1. PREVIEWS OF WORKS FOR SALE AT UPCOMING SHOWS COAST TO COAST A P R I L 2 0 1 5 I S S U E 1 1 4
A M E R I C A N
C O L L E C T O R
Now Showcasing Glass,
Ceramics & Wood

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Blue Rain Gallery
130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite C | Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 954-9902 | www.blueraingallery.com
UPCOMING SHOW PREVIEW /SANTA FE, NM
April 3-25, 2015
From an oil painting of a Dia de los
Muertos-styleinterpretationofAmerican
Gothic to a graphite drawing of a Native
American delegation on ledger paper to
a photograph of surfers, the subjects and
styles at the 3rd
Annual Invitational Show at
Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico,
provide a diverse offering of new works.
Owner Leroy Garcia found five artists new
to the gallery for the show, including his wife,
photographer D’NelleGarcia,ChrisPappan,
Iva Morris, Yatika Fields, and Josh Clare,
Leroy says perhaps the only thing uniting
the work, around five pieces per artist, is
that it is all one of a kind, giving visitors an
opportunity to collect from artists who are
not overexposed, despite their level of talent.
Pappan,whosedrawingTheSevenKanzaa
depictsmembersfromhisnativeKawNation,
often uses photographs as inspirations for
his drawings, frequently drawn on ledger
paper. Residing in Chicago, where he says
the Native American art scene is virtually
nonexistent, showing at Blue Rain provides
him an opportunity to gain exposure for his
culturally influenced work.
“For me, my art is a personal journey and
aboutlearningwhoIamandwhereI’vecome
from,” Pappan says. “If you know that, I think
you’re more of a down-to-earth person.”
Pappan, who says he enjoys working
in graphite because “you can’t have a
good painting without a good drawing,”
has previuosly known fellow invitational
exhibition artist Fields, a painter who has
produced graffiti works. Fields’ series of
paintings focuses on the anticipation of
warm summer weather, colorfully reflected
in his oil Awaiting Bloom, which also
relates to his evolvement as an artist.
“It reflects me in a lot of ways, from
where I’m at now, to where I’m going,”
Fields says. “I think everyone is always
waiting for something new, and that relates
to me. My paintings are very colorful and
alive, and I want that summer spirit to get
people to get excited and uplifted.”
Another artist in the show who loves color
is Morris, a regular among the Santa Fe art
scene in her home state, who approached
Blue Rain Gallery to show her work. The
self-taught painter says she aims for her
paintings to be like billboards, with clear
messages immediately apparent to viewers,
and often comments on women’s role in
culture and politics in her works. While some

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of her pieces carry deep messages, such as
the oil Liberty featuring a “for sale” sign on
the opera glasses the female is holding up,
Morris’ paintings are often bright and pretty,
no matter how serious the subject matter.
Viewers will also find beauty in the
breathtaking scenes in D’Nelle’s light- and
color-inspired photographs, including those
of a train, a sailboat and a horse, and in the
landscapes of Clare, whose oil South Rim
transports you to the Grand Canyon world
wonder.
“This world is unbelievably beautiful, a
constant flood of inspiration for anyone who
takes the time to look,” Clare says. “I want to
see more clearly and appreciate more fully,
and I create to help others do the same.”
Leroy says this year’s show stands out
for its impressive roster and supports the
gallery, which has been in business for the
past 24 years, in its mission to promote
exceptional talent.
“Their ideas are very innovative in their
subjects and mediums, and they’ve worked
to refine their art,” Leroy says. “When you
have that combination, it’s really exciting.”
1
Josh Clare,
South Rim, oil on
canvas, 24 x 36"
2
Iva Morris,
Southwest Gothic,
oil on canvas,
36 x 48"
3
D’Nelle Garcia,
Untitled (train),
C-prints on Fuji
crystal archival
paper, 20 x 40"
4
Chris Pappan,
The Seven Kanzaa,
graphite (pencil) on
found substrates,
20 x 20"
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Yatika Fields,
Awaiting Bloom,
oil on canvas,
36 x 36"
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