Visit with Artist Amado Peña in Ruidoso, NM

Sunday, December 16, 2012 Doug and I drove to Ruidoso, New Mexico to visit an exhibition of Amado Peña's art at Mountain Annie's Art Gallery. We had been trying to get there for three days, but due to cold weather, snow and ice, we decided to go on Sunday even though the weather was still iffy.

We ran into some falling snow pellets a couple of times in the mountains, but the road was warm enough to melt them as they hit. We actually made good time on the road and arrived in Ruidoso in about an hour. As we entered the venue, we encountered a beautiful lady who immediately introduced herself as J.B. Peña. We originally met Amado in Dallas some years ago at the Annette Strauss Artists Square downtown where an Indian Market was being held. J.B. escorted us into the show area where we reacquainted ourselves with Amado. As we talked, he continued working on a new piece using India Ink. He did stop long enough for pictures to be taken.

J.B. is an artist in fabulous fabric weaving and has a studio in Santa Fe called "Handwoven Originals". She is also a creator of lovely jewelry. If you are ever in Santa Fe, you should make a point of visiting her studio in the Inn and Spa at Loretto, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, phone 505-982-4118 and web site is handwovenoriginals.com  J.B. and Amado live at Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico.

Between the two of them, the exhibition was absolutely a feast for the eyes evoking many emotions. They are each delightful people and as individual from one another as any couple could possibly be. The pride they have in each others talent is very evident and they are a joy to visit with. They also take pride in other artists work and directed us to another room housing many works of Madeleine Sabo, a wood artist.

Madeleine Sabo is legally blind having been struck by a devastating disease some years ago. She creates by touch and demonstrated this on a small lathe she had set up in the room. We bought two of her pieces, one of which was created from an Australian pine cone. Madeleine lives in Nogal, New Mexico.

Here is yours truly entering Mountain Annie's

Carla and J.B. Peña just meeting

Amado Peña, as he said, "Playing at working"

Carla inspecting a scarf titled "White Sands" woven by J.B. Peña

Just one area of Amado's selected works and some clay jewelry by J.B. on the table

Doug got Amado to stop long enough for a great shot

Doug, the photographer and Amado, the artist. What a happy pair!

 Thanks to J.B. for the photo of the three of us

Madeleine Sabo explaining to me how she made this exquisite wooden vase

Doug bought the vase for me. It is adorned with embedded pink coral.

Doug  (the engineer) naturally had to photograph Madeleine's lathe

Needless to say, we left the exhibition with a number of lovely purchases for Christmas gifts and the joy of reconnecting with Amado as well as meeting J.B. and Madeleine. When we went to our car, it was snowing and our plans to dine at Michelena's Pizza and Italian Restaurant were shelved. We wanted to get out of the mountains before snow started to freeze on the highway. On our way home we stopped at another favorite place for dinner, Casa de Sueños in Tularosa and had delicious Mexican food. A lovely way to end our Sunday adventure.

Thanks to Doug for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.