FARM REPORT...LEGENDS OF SANTA FE

In Santa Fe on Lincoln Street stands a gallery called simply Legends. This amazing gallery is a labor of love of two women who clearly stand out in their thinking and their execution of this gallery. Legends is a partnership between the gallery and emerging artists of the area, both Native American and traditional. It was opened by Lauren May in 2007. With no background in art Lauren took a risk. Her love of Native American art brought her to Santa Fe and her passion evolved into Legends Gallery. Artists who were not able to show at Indian Market now had a place show. Since its inception this gallery has hosted many local artists giving them a high profile venue to showcase their art. In 2009 Lauren’s daughter Leslie came to Legends to run the gallery and insure Lauren’s original vision remained true to the advancement of the Native Artists of the area. Leslie and Lauren are a close successful mother daughter team. What makes the gallery work says Leslie is the “trust factor” between mother and daughter. Works of Nocona Burgess great great grandson of Comanche chief Quanhah Parker exhibiting the strong faces of the proud Comanche people are now on exhibit. Exquisite color and interpretation of the natural world can be seen in the work of Karen Algeren. Frank Buffalo Hyde breaks boundaries and mixes the traditional with the contemporary in an unusual and beautiful way. A partnership with the Heard Museum of Phoenix Arizona will bring Andrea Hanley of the Berlin Gallery to curate a new show for Legends. Part of the proceeds for this sale will go to the Heard, which houses one of the most extensive collections of Native American and other tribal art. Leslie says “Legends exhibits a distinct and different point of view” These forward thinking ladies are continuing the tradition of advancing the Native American artists of Santa Fe.

I met Patricia French one evening at the Lensic Theatre, I knew she was a special lady. Pat French championed historical recognition of women in the State of New Mexico. In her travels around the state she noticed of the 500 historical markers in New Mexico only one recognized the accomplishments of women. Working with the Mexico Historic Women's Marker Initiative in 2005, she helped raised over $300,000 to recognize the accomplishments of women and erect 66 markers across the state honoring the women of New Mexico. She told me "New Mexico is a place without barriers for women". Her words gave me the personal encouragement to try new things on my journey and be fearless. Pat French came to Santa Fe from New York. She was an early childhood teacher; the school she founded in Brooklyn is still in existence today. As a realtor in Santa Fe for over twenty years, her agency French and French Fine Properties in association with her husband Michael grew, as did her love for the City Different In her capacity as the head of the firms marketing and public relations, her insight into the future lead to the creation of SantaFe.com. When deciding to step down from the website she said she knew she was not the final owner. "You don't own anything in this life...you are a steward" In keeping with her philosophy "There is no society unless you bring it!" Pat co-founded Dollars4Schools. Administered in partnership with the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Dollars4Schools raises money through direct giving to benefit specific classroom needs for Santa Fe public school children. Having tea one morning with Pat French was a pleasure for me, this Renaissance lady sparked my ideas, my courage and my vision. Thanks Pat!

FARM REPORT

I am going through a personal Renaissance. In this journey I came to Santa Fe. A place where this concept is a part of many women's' lives. Acknowledging the talent and creativity of some amazing women is the focus of my blog this summer. Looking at the Renaissance historically, one finds an overall rebirth of culture, thinking, art and science. Santa Fe has given me the opportunity to explore all of these avenues of self expression. To make significant contributions to myself, my children, the community and the world. I am especially grateful and blessed to have been able to be in the company of some special ladies. Women who have embraced changes in their lives and have given back to the community and the world fresh new ideas sprinkled with grace and style. In this time of economic challenges it is refreshing to see women looking at the needs of community, taking a hands on approach and finding new solutions. Now is the perfect time for dynamic new ideas. Ideas to push the City Different to the pinnacle of art, culture, and change for a new era.
So Santa Fe, I would like to introduce you to a few women I have had the privilege to meet. I know you will find them as inspiring and beautiful as I have.

FARM REPORT

Music evolves and will until time runs out. It shifts through passages, moments, and crevices in your life. As was written and recorded by Quincy Jones, "everything must change". No fear because of the changes that occur in your life, what you must do is embrace them. No one love is like the last love. Look into your new loves eyes and open your mind to something different.
Fortune has let me listen to and know music and art on many different levels, jazz, soul, R&B, hip-hop, gospel and even lately some bluegrass. Renaissance, impressionist, modern and classical painting and sculpture. I find it all connected. The Last Poets were the rappers of their time and Bessie Smith recorded sweet soul music. The call and response of the chain gang is the formula for that motown sound. Drum calls influenced Elvin and Art. Classic Greek sculpture is obvious in Edmonia Lewis work and the fauvist color and shapes of Matisse and the lines of Modigliani give me more inspiration and instruction every day. DH Lawrence was arrested for the erotic love he wrote about, I can write of love as I wish.
This stream of art, music, and lyrics has shaped me. Though some call me a dreamer, I know it is the music of my soul they may not be able to hear. I have heard the best and that ability to hear is what makes me beautiful.

sculpture by Linda Hayden

Simplify our complicated love lives | KOB.com

Simplify our complicated love lives KOB.com

Our manager stops by Good Day New Mexico to talk about her new book WHAT PASSES FOR LOVE

FARM REPORT

Having girl friends is the best. Your girl friends can tell you off over a bottle of Gnarly Head California Cab and you will hug them for it. Your girl friend can tell you what you should do with a man who is giving you the blues and you will totally listen....you may not comply, but you will listen. Its a girl thing. Have a table full of food laced with hot spicy green chilies stay up til 3 in the morning crying on each others shoulders. Its a good thing. Its a girl thing. My life would not be the same without my girl friends. Trust me when I say I LOVE the presence of the man in my life. Love the feel of his arms around me and his lips all over my body...however, there is something about the company of my girls that is like a warm loaf of bread. Ladies...never underestimate the power of having your girls. Never underestimate the power of a good time exchanging ideas and feelings with like minded females. Embrace each other, give each other the strength and the wisdom of your combined experiences. Teach your daughters to do the same.

FARM REPORT

One day in May love saved me
Gave me the freedom to pursue a perfect love
We are perfection and the personification of imperfection
Let the world slip away
All the people and all the opinions of our beautiful imperfection slip away
Stand naked in the rain… our love and no ones words
Have I have inspired you to write a song
Then my imperfect love will have been made perfect
You saved me from the oubliette of my life

I was your gift whole and imperfect

Alone In a new cell of your making living on this remote mountain of pain
Arrives success…
Save me from the aloneness of such success
It is an empty reward….all for naught
Give me failure with you to love me
Never would I chose to live from under your shadow

Years have passed since I sang loves song ..pure and inspired
A song only my beloveds’ ears could hear from me to him and him to me
My beloved who cared only for the sweetness of our imperfect love
The song died but love did not

Love save me from your ears never hearing our song again
Save me from the death of loves' song yet again
We have torn each other to shreds and hurt ourselves to please others
Had no one told us we were wrong we would still think our love was right

Passion scared us…when all we needed from each other was the divinely ordered love that arrived One day in May