OPEN SPACE PRESENTS: Gatherings

What: GATHERINGS, An Art installation by two women working within the LAND/ART collaborative,

Linda Holland and Becky Holtzman

Where: Open Space Visitor Center

6500 Coors Blvd., NW

(Between Montaño & Paseo del Norte at Bosque Meadows Rd.)

505-897-8831

When: MAY 1 – JUNE 28, 2009, Open House and Artist Reception May 2 , 1-4pm

Free Admission

Contact: Joshua Willis, Parks & Recreation Dept., Open Space Division, 505-897-8831, jrwillis@cabq.gov

Linda Holland and Becky Holtzman, two artists, have approached the Open Space Mission in a unique way.  They have identified the City of Albuquerque’s Open Spaces as unique site to “Gather.”  These spaces provide relief from the pressures of development, commerce and the basic need to keep moving for not only men and women, but also flora and fauna.  These are “Gathering Site,” sacred to all who desire to utilize them.

Becky and Linda state:  “Open Space and the bosque are essential gathering spots for many species, if only for a short time during migration. Curiously, Coors Road functions in a similar manner, as an artery that funnels a portion of Albuquerque’s human population, one direction or another, over the course of a busy day. Both of these “gatherings” underscore the need for Open Space: space preserved for migrating birds, and a space for retreat for busy humans. Within the Open Space, a different kind of gathering takes place: grains grown for wildlife, cottonwood saplings with their promise of future shade. And there is the intrusive, toxic, takeover of salt cedar and Russian olive. Jumbles of jetty jacks are positive intentions that visually read as signs of invasion. The sum of the parts can be lovely, but it can also overwhelm.”

Beautifully stated, these two artists invite you to come and enjoy the opening of GATHERINGS. 

An Open House will occur from 1-4pm on May 2, 2009.  The artists will be on hand to answer questions.  We would enjoy your company.   

Becky Holtzman, River Bed

Linda Holland, Bridge

Holland Bio

Linda Holland explores the possibilities of paper, recycled papers and those she makes from locally harvested fibers.  In the past she has drawn upon dimensional potentials of casting and of traditional kite making techniques.  Her current work frequently combines paper and wire to create contemporary abstract sculpture.  Gritty textures of neighborhood urban experience and organic compositions of wilderness hiking equally infuse her aesthetic.  Other influences are martial arts and music, jazz especially.  Holland's work has been regularly juried into national and local shows over the past decade and her sculptures have shown in numerous invitational shows, including over the past two years with four The Eyes Have It exhibits.  On a Cellular Level, her solo show, was installed at Harwood Art Center February 2008.  In addition to private collections across the country, her sculptures have been selected by Bernalillo County and Western New Mexico University for their public art collections.

Holtzman Bio

Becky Holtzman received her BFA in Printmaking from Indiana University (Bloomington) in 1996, and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1997. Recent exhibitions of her work include the New Mexico Arts/Art in Public Places project Rattle/Cry, in Silver City, New Mexico; the solo exhibition Dwelling, at the Las Cruces Museum of Art (Las Cruces, New Mexico); Tributaries, a collaborative exchange between eight poets and artists in Albuquerque and NYC, exhibited at 516 ARTS (Albuquerque); and Three Artists, a group exhibit at the historic KiMo Theatre (Albuquerque). Holtzman also collaborated with poet Jennifer Frank to create Cross-Pollination, a poetry/art exchange that was exhibited at the Harwood Art Center (Albuquerque) in 2004. Her work is found in over 40 private collections, and is also included in the State Capitol Art Collection in Santa Fe. In addition to exhibiting extensively, Holtzman has coordinated group exhibits in the Albuquerque community (Lush, in 2003, and Locus, in 2006), has curated art for the Inpost Artspace at Outpost Performance Space, and is currently contracted as an Outreach Educator for the City of Albuquerque’s Public Art Program.