My First Gallery Showing of my Photography. . . EVER (of two!!!). I like to believe that one day there will be more. But truthfully, I’m just grateful to the friends who believed in me and called when the opportunity arose and said “These are beautiful! Let’s show ’em.” I still don’t believe it most of the time. But I am proud of them, so I curated them here 🙂
They originally showed in the upstairs gallery at the Woodford County Library in Versailles, KY and as stressful as it was to let others see things “through my lens”, so to speak, it was a lot of fun, and, strangely enough, REALLY gratifying. Thank you, Jen, for believing in me and Laurel, for giving me a tiny (HUGE) nudge (SHOVE) back into the creative world. I was then, am now, and always will be a little bit eternally grateful for you both.
In June, 2009, my husband and I chose to visit Taos, New Mexico, on our honeymoon. We wanted to visit the Pueblos de Taos. They have been listed as one of the 200 greatest destinations for Art, Culture and Nature Sanctuaries by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and it’s a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. It is a destination I would strongly recommend to anyone. There is a spirit there that is indescribable, and it extends into the small artist’s town also named Taos. I have to admit the light there, is magical. Taos has drawn artists for generations, and to stand in Taos Plaza is to stand where my heroes have been. It was an amazing experience that I will treasure always. I hope you enjoy the images I have chosen. They are a small sampling of the beauty that I experienced, and I pray that one day, if you have an artist’s heart, you too will make the journey to Taos
Highway 68, New Mexico 2009
I love this image. It is taken from Highway 68 which runs from Santa Fe to Taos. Highway 68 is also called the River Road, because it follows the path of the Rio Grande. The road winds its way into Northern New Mexico, giving its traveler spectacular views of distant mountains, desert vistas and amazing cloud formations. At times, it feels as if the road is coming back around to meet you, but it is incredibly beautiful and in the week I spent there, I never tired of traveling along Highway 68.
Highway 68, New Mexico 2009
The canyon was one of the first sights we actually pulled of the road to spend some time with. The sun was beginning to set, and we still had a bit of a drive ahead of us, but my husband was so excited. He grew up in Texas, and this view immediately reminded him of his childhood in Bryan, Texas. Me, being from Kentucky, I didn’t see it at first. My brain couldn’t process chasms of this magnitude, but once it could, I was awestruck.
Highway 68, New Mexico, 2009
You see this stuff in movies and some part of you thinks “that can’t be real”, but they are. And you have to wonder, “If I came back again next year, would they look the same.” I have decided that the answer is no, they wouldn’t. That is magic of this landscape. It is ever- changing, constantly adjusting, striving to be more . . . Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to it.
Highway 68, New Mexico 2009
Winding along, following the Rio Grande, we rounded a curve and were greeted with this striking, beautiful image before us. It was definitely a “stopping” moment. But there’s more to this mountain than meets the eye. Although we were unable to get close enough to explore further, these crosses at the top of the mountain seem to announce several more memorials at its feet. According to the employees at the tasting room across the highway for Vivac Winery, which also uses this image for their label, this is Cathedral Rock and the name of the cemetery at its base is known as Father Cooper’s Cemetery.
Highway 68, New Mexico 2009
On occasion, I will see those little potted cactuses in bloom for sale in our local garden centers, and I always think “Oh, those are pretty.” But nothing prepared me for the sight of these plants in their natural environment along Highway 68. Five-foot tall, spiky clusters in full bloom scattered for miles across the desert. In a background of muted reds, dusty browns, and mossy greens, vibrant pink roses pop the landscape with new energy against a bright blue sky. Absolutely breathtaking!
Highway 68, New Mexico 2009
I love this tree. . . I have no idea why, but we must have passed it a dozen times that week, and every time, my response was the same. . . “I love that tree”.
Highway 68, New Mexico 2009
In June 2009, when we visited Taos, locals told us that it had been the wettest summer anyone could remember, and in fact the desert was much more green than usual that year. While we never got the chance to actually feel rainfall in the desert, we did see it. It was fascinating to be able to see the entire storm out there in the distance, but never feel a single raindrop. Later, we were also treated with a rainbow.
White Cross, 2009: The adobe buildings are beautiful and the churches. . . omG:-)
Parking Garage, 2009: And this is how they build Parking Garages in Santa Fe. .. you heard me. . .it’s a parking garage!!!
Holy Water, 2009: From the cathedral in Santa Fe. Gorgeous!!!!
Columbine, 2009: Probably my favorite. . . and a perfect example of just being there when the light is right.
Spike, 2009: It seems like my favorite place is in the details. . .
Cactus Flower, 2009: For those of you who have never seen a field of cacti in bloom. . . it’s amazing.
Taos, New Mexico, 2009
So we’re driving, and I see this shop and I don’t see these doors and immediately want one. . . I immediately wanted them all. . . so I had to settle for a photo of them.
Taos, New Mexico, 2009
Legend has it that this is where the bad guys hung out, back in the day. . . now it’s a restaurant. . . with pretty good eats:-)
Taos, New Mexico, 2009
Normal folks would just want to sit here and relax. It was so quiet and peaceful. But what do I do. . . . take photographs. . . lots and lots of photographs.
Taos, New Mexico, 2009
Another favorite. . . probably because this trip was the first time I had picked up my camera in years. . . an open door to me in sooooo many ways. . .
