Taos Rush` Soccer Kicks Off at Taos Eco Park in

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erica Asmus-Otero (505) 259-2202 [email protected]
Taos Rush’ Soccer Kicks Off at Taos Eco Park in Taos, NM
TAOS, NM — March 12, 2012 — After months of discussion with Taos Sports Alliance and the Town of
Taos, Rush Soccer has announced that its new partner club, Taos Rush, will be training, playing games
and hosting tournaments, camps and coaching clinics at the FIFA 2 Star Certified Taos Eco Park in Taos,
New Mexico.
Rush Soccer is recognized internationally as the largest youth soccer club in the world with over 34,000
youth soccer players.
“I am proud to be part of this step in bringing Rush Soccer to Taos,” said Jerome de Bontin, Chairman of
Rush Soccer, who is credited as being the catalyst for Taos Rush. “I have been a part of this community
for some time now and I am always eager to contribute where I can especially in the development of our
youth. Soccer is a healthy life style and connecting Rush to help the children of this community is a
natural fit.”
Rush Soccer already has a presence in Albuquerque with New Mexico Rush and, according to the
Licensing Services Agreement, can only operate one franchise per state unless the existing club grants
permission to allow operations for another Rush Club. Working in conjunction with NM Rush’s President
Greg Heileman and Technical Director Justin Sells, Rush Soccer granted a partner club status to Taos
Rush to operate within its own territory in northern New Mexico.
“The Taos soccer community hopes to contribute back to Rush as much as we believe we will receive
through this affiliation,” said Justin Lea, President of Taos Rush.
“We look forward to sharing Taos with the Rush Soccer family,” Joel Israel, Executive Director of Taos
Sports Alliance. “Taos Eco Park was built to host high altitude training camps and tournaments, so
we were looking for a premier soccer club to compliment the long range vision of building Taos as a world
class training grounds. Rush Soccer is a perfect fit for Taos with its reputation as a world class soccer
club.”
In January 2012, Taos Eco Park earned its recertification as a FIFA 2-Star Field – one of only four of its
kind in the United States. Taos Eco Park also gained international attention in 2011, after receiving two
awards from American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) for top “Green Facility”and “Single Field
Facility.”
In its only 10 month run so far, the Eco Park has already played host to recreational and competitive
youth clubs, NCAA Men's and Women's teams, as well as the Rwanda U17 National Team Training
Camp prior to their Group Stage at the FIFA World Cup Finals in Mexico.
The Eco Park is in the process of constructing a second field this year, along with a third and final field set
to be constructed by 2013/2014. The Town of Taos, Taos Municipal Schools, Taos Sports Alliance, State
of New Mexico and Shaw Sportexe, will celebrate the Eco Park’s first Anniversary with numerous men’s
and women’s NCAA soccer matches, boys and girls youth club teams and celebratory activities on
Saturday, April 14 and Saturday, April 21.
Taos Eco Park is fully sustainable in irrigation and power supply, with a 75kw low voltage solar array that
went online in February 2012 which produces far more power to the electric grid than it will ever
consume. The park also offers: sports lighting system by Musco for evening play, a storage and restroom
building, a one-third mile walking/jogging track, and bleachers with a 500 person capacity.
For more information on Rush Soccer, visit www.rushsoccer.com. For information on the Taos Eco Park,
visit www.taosecopark.com or Town of Taos at www.taos.org or www.taosgov.com.
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Contact: Cathy Connelly, Town of Taos, NM, Public Relations Director
Phone: (575) 751-2001, email: [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Taos Eco Park’s 2nd Annual NCAA & Club Soccer Showcase
Kicks Off in Town of Taos
Highest Altitude FIFA 2 Star Training Facility in the World
TAOS, NM (USA) — March 16, 2012 – The Town of Taos announces Taos Eco Park’s 2nd Annual NCAA
and Club Soccer Showcase will be held on consecutive weekends in April on Saturday, April 14 and
Saturday, April 21 in beautiful Taos, NM. This year, Taos Eco Park will be hosting women’s and men’s
NCAA soccer teams, as well as girls and boys club soccer teams at its state-of-the-art multi-purpose FIFA
2 Star synthetic turf field complex.
“Taos is proud to be a leader in group sports activity at the new Taos Eco Park,” said Mayor Darren
Cordova, Town of Taos. “This incredible facility, which we are expanding, combined with our pure air,
high altitude, great traveler offerings and love of soccer really puts Taos over the top when it comes to
attracting team sports. Most importantly, we are also better serving our own youth soccer community
through this world class facility. We thank all who have contributed to making the Taos Eco Park's first
year a resounding success.”
The 2nd Annual NCAA and Club Soccer Showcase will be a fun, family friendly event that includes: hot
air balloon rides, a food tent from the Taos High School Culinary Arts, Taos Eco Tourism education
exhibits, llamas from Wild Earth Adventures, river rafting by Los Rios River Runners, the nationally
acclaimed Taos High School Earthletes exhibiting soil and water conservation education, New Spin Tops
or “trampo” demonstrations, music between soccer games, and other fun sports/recreation/youth
offerings.
In addition to the live action of the soccer games on the field, the games will be broadcast on live
streaming internet at Taos-Sports.com and include a media tent with live streaming internet of post-game
player interviews and live radio remote broadcasts.
Parking and admission are free on both weekends.
The Women’s NCAA and Girls Club soccer teams begin playing on Saturday, April 14. The first game
begins with Adams State College Women’s Soccer being challenged by a very talented New Mexico
Rush ’96 Girls club team.
Immediately following the first game is a round robin spring exhibition format featuring the Colorado
based NCAA Air Force Academy and Ft. Lewis College Women’s Soccer teams, along with New Mexico
based NCAA Highlands University’s Women’s Soccer and Rio Vista FC’s ’94 Eagles Girls club team.
The final game, on Saturday, April 14, will be a men’s NCAA exhibition game under the lights between
Adams State College Men’s Soccer and Rio Vista United ’94 Boys soccer teams.
Game Schedule, Saturday, April 14:
Game 1 - 8:00-9:30 a.m. - Adams Sate College (W) v. New Mexico Rush ‘96 Girls
Game 2 - 10:00-11:30 a.m. - Air Force Academy Women v. Ft. Lewis College Women
Game 3 - Noon-1:30 p.m. - Ft. Lewis College Women v. Rio Vista FC ‘94 Eagles Girls
Game 4 - 2:00-3:30 p.m. - Air Force Academy Women v. Highlands University Women
Game 5 - 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Highlands University Women v. Rio Vista FC ‘94 Eagles Girls
Game 6 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. - Adams State College Men v. Rio Vista United ’94 Boys
On Saturday, April 21, the focus turns to the premier boy’s club soccer teams from New Mexico. The
Albuquerque based club soccer teams New Mexico Rush SC and Rio Vista FC will visit Taos for the
second consecutive year to showcase their highly talented youth soccer clubs.
Following the youth club games will be the Taos Eco Park’s 1st Anniversary Celebration Ceremony,
including elected officials from the Town of Taos, Taos Municipal Schools, Taos Pueblo, State of New
Mexico and honored guests, followed by a Color Guard presentation by the NM National Guard.
The main event will feature NCAA Men’s Soccer power houses University of New Mexico Lobos v. Air
Force Academy Falcons at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 21, in a battle for regional supremacy.
"The Taos Eco Park is a world class soccer venue,” said UNM Head Men’s Soccer Coach Jeremy
Fishbein. “Our team is excited to return to Taos for another tremendous match versus a very talented
team from the Air Force Academy. The atmosphere last year was electric and we hope to again entertain
the soccer aficionados of Taos in April.”
“The team is very excited to showcase our program in Taos,” said Air Force Academy Head Men's Soccer
Coach, Doug Hill. “I’ve heard great things about the field and fans and know it will be good exposure for
the town of Taos and a chance for our players to play in a new soccer environment against a good team.”
Game Schedule, Saturday, April 21:
Game 1 - 8:00-9:30 a.m. - Rio Vista FC Copa ’96 Boys v. Rio Vista FC ’97 Boys
Game 2 - 10:00-11:30 a.m. - Rio Vista FC ’95 Boys v. Rio Vista United 2 Boys
Game 3 - Noon-1:30 p.m. - Rio Vista United ’94 Boys v. New Mexico Rush Argonauts ‘94 Boys
1st Anniversary Celebration Ceremony - 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Game 4 - 3:30-5:30 p.m. - University of New Mexico Lobos Men v. Air Force Academy Men
The event is being hosted by the Town of Taos and Taos Sports Alliance, in coordination with Taos Eco
Park’s partners: Holy Cross Hospital, Shaw Sportexe and Rush Soccer.
The Town of Taos and Taos Municipal School District built the Eco Park as a joint initiative to improve the
area’s quality of life/youth and adult recreation offerings, while creating yet another economic driver for
northern NM visitation. In addition to being a training ground for professional and international soccer
teams, Taos Eco Park was built as a multi-purpose complex for the youth of the Taos community and as
training grounds for other field sports such as lacrosse, rugby and American football.
“The soccer games at the 2nd Annual NCAA and Club Soccer Showcase will be very competitive and are
a great opportunity to showcase the Eco Park’s FIFA 2 Star field to New Mexicans and visitors from
Colorado,” said Executive Director of Taos Sports Alliance, Joel Israel.
Taos Eco Park’s synthetic turf system, manufactured by Shaw/Sportexe, is constructed using a blend of
grass-like fibers, composite backing and a mix of sand and rubber infill.
The Taos Eco Park FIFA 2 Star Field Certification is posted on the official FIFA website at www.fifa.com
as a world class, high altitude training facility at 7,000 feet in elevation. Taos Eco Park is located at 940
Salazar Road, Taos, NM 87571.
For more information or to reserve programming at Taos Eco Park, please contact: Joel Israel, Executive
Director, Taos Sports Alliance, at [email protected].
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About Town of Taos, New Mexico (USA)
Taos has long been sought after for its outdoor recreation, training opportunities and competitive sports from skiing to mountain biking from hockey to swimming to running and fishing. Additionally, Taos is a
leading tourism destination in the region. For more information on the Town of Taos, New Mexico (USA)
visit www.Taos.org.
For media inquiries contact:
Joanie Griffin (505) 261-4444, [email protected]
Town of Taos Kicks Off Remarkable Women of Taos & Northern New Mexico
Includes Numerous Art Exhibitions Celebrating Taos’ Iconic Women
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2012 (TAOS, NM)–Today, Four-Time
Academy Award Nominee, Actress, Activist and Northern New Mexico resident Marsha
Mason and other notables launched the yearlong Remarkable Women of Taos and
Northern New Mexico program at the Harwood Museum of Art. At the event, Taos
Mayor Darren Cordova handed Mason the keys to the city and acknowledged her
extraordinary contributions to Taos and Northern New Mexico.
Mason responded explaining her love for New Mexico, “Northern New Mexico is a
special place. A magical place. I have found a more direct communication with Mother
Nature and with the Organizing Intelligence of the universe here. Northern New Mexico
either speaks to you or it doesn't, but it is a creative environment and a place where you
get to know who you really are! And that is something I think we all need to know."
The Remarkable Women event took place on what would have been the 100 th birthday
of a well-known remarkable woman of Taos, Agnes Martin, the internationally
celebrated mid-century painter. At the event, the Harwood Museum of Art unveiled an
exhibition of her little-known early works.
Remarkable Women focuses on exploring, celebrating and experiencing the exceptional
and adventurous women who have been drawn to the freedom and beauty of Taos and
Northern New Mexico for decades, particularly artists. Dozens of events and tours are
scheduled throughout 2012, many featuring behind-the-scenes exhibits – all focus on
the transformative Taos mystique. 2012 also marks the
Centennial of New Mexico’s Statehood. A full list of events
is available at www.Taos.org/women
Creative women–visual, literary, musical — have been
inspired by Taos and its Northern New Mexico location.
Taos has attracted and inspired many who seek societal,
artistic and personal freedom to invent–or reinvent–
themselves.
Mason says about herself and her choice to live in Northern New Mexico “I am amazed
at what I have done so far. What seems to be the most
Agnes Martin, "Untitled," 1953, oil on canvas, 335/8" x 47-1/2", collection of the Harwood
Museum of Art
important aspect of all of what I have done and continue to do is having an
adventuresome spirit, a curiosity, a willingness to face my fears and do what scares
me.”
-moreRemarkable Women Page Two
Harwood Museum of Art Curator Jina Brenneman added, “It may be the spirituality of
the place and the mysterious attraction of the natural world that resonates so deeply
within us. Artists
are curious people, looking for that place that holds a creative challenge, intellectual
stimulation and adventure. Taos has all of those things, and also opens doors to new
visual vocabularies in a wild environment.”
The impressive list of historic remarkable women being featured includes Taos
Modernist Beatrice Mandelman, arts patron and salon hostess Mabel Dodge Luhan, the
drop-dead gorgeous high society model, designer and Standard Oil heiress Millicent
Rogers, and renowned San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Maria Martinez. Additionally,
businesses, galleries and organizations are featuring events and exhibits of both
contemporary and historic figures.
Also at the event, two films were announced, both focusing on the theme. “Remarkable
Women of Taos” by Swashbuckler Media Production and “Awakening in Taos,” a
documentary about Mabel Dodge Luhan by Mark Gordon for PBS.
SPECIAL 2012 TRAVEL ITINERARIES/TOURS: Remarkable Women is aimed at
enabling travelers to experience the transformative power of Taos through the creativity
and adventure of historic women, as well as that of contemporary women. There are 8
self-guided and guided itineraries and workshops for those wanting to delve deeper into
Taos' special heritage, culture, beauty, creative community and outdoor adventure at
http://taos.org/women/itineraries-workshops
YouTube videos at the Taosmosis Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/taosmosis?ob=0&feature=results_main will connect to online
biographies of Remarkable Women—which include perspectives on “why Taos?” along
with their favorite Taos places – everything from meditation spots and Taos Pueblo
feast days to favorite restaurants and walks.
Events, exhibitions, profiles and videos are being added weekly, so check back
throughout the year for even more offerings.
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New Gallery Opens in Taos
“A Year-Round ‘Solstice’ in Taos”
Taos, New Mexico – "SOLSTICE" is the new retail location in Taos offering sacred art and Taos holiday selections
ranging from ornaments to artwork that reflect the many ways Taos celebrates all year. The inaugural exhibit, "What
a Fool Believes" will open from 3-6 pm, Sunday, April 1st.
Store owner, Sheila Seclearr, says, “It’s both Palm Sunday and April Fools Day. I think the serendipity shows the
dichotomies of Taos. We want to celebrate it all.”
Solstice will feature the art of William Hart McNichols, or “Father Bill” whose St. Andrei Rublev Icons
reproduction business will be based in the same location. The reproductions are manufactured in Taos by local
artisans for global distribution. McNichols is celebrating 22 years as an iconographer and has painted hundreds of
icons commissioned by colleges, churches and collections around the world including the Vatican Museum and our
own San Francisco de Asis Church. After being ordained a Priest in 1979, McNichols received a Master of Fine Arts
from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. In 1990 he moved to New Mexico to study with Russian-American
master of iconography, Robert Lentz. Father Bill also assists in Sacramental Ministry in the Archdiocese of Santa
Fe. www.fatherbill.org
Says McNichols, “I’m painting an icon just for the opening of St. Basil the Holy Fool (Vasily in Russian). It’s the
famous church in Moscow’s Red Square that we all know because of the multi-colored onion dome named for him.”
Seclrarr sees Solstice as a comfortable environment where people can witness the energy of sacred art as well as
purchase items for their own homes and businesses. "I learned from Father Bill that icons gaze back upon those who
look with their open hearts so one experiences the unconditional loving gaze of the Divine." Seclearr recently
returned from Egypt with icons from early Christianity depicting the flight into Egypt when Jesus was a young boy.
Adds Seclearr, "Solstice was also inspired by several tourists I visited with in December who were astonished at
what a wonderful place Taos is to celebrate Christmas. That prompted my educational mission, a full-time corner of
the store with local artists' depictions and items showing off our area's unique ways of honoring Christmas and other
holidays."
Located at 134 Bent Street, Solstice will be open Wednesday through Sunday. Seclearr plans a grand opening of
Solstice in June on the summer solstice featuring pottery from Taos Pueblo artist Antonia Lujan or “Tseme” of
Native Fires Pottery.
CONTACT:
Sheila Seclearr
[email protected]
134 Bent St. Taos NM 87571
575-751-0464
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012
CONTACT: Erica Asmus-Otero (505) 259-2202 [email protected]
'Today' Show Names Valverde Commons in Taos, NM ‘One of
Best Places to Retire in U.S.’
TAOS, NM — The nationally syndicated NBC “Today” show along with Travel and Leisure named Taos,
New Mexico’s Valverde Commons – a sustainable co-housing senior community – as one of the “Best
Places to Retire in the U.S.” during a segment on Thursday, March 29.
“It’s wonderful to be featured on the ‘Today’ show, especially because the show reaches so many people
across the country who are not only interested in this form of living but who are interested in Taos,” said
Valverde Commons co-owner and resident Bob Draper. “Valverde Commons is different than any other
co-housing location in that we are all fiercely independent and allow community bonding to happen
organically. At the same time, everyone makes a commitment to look out for one another.”
Co-housing is defined as “intentional community” in which residents actively participate in the design and
management of their own neighborhood.
Unlike most retirement or assisted living communities, residents of Valverde Commons have their own
private homes which range from 800 to approximately 3,000 square feet and include common amenities.
The community permits residents to design and build their own homes within the guidelines of
sustainability. Unlike other senior communities, residents are not required to participate in group meetings
and they maintain their own premises but share responsibility for common areas.
Common amenities at Valverde Commons include:
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Four acres of green space next to a 10-acre park with a view of Taos Mountain;
Walking paths, community gardens and biking trails;
Common house with a meeting space for community dining, parties and other events with a full
kitchen;
Barn equipped with a workshop, and storage with a nearby composting facility.
Of the 28 sites that are clustered on 10 acres of land at Valverde Commons, there are now only 13 sites
left. Site prices start at $140,000 per lot.
At least one resident in each home must be 55 years or older to live at Valverde Commons.
For more information, visit http://valverdecommons.com/ or call Bob Draper at (575) 770-0208 or email at
[email protected].
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erica Asmus-Otero (505) 259-2202 [email protected]
Exhibition Featuring Work of Late Taos Artist, Melissa Zink,
March 16 through April 22
TAOS, NM — March 7, 2012 —Remarkable Taos artist Melissa Zink will be remembered with two
exhibitions, both opening on March 16: “Melissa Zink, Major Works,” in the Encore Gallery at the Taos
Community Auditorium and “Melissa Zink, Paintings and Sculpture, 1979 – 2009,” at Parks Gallery. The
Encore Gallery will host an opening reception on March 23 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Stephen Parks, Zink’s long-time representative, will present a lecture, “Melissa Zink: A Life of the Mind,”
at the Encore Gallery on Saturday, April 14 from 4 to 5 pm.
Zink burst into the art scene later in life while in her 40’s with a series of ceramic sculptures that
functioned as dreamlike, ritual-laced narratives. She had her first gallery show in 1978, and her work was
immediately snatched up by collectors and applauded by critics. In the mid 1980’s she added paintings to
what had been monochromatic sculpture. In the 1990’s she experimented with materials, incorporating
roots and sticks into synthetic resin-based figures.
In her 30-year career span, Zink’s art was fueled by her great love of books. Zink was on a restless quest
for more accurate and satisfying expressions of what she termed “the book experience.” For a time, the
work took a decidedly surreal turn with jewel-like paintings of figures that seemed to be a combination of
the organic and the mechanical. She created numerous multi-dimensional works that paid homage to the
writers and painters she adored. Her late work was a summing up, a simplifying of imagery that included
a series of life-size bronze called, the “Guardians.” In 2006 she created “Memoirs,” a 4x8 foot work
overlaid with bits of her sculpture, paintings andobjects from across her distinguished career.
“Melissa was a remarkable artist and inspiration for many women to not give up on their dreams, no
matter how long it takes to get there,” said Parks Gallery owner, Stephen Parks. “She was always
pushing, changing, trying to find new and better ways to express the book experience ranging from
stories and characters, to bindings and typefaces. Her work started out with a strong narrative quality,
and her later work was much more abstract and filled with the spirit of books which gave her a remarkable
vision and ability that made her work absolutely unique.”
Zink wrote in her acceptance of the 2001 New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts,“to the
observer, mine appears an ordinary enough existence with little to distinguish it from uncountable others.
But an observer cannot know the journeys I’ve made, the lives I’ve lived, the intensities of joy and anguish
I have experienced. Nor can that observer know how the everyday complexity of life shines with
unfathomable beauty or how the difficulty of expressing that experience becomes overwhelming.”
Zink passed away in July 2009 at the age of 77, leaving a rich body of work which is exclusively featured
at Parks Gallery.
The Zink exhibitions are part of the year-long Remarkable Women of Taos celebration that currently
includes “Agnes Martin: Before the Grid” at the Harwood Museum, and “Millicent Rogers: the Power to
Create, Collect, and Inspire” at the Millicent Rogers Museum.
The Melissa Zink exhibitions at Encore Gallery and Parks Gallery will run through April 22. For more
information, call 575-751-0343 or visit www.parksgallery.com or www.tcataos.org.
For a list of additional Remarkable Women of Taos events visit www.taos.org.
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PRESS RELEASE
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
March 5, 2012
Starr Interiors’ Alcove Shows featuring Remarkable Women
In keeping with Taos, New Mexico’s 2012 theme of Remarkable Women, Starr Interiors
presents a series of alcove shows featuring remarkable women of Taos.
Starr Interiors is a weaving gallery owned and operated by remarkable women of Taos-since 1974.
May 12-31
Kendra Risinger – Glass Art
Opening – May 12, 4-6
June 9-25
Abby Salsbury – Ceramics
Opening – June 9, 4-6 PM
July 7-23
Lydia Garcia – Retablos & Santos
Opening – July 7, 4-6 PM
Aug.4-27
Terrie Mangat – Mixed Media Quilts
Opening – Aug. 4, 4-6PM
Sept. 8-24
Ann St. John Hawley – Paintings
Opening – Sept. 8, 4-6 PM
Oct. 5-29
Zapotec Women – Weavings
Demonstration – Oct. 6-7, 12-4 PM
For media information, call Leah at 575-758-3065
[email protected]
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CONTACT: Erica Asmus-Otero (505) 259-2202 [email protected]
Taos Celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8
and Throughout Year with ‘Remarkable Women’ Theme
TAOS, NM — As women across the world celebrate International Women’s Day today on
March 8, Taos, New Mexico’s year-long “Remarkable Women of Taos” theme celebrates the
strong and independent women of then and now who have made an impact on Taos.
International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900‘s and has grown throughout
the world in that time. Now, thousands of events are held aimed at inspiring women and
celebrating women’s equality, independence and achievements in the last millennium. Likewise,
Taos’ Remarkable Women themed workshops, exhibitions, events, and classes are being offered
not only on March 8, but throughout the year.
Now through September 15, Taos’ Town Hall will be the exhibition place for over 50 paintings,
photographs, sculptures, drawings and prints created by women in Taos. The “Art in Town Hall”
exhibit is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
The Harwood Museum of Art will present an exhibition of a little known body of artist Agnes
Martin’s paintings, dating from the late 1940s and 1950s. The “Agnes Martin: Before the Grid”
exhibition opens on her birthday – March 22 – and will trace the entire span of Martin’s early
work, beginning with early portraits, a still life, and landscapes. March 22 is also the official
media kickoff for the Remarkable Women of Taos theme.
The late Taos artist Melissa Zink who burst into the art scene later in life, inspiring other women,
will be remembered during two exhibitions opening on March 16: “Melissa Zink, Major Works,”
in the Encore Gallery at the Taos Community Auditorium and “Melissa Zink, Paintings and
Sculpture, 1979 – 2009,” at Parks Gallery. The Encore Gallery will host an opening reception on
March 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. Stephen Parks, Zink’s long-time representative, will present a lecture,
“Melissa Zink: A Life of the Mind,” at the Encore Gallery on Saturday, April 14 from 4 to 5 pm.
The exhibition runs through April 22.
On March 17, a special shopping event will take place at Taos clothing store, Substance, which
includes specials, goody bags, champagne and chocolates, along with an opportunity to check
out contemporary clothing and accessories from a number of designers.
Then on March 18 and continuing through April 15, find out the relationship between women’s
fashion and their independence through an exhibition titled, “The Art of the Dress: Four
Conceptual Fittings.” The exhibition takes place at the Millicent Rogers Museum and features
works from four female artists. An opening reception takes place on March 16 from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. Also on March 18, learn to cook an Italian meal with Taos Cooking School’s chef
Chris Maher. Tickets are $50 per person, wine is included. Tickets can be purchased at
Substance and Millicent Rogers Museum.
Additional exhibitions related to the Remarkable Women of Taos theme include:
February 10 – May 18 — “Out of the Background: The Women Artists of Early Taos.” This
exhibit brings Taos women artists’ art to the forefront. Blumenschein Musuem.
March 16 – April 15 — Original Millicent Rogers Collection featuring Millicent’s jewelry and
textiles. At Millicent Rogers Museum.
June 1 – 3, 2012 — “Meetings With Remarkable Women.” Drawing from the lives of the
remarkable women of Taos this workshop uses Taos as a focusing point to explore a number of
questions. For registration, please visit www.mabeldodgeluhan.com.
June 15 – January 6, 2013 — “Cultural Threads” featured will be colchas from the THM’s
permanent collections and the hand-colored plates of colcha designs from Nellie Dunton’s the
Spanish Colonial Ornament. At the Hacienda de los Martinez museum.
July 7 - October 14 — “Suspension of Disbelief: Six Women Artists” exhibition, featuring the
work of six talented female artists who lived in Taos. At Harwood Museum of Art.
Now through Dec. 1 — “Maria Martinez: Matriarch of San Ildefonso” featuring the Martinez
collection. At Millicent Rogers Museum, galleries 3 and 4.
April – December —”Unknown Was A Woman” exhibition will feature pottery, baskets, and
weavings by women artists whose work crossed boundaries from creating utilitarian objects, to
works of art. Millicent Rogers Museum.
May 12 – September 2 — “Millicent Rogers and Her Circle” exhibition will tell stories of
Millicent Rogers, Dorothy Brett, Rebecca James and Martha Reed. Millicent Rogers Museum.
July 7 – October 14 — “Beatrice Mandelman: Centennial” exhibition celebratingTaos
Modernist Beatrice Mandelman which includes a significant gift of work from the MandelmanRibak Foundation. At the Harwood Museum of Art.
Sept 15 - October 7 — “The Remarkable Women of Glass” exhibition. At Taos Institute for
Glass Arts.
Sept 23 – Feb 3, 2013 — “Barbara Sayre Harmon – Magic and Mystery.” Inspired at an early
age by Arthur Rackham’s watercolor illustrations in The Wind in the Willows, Barbara
explored the art of classical fantasy English watercolor. In her mystical, dreamlike images, she
tries to bring about a sense of peace and contemplation in the viewer.
Oct. 5 – Nov. 30 —“Force of Nature; Three Contemporary Taos Women Artists” featuring
work from three Contemporary Artists: Gretchen Ewert, Pat Pollard and Ginger Mongiello. At
the Encore Gallery.
Now through 2012 — “Millicent Rogers: The Power to Create, Collect, and Inspire” features
aspects of what made Millicent the woman that she is today. The first phase of the show will
share the “behind the scenes” Millicent. Millicent Rogers Museum.
Custom guided and self guided tours are also available which trace the steps of Taos’s
remarkable women. Custom guided tours through Seven Directions are available: May 18–22
July 20–24; and Oct. 12–16. To book the Seven Directions tour or for more information, call
877-992- 6128 or email [email protected]. Visit sevendirections.net for general
information.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012
Contact: Erica Asmus-Otero (505) 259-2202 [email protected]
Remarkable Taoseños Featured in Paul O’Connor’s
‘Taos Portraits’ Book & Exhibition June 1
‘Taos Portraits’ Selected as Official Event of NM Centennial
TAOS, NM — Acclaimed Taos photographer Paul O’Connor shares the timeless images and
fascinating anecdotes of the many remarkable people who made an impact on the Taos
community in his new book titled, Taos Portraits. The book will officially be released on June 1
at the Millicent Rogers Museum, concurrent with the opening of the museum’s “Taos Portraits”
exhibition. The exhibition runs through July 1, 2012.
Taos Portraits has been selected as an official event of New Mexico's Centennial Celebration in
2012 for its importance in documenting Taos’ rich artistic heritage.
The Millicent Rogers Museum will host an exhibit-opening reception and book release
celebration on June 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. O'Connor and many of the artists featured in the
book will be in attendance. On June 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the Hulse Warman Gallery will
continue the celebration by hosting a celebration where additional portraits on display, and on
June 7 at 7:30 p.m. SOMOS, the Society of the Muse of the Southwest, will present An Evening
with Paul O’Connor and Taos Portraits at the Harwood Museum of Art.
The exhibitions and book will feature black and white photographs of more than 60 influential
Taos “characters” – many who are well-known including the late Dennis Hopper, Agnes Martin,
and R.C. Gorman, and others whose faces may not be as familiar outside the Taos community,
but whose contributions were invaluable.
Along with the single-page images in Taos Portraits, each facing page will feature a vignette,
anecdote or brief biography of the artist, written by the artist’s friends and family or by wellknown Taos writers.
“Taos Portraits is an attempt to capture the spirit of some of the Taos artists who have affected
me – and the art world – most profoundly,” said O’Connor. “I've been collecting these portraits
for years, so putting them all together in a book and pairing them with short, colorful stories was
a great opportunity to bring some context to this incredible community of artists.”
For the past 20 years, O’Connor has earned a reputation in the community for his artful manner
in which he captures the timeless images of many remarkable people who made an impact in the
Taos community.
After O'Connor decided to share the images he took with an even larger audience, he
collaborated with Bill Whaley, the former editor of Taos newspaper, Horsefly, to produce the
book. The book is a gorgeous keepsake for lovers of Taos, art, or both, telling the story of some
of Taos' most well-known artists from the Moderns to present day.
As writer Lyn Bleiler reported to TREND Magazine, “O’Connor’s book is a veritable time
capsule in the continuum of Taos’ rich history as a mecca for alternative lifestyles and creative
souls. It builds on a tradition established by the late Mildred Tolbert, a gifted photographer who
captured the Taos Moderns and others on film in the ‘40s and ‘50s.
“I consider a portrait to be a collaboration. It's not a matter of ‘let me take your picture,’ but
something we create together. I try to show beauty that is timeless and ever present; to encourage
and inspire the viewer to go beyond the subject and invoke creativity in one’s life. Tell a good
story with eyes that shine and show an openness to the life that informs character,” said
O’Connor.
O’Connor moved to Taos with his wife in 1989 after leaving California where he studied
photography at the Pasadena Art Center. He worked in Taos as a professional photographer
shooting artwork and architecture for the artists, galleries and museums.
O’Connor returned recently from a visit to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China to oversee the final
changes and printing of Taos Portraits.
Taos Portraits will be available on the release date, June 1, 2012. Pre-ordered copies can be
purchased online at http://taosportraits.com/the-book.html.
For more information about the “Taos Portraits” exhibition at the Millicent Rogers Museum,
visit
millicentrogers.org or call 575-758-2462 or email [email protected]. More information
on Taos Portraits, the book, and O’Connor can be found at taosportraits.com/blog.html or
taosportraits.com.
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