Flying Star Nob Hill
Stacy Hawkinson

Artist Statement:

My art education began in earnest after obtaining several science degrees and working in the Medical technology field for a couple of years. But something kept drawing me back to the arts I had always loved and this resulted in undergraduate work at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. This in turn resulted in an MFA degree in painting and drawing from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. By the time I got to Albuquerque I knew how I wanted to paint, I just didn't know how to go about it. I like to work big and that requires space to paint, which I didn't have. To avoid that problem I started a small cooperative gallery with people who responded to my ad in the Alibi.

After the LUCY Gallery played out I discovered I was left with a few art friends and still no where to work so I painted smaller and participated in a few shows. Eventually I found my way to studio space at Fort 105 in downtown Albuquerque where I could produce and show paintings. My work now ranges from very large to very small. These pieces are composed with images I've found somewhere or another, often painted on fabric or maybe a blanket or discarded drapes, or on canvas or board.

Realistic, banal, commercial, popular, appropriated images may be combined with abstract painting, cartoonish clip art renderings, silhouettes, dripping house paints, whatever works at the time. I really just like to play with the elements using a wide range of techniques and styles until a sense of balance, or imbalance is struck. Or I might paint a single image all by itself, or no image at all.I also like polka dots.

Flying Star Juan Tabo
Jane Lieberman

Artist Statement:

My interest in painting stems from viewers’ reactions. One can focus on the positive – but when one’s efforts are memorialized in paint, others can come along too.

After sanding the painting surface feather-smooth, I lay my first strokes of color on the edges. I see “paintings” not as drifts of color laid on a surface – but as individual entities. I paint in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and chalk.

Each medium presents its own challenges, but the fascinating part is to find the paintings literally taking on a life of their own – even as the first colors are laid on the canvas. Later, when the canvas or panel is fully dressed, it may travel around town, teasing affection from total strangers while making friends stop and stare. One of my pieces is still hanging out in a frame shop… well, we won’t talk about her.

The goal of this work is to share my love of coffee. I discovered the brew as a college student in Paris. For less than a dollar, I could get a “café grand crème” and a slab of baguette at any café. Even at dawn, the stale scent of smoke would linger in the air, but the coffee was hot and smooth and amazing. Now I have my own espresso machine – and I find that when beans are properly ground and pressed, the steam collects only the beans’ sweetest essence, dripping tiger stripes of flavor onto the surface of the brew, numbing my tongue as I sip.

Artist Bio:

After trying out many different fields (coxswain, disc jockey, prune picker) I became an attorney. I practiced law in San Diego for a decade then married into the military where I was given the opportunity to live around the world and try out more careers (performer, environmental mediator, tax preparer, interpreter, editor). In 2007, we returned to New Mexico where I seem to have discovered some grace with painting. It is my pleasure to share impressions garnered from around the world with others through this work.

Flying Star Downtown
Evan Travnicek

Artist Bio:

To call myself a self-taught artist feels misleading; I was born to make art. My creative process is intuitive and I can’t imagine life without it. Creating art brings balance to my life. I have been a professional working artist since my first exhibition over 17 years ago.

International folk art most inspires my work, specifically traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls. I have played with the Kokeshi in my work for over 10 years, incorporating its lively and cheerful image in endless variety. I constantly find renewed inspiration from the vibrant and endearing Kokeshi. These dolls allow me to express my clandestine inner world by connecting folk influences of the past and a vivid hope for the future.

For more information about my art or to contact me please go to: www.alexandragjurasic.com.

Flying Star Bernalillo
Joy Conway
and the
Sandoval Community Arts Organization

Artist Statement:

This was a fun and rewarding project for me, as well as being educational. Most of my work is done with private homeowners or business owners, and involves making their imagined designs come to life, or me creating a design out of...again...imagination. The Flying Star Bernalillo project involved over 30 hours of research, to insure that we had dates, chronological order and historical details such as clothing style and design portrayed accurately. Also, most of my commercial work is with an eye toward the future and sales. I found this project especially compelling because we were honoring the past events that had taken place around a new business site. It makes me look at Bernalillo with new awe and appreciation.

Finally, the best part about this project were the people involved, every last one a volunteer. We had both "real" artists and those who had no artistic experience work on the mural. It lends a sense of whimsy and beautiful "not-perfect" results so when many hands are involved and so many different styles come together. Everyone had a positive attitude, even though there was an intense deadline, and I made several friends of the special women who helped out. It was especially rewarding to me to realize that we had people of Mexican, Indian, Irish, Polish, Russian, English etc., descent working side by side to get the job done, with respect and cooperation. Who says we haven't come a long way?

The Flying Star and Satellite restaurants have been my favorite since moving to the Albuquerque area eight years ago. I was thrilled to be a part of this project, and hope to work with the Sandoval Community Arts again!

Flying Star Bernalillo
Alexandra Gjurasic

Artist Bio:

To call myself a self-taught artist feels misleading; I was born to make art. My creative process is intuitive and I can’t imagine life without it. Creating art brings balance to my life. I have been a professional working artist since my first exhibition over 17 years ago.

International folk art most inspires my work, specifically traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls. I have played with the Kokeshi in my work for over 10 years, incorporating its lively and cheerful image in endless variety. I constantly find renewed inspiration from the vibrant and endearing Kokeshi. These dolls allow me to express my clandestine inner world by connecting folk influences of the past and a vivid hope for the future.

For more information about my art or to contact me please go to: www.alexandragjurasic.com.