Hearts and Stars Benefit 2010 at Wilder Nightingale

It was a great party at Wilder Nightingale Friday Night - the annual Hearts and Stars Benefit to end Homelessness in Taos.  Here is a picture of (from left) David Montgomery, me, Peg Immel, and Coni Grant. The show will run until December 1 so there is still an opportunity to buy and support the shelter. A little information about the shelter..........


To benefit the TAOS COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS, LLC
Opening Reception Friday, November 26 from 6-8pm
Since re-opening our new Shelter on April 21, 2010, we have served over 350 men, providing over 1200 bed nights. In addition to a clean bed and the opportunity to shower and do laundry, we serve home cooked dinners which are brought to the Shelter every evening by various members of the community. Our staff gets to know each of the men, who stay with us for more than a night or two, and staff can provide counsel, and will put the men in contact with any agency that may be of assistance. The important thing in these communications, aside from the possible results, is the mutual respect and caring that becomes part of the Shelter’s environment. Under our current operating budget, it is costing us a little over $25 per night to provide these services for each man. 

Coni is talking to Rion Gabriel winding up the end of the evening.

A picture of Kemper Coley, Peg Immel and Steve Immel.

David Montgomery and his wife Cynthia Cutts.

A picture of me and Kemper.

The show always has great food- and Rob works extremely hard writing up sales and trying to keep the momentum going.  Sales were brisk and I have sold one small painting- hopefully I will sell the other.  

The Hearts and Stars Reception at Wilder Nightingale

The Reception at wilder nightingale was crowded!!! This picture of Coni Grant, Alan Heuer, and Kemper Coley was taken later in the evening- when the crowds had kind of cleared.

Here is a picture of Richard Luckemeierm- he caught a ride with Coni and I to the show- we picked him up from Charlie Ewing's studio in Antonito - great art show by the way- and took him with us to Wilder Nightingale. He looks like I just asked him to eat his spinach - I guess I caught him off guard- sweet guy and fun to talk to.

Some of the miniatures hanging on the wall and silent auction items in front of the tree.

A lively crowd at the gallery -- Rob talking to Alan and Coni in the background.

Well the food was wonderful and of course it was a packed house. It was definitely worth the drive and we always enjoy seeing our Taos friends. The show's purpose is to end homelessness in Taos- a great cause.

A trip to Taos

Coni and I decided to deliver our miniature paintings to Wilder Nightingale for the Hearts and Stars show and drove over on a beautiful but chilly day. We met up with Patrice at the gallery
and considering the fact that everyone had brought their painting gear, decided to paint for the day. We were supposed to meet Kemper at the gallery at around 11:00 and I was planning on waiting for him but Rob decided to call Kemper to see if he was coming- good thing since he was at the top of the chairlift ready to ski down the slope. He said he would meet us in about 45 minutes so we went to Cafe Loca to eat-- great place- thanks Rob! We kind of settled in and I was thinking how maybe we really didn't have to paint after all- it was sooo comfortable in Cafe Loca.

But then Kemper called and of course I said let's paint! We ended up painting a small church off of Kit Carson - right down from Wilder Nightingale- cool church with the mountains as a backdrop.

Here Coni and Patrice are discussing Coni's painting--

Kemper is concentrating- very seriously working- we were a rather quiet bunch during painting time- I was because I haven't been out in awhile and didn't feel exactly in sync.

The final result- by the time I finished the sun was out in full force and shining on my canvas, The support was underpainted in orange which gave it a warm feeling- and it was a pretty nice day- just wore my Carhartt vest so it was a great way to get started with a new season. We will be attending the show on Saturday- should be fun!

Red Chevy

I will be entering this small 6x8 painting in the Hearts and Stars art show at Wilder Nightingale in Taos. I did this painting from a picture I took while at Creede Colorado- it was sitting rather forlorn at the road towards the mining areas.

Hearts and Stars

As I have been in Denver for a large amount of the week and will be taking Erin back on Thursday, I haven't been plein air painting as much as I would like. I decided to try to get a small painting done for the Hearts and Stars benefit to end homelessness in Taos. The largest size of painting that they will take is an 8x10 so I painted this- it is a small copy of an 18x24 that I have hanging in my studio and I would have like to have made it a 9x12 but I still like it- now I will have to get another one finished within a week or so...