
The beauty and creativity of the art on display has much more to do with the vision and hope of its people—this is Haitian Art.  The vibrant colors of its people, the turbulent history of its land,   the oppressed, the hungry, the poor, the sad eyes, and yet the smiles we see when they are eating a mango or catching fish that will feed many mouths—this is Haitian Art.  
My father, Jean Pierre-Nicolas Gaetjens (1934-2008), was a very generous man.  He loved his country; he loved everything and anything Haitian.  His charity was well known and touched so many people. Countless charitable organizations in Haiti were blessed by his donations. So many people have testified to his kindness although he himself never talked about the people or the organizations he helped.  He lived as described  in one of his favorite poetry verses… Quand un pauvre a pitié ďun plus pauvre que lui, Dieu veille sur sa demeure et veut qu´ elle prospère… This translates, “When a poor has pity on one poorer than him, God watches over his home and makes him prosper.”
My father was instrumental in teaching me to respect the true beauty of what an artist is saying through its canvas, but most importantly he taught me to generously help people make a decent living by putting them to work by purchasing many, many works of art.  Throughout the decades, he did just that.  He saw Haitian art as an economic opportunity for talented artists and a way of offering opportunity to the less fortunate in an effort to give them work and build their economic situation. 
My hope is that once people see these paintings by known and unknown Haitian artists, they can appreciate and understand the spirit of them and realize that they are not linked to poverty.  All these works of art are works that open up opportunities for Haitian artisans to obtain a livelihood and be self-dependent.  We all need a helping hand once in a while, but we can all prosper together from it.   

The Mesilla Valley Onion Festival presents the opportunity for your helping hands in its SILENT ART AUCTION on Sunday, April 25, from 4-6 p.m.
Everyone will have an opportunity to bid on Haitian works of art as well as other art works from the students of Alma d' Arte Charter High School.    
A portion of the proceeds of ALL art and posters sold will go to several Haitian relief organizations.  
Biding will start at $250 unframed or $300 for framed art. 
Limited-edition Haitian poster prints will be available for $25. 
Limited-edition Onion Festival poster prints will be available for $25.
We hope to see you there!      

Download this document here!

Cindy Maestas

Working with clay has sustained me emotionally and spiritually for 42 years.  It has helped me retain my sanity as I raised four children and taught middle school art.  I studied under Angelo Garzio in the late '60s and early '70s at Kansas State University, earning one of the first BFAs from KSU.  I have carried on my exploration of clay from Alaska to Georgia and several points in between before finally settling in Albuquerque in 1991.
I create some sculptural work, but my main focus is with functional pottery, pieces made for everyday use and enjoyment.  I believe that handmade pieces can enhance the everyday enjoyment of good food, good friends and family; and having the ability to survive for centuries, be a source of wonderment to those in the future.  Pottery can connect us to things beyond ourselves, helping us to find small moments of peace and joy. 

Frank Long

Frank Long
Frank was born in Springfield, Mass in June of 19??.  He joined the Army during the Korean war and ended his stint in the Army at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM.  “I have always liked art, but was a buyer, not a creator.  One of my daughters gave me a Glass Jewelry class for Christmas several years ago from Hot Flash Glass in Albuquerque.  This gave me something to do in my retirement. 
I have expanded my jewelry making into fused glass crosses, some of which are mounted on wood.  This has become more of my specialty than the jewelry.
Stop by and visit our booth, I would love to explain the process to anyone interested.

Lorraine Long

My appreciation for art motivated me to pursue my desire to learn the techniques of drawing and painting using oils and watercolor led me to enroll in an art class in 1974.  I studied under many artists to include Sigfred Hahns, Rita Schaffer and Pat Durgin.
I also took a class from Ted and Ginnie Arrellano where  I learned the techniques of different aspects of working and creating with tin.  Creating night lights, mirror frames, picture frames, business card holders, etc.
Most recently, I took a fused jewelry class at Hot Flash Glass in Albuquerque, with my husband where I learned design, cutting glass, fusing firing and finishing jewelry.  The process of working with different types of glass including dicroics and seeing the outcome of the product was very interesting to me. 
My goal as an artist is to see people enjoy my creations.  This brings me great joy and personal satisfaction.

Mark and Linda Guernsey & Co.

Mark was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM and has been drawing since he can remember.  His love of drawing flowed into painting and photography. Experimenting with oils, watercolors and photographic filters.  He met and married Linda in 1986.  Linda, also born and raised in Albuquerque, was born into a talented family and learned the art of creativity with what you already have on hand.  Mark taught Linda his love of photography.  Linda’s love of stained glass led Mark and his children to give her a stained glass class as a gift.  They decided to purchase a gift certificate from G&T stained glass and tin works where Linda had studied the art of punched tin.  As it would turn out, that company  decided that they would no longer be teaching stained glass and refunded his money.  Well as the saying goes, “when one door closes, another opens” and Mark was able to find her a stained glass class at Hot Flash Glass at an amount that allowed him to take the class with her.  The beauty and color of the light that played on the stained glass gave them a new appreciation for a different kind of art.  In early 2006 their friend gave them a small kiln with a firing space of approximately 6 inches.  This led to the trials of melting glass.  In 2006 their children who now also punch tin and do stained glass, purchased a Paragon kiln for them for Christmas.    The self taught art of fused jewelry and other art was born.  Even now the amazement of creativity that can be accomplished simply by adjusting your heat and choosing your glass inspires Mark, Linda, their children and grand daughter.

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