Art, For Art's Sake

To fulfill an obligation to an aquaintance, I went to the Belen Art League Art Show at the Harvey House.

I am amazed.

In Southern Californis, "art" shows featured pieces with price tags starting at $100 and most, from there, going UP.

In So Cal, the art seemed to be divided into two categorise -- the painfully amatuerish and the $5K+ level

Here, the art, and much of what I saw WAS art, was mostly LESS than $500.

There were some FACINATING items.

Someone is using the Ukrainian wax dying method with native american designs on eggs.

FACINATING!!

Decorator water-colors, evocative of Georgia O'Keefe, for less than $500. BEAUTIFUL decorative pieces.

One or two pieces that take your breath away as being ART!! Gallery-quality pieces.

I have noticed this before here, in New Mexico. There is extremely good art produced by local individuals who do it for the love of the form, not to create a tax loss or to make an 'image' for themselves.

A note to those who would collect current art; especially 'folk' art: do not bother with the cities. Look to the local art guilds, and you will find some real treasures, and find them for a pittance.