Happy New Year!

In the gallery/studio today, yes, on a holiday, to get the January show up and the gallery ready for tomorrow's opening reception. The First Friday reception will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The show will be up for the entire month of January.

Our January featured artist, Nick Harmon, is showcasing 8 new pieces including the entry way floor, and an amazing 7 piece backlit acrylic series that's sure to please.

Nick Harmon is owner of FHAB Concepts, and developer of Fresco Harmony, recently he decided to take a tour of newer galleries affiliated with the AABA (Albuquerque Arts Business Association) to show art and pollinate networks. Not only does he create, original media fine art, he also creates innovative patented wall and floor surface applications.

In conjunction with the opening at Chroma Gallery, we were privileged to be able to finish a section of floor in the gallery in his patented technique. This floor system is not a stain, it's a coating, and it's 100% original, and green. Both the wall and floor concepts were accepted into the International Green Ideas Show in Oct where they were a hit. The artwork is where Nick researches new ideas for other, more practical, applications, ie, counter tops, tiles made from moisture resistant hardy backer, transparent window coverings, glass block and more.

The floor before
My contribution, the drawing of the spiral
The spiral template
Nick getting started
The finished spiral, come on down to see the whole floor!

December Events at Chroma Studios & Gallery

I have been super busy with the gallery this month! We have several events happening at Chroma Studios during December. We would love to see all our friends, new and old, for the holidays! We have extended our open hours to Tuesday-Saturday 12-6 pm. Shop local and buy from living artists!

1. In case you haven't yet heard, we are holding a silent auction to benefit the Roadrunner Food Bank for the month of December. There are many artists participating and there will be drawings for door prizes on the opening night of the show. This is a great chance for you to help a worthy cause and have a piece of artwork to show for it. The opening reception is Friday, December 5th from 5-8:30 at Chroma Gallery at 1606 Central SE Suite 102. Call 259-6320 or 908-1392 for more information

2. On Saturday the 6th, Chroma will be hosting its first ever figure drawing group from 1-4 in the Gallery. We have limited space, so please call to reserve your place. Cost is $7 per session or prepay 5 sessions for $25. The group will meet every Saturday from 1-4 pm with the exception of the 27th of December when we will be closed. Call Paula at 259-6320 for more info.

3. On Friday, December 12th, Chroma will kick off its Intimate Concert Series. This series of concerts will be held on the Third Friday of most months in 2009 and will feature an acoustic performance in an intimate setting.
From 20 to 30 available seats depending on how much space the performers need. The first concert will be performed by Chroma founder Aaron Lewis and tickets will be sold for $5.00 call 908-1392 to reserve your seat today.

4. On Friday December 19th Chroma will have a closing show for the Silent Auction and wrapping artwork for the winning bidders. This show will be from 5-8:30 as well. Call 259-6320 or 908-1392 for more info.

5. Chroma will be closing on Dec 21st until our First Friday show in January to allow the artist Nick Harmon to come in and prepare the gallery for his Fhab opening.(and to take a short breather).

My aching back!

Interior windows looking from front gallery into my studio with my smaller paintings

Featured art in the front gallery, my latest large painting, "Grateful", 48 x 48", oil on canvas

Another of my newer large paintings, "The Calm Before..", 40 x 40", oil on canvas

left side wall in front gallery, my painting "The Vortex", 40 x 40", oil on canvas

The inner gallery/classroom space and art by other studio artists

Back wall in the gallery, another large painting of mine, "Chroma Sunset", 48 x 48", oil on canvas

Aaron in the main gallery

Me talking with a high school friend I haven't seen in 10 years!

The show opening on Friday went very well. We added several new names to our mailing list and had a few sales. It was a long weekend as we had to sit the gallery for our posted business hours for the first time. The weather was cloudy and rainy, so not many visitors on Saturday and Sunday. The bottom two photos above were taken by one of the photographers in the show, Susan See. The others are pics I shot before the show opened.

Monday morning I woke up with a major pain in my back. Actually, it feels more like my hip. I can't tell if it's out of place or if I just pulled a muscle. Either way, the pain is making it difficult to get anything done today. I had planned on painting, but it hurts to stand at my easel. So, here I sit, blogging and basically avoiding pain as much as is possible! 

UPDATE: It seems after talking with my brother and mom, that a may actually have a kidney stone! Yikes! My brother suggested I try drinking some cranberry juice, which I did, and the pain subsided almost instantly! This stinks! Any other suggestions out there? I don't have health insurance, so I can't go to the doctor.

Need Something to do Tonight?

....Then come by Chroma Studios and Gallery for our "Feathers and Flowers" Show. This is our first show as a member of the Albuquerque Arts Crawl. We are excited about our new gallery which expands Chroma Studios into a downstairs space with easy access for everyone. We have plenty of free parking! Come by and have a peek into the working studios of our artists and see the featured work of Chroma founders, Josephine Brionez de Flores and Paula Manning-Lewis, along with the work of our studio artists.

When: Tonight! 5-8:30pm. Show runs through October 31st. We will also be open for the two weekends of Balloon Fiesta, Thursday - Sunday from 12 - 6 pm.

Where: Chroma Studios and Gallery, 1606 Central Ave SE, Suites 102 & 201, Albuquerque, NM

Chroma Studios and Gallery First Friday Opening

We are very excited about our upcoming opening! The new gallery and classroom space are amazing! If you are local, please come visit us!

When: Friday, October 3rd, 2008 5 - 8 p.m.
Opens October 3rd and runs through Oct. 31st. We will also be open for the two weekends of Balloon Fiesta, Thurs. thru Sun. from 12-6pm.

Where: Chroma Studios and Gallery, 1606 Central Ave SE, Suite 102 & 201, Albuquerque, NM

What: Chroma Studios and Gallery Art Opening - Feathers and Flowers

Chroma Studios is happy to present the opening of our new gallery and classroom
space. We have expanded since our grand opening in June to include a gallery
and classroom downstairs. This First Friday, our new gallery will feature the
work of Chroma co-founders Paula Manning-Lewis and Josephine Brionez de Flores.
We will also have live guitar music by Chroma artist Aaron Lewis, who has
recently released a new cd Space Travel. Our upstairs gallery will include the work of our studio
artists Barak Naggan, Sarah Rose, Caroline Blaker, Chris Schelling, Kirk McGee,
Terry Hansen, and vashti b. Plus guest artists, Susan See, Diane Reitz and Michael Gallegos.

Hope to see you there!

Paula Manning-Lewis :)