Local Coloring

August 11 — September 3, 2017

 

We contacted five New Mexico-based creative writers, and asked each one to compose a short, image-rich story for the project. 

 

What resulted are colorful stories with a variety of styles and cultural references, both local and universal. Jamie Figueroa and Lily Hoang bring us fantastical images of giants and monsters. Nasario Garcia pulls us into old-time small-town Norteño fiestas and dark back roads imbued with mystery and magic. Joe Hayes shoots us to the stars and back with a coyote tale, and Melody Sumner Carnahan spins us in circles (while reminding us to keep breathing) with a dizzying array of imagery.

 

When the stories were complete, we invited a group of artists, known for their drawing ability, to make coloring book style line drawing illustrations based on the stories. Later we had an open call to any New Mexican to contribute a drawing. 

 

Artists who contributed their drawings to this book: Joshua Atlas, Jamison Chas Banks, Rita Bard, Jeff Benham, Crockett Bodelson, Victoria Carlson, Susan Case, Hye Coh, Matthew Chase-Daniel, Lisa de St. Croix, Erin Currier, Donelli J. DiMaria, Clare Dunne, Alexandra Eldridge, Joerael Julian Elliott, Betsy Emil, Andrew Fearnside, Brian Fleetwood, Lisa Flynn, Jason Garcia, Miranda Gray, Holly Grimm, Linda Guenste, Hans Harland-Hue, Nicola Heindl-Watson, Sienna Heinemann, Yubi Kim, Shakti Kroopkin, Celeste LaForme, Mary Lawler, Katherine Lee, David Leigh, Israel Haros Lopez, Nina Mastrangelo, Abby Mattison, Kathleen McCloud, Daniel McCoy, Mary Moegenburg, Sabra Moore, Eliza Naranjo Morse, Aidan Mott, Matthew Mullins, Joel Nakamura, Arlene Ory, Larry Bob Phillips, Mikey Rae, Janet Stein Romero, William Rotsaert, Iren Schio, Rose Simpson, Mark Spencer, Rick Stevens, Laurinda Stockwell, Dianne Stromberg, Linda Swanson, Tricia Tusa, Linda Vi Vona, Erika Wanenmacher, Tracy Cook Wein, Jerry Wellman, Raina Wellman, Gwen Wells, Anastasio Wrobel, Aaron Yazzie, Francesca Yorke ,Debby Young, Bette Yozell.  

 

At Axle Contemporary, our goal has always been to exhibit art to our community, from our community, in unique ways. Feel free to grab your crayons or markers and color in-between the lines. Or just turn the pages and enjoy the stories and drawings all sprung forth from the imaginations of our colorful local artists.