Aún Aquí: Spanish Colonial Contemporary

Couse-Sharp Historic Site is pleased to announce its first exhibition highlighting northern New Mexican artists working in the Spanish Colonial tradition, titled Aún Aquí: Spanish Colonial Contemporary. The exhibition name translates to “Still Here.” Including decorative and fine arts such as textiles, furniture, woodcarving, santos, metalwork, and painting, the exhibition will also feature historic works by J. H. Sharp and from the collection of E. I. Couse.

The exhibition will be in the 1830s Luna Family Chapel, Sharp’s first Taos studio. He dubbed it “the studio of the copper bell” in honor of the Spanish Colonial rough-cast bronze bell (acquired at Taos Pueblo) that hangs above the entrance. All contemporary work in the exhibition will be for sale.

“Our programming has for the past half dozen years largely reflected Couse’s and Sharp’s focus on Indigenous culture. With the advent of the Lunder Research Center for the Taos Society of Artists, we are now expanding our story and programming to include the local Hispano culture and community,” explained Davison Packard Koenig, CSHS executive director and curator. “We aim for this exhibition to build bridges toward that inclusion.”

Featured artists include Daniel Barela, Luis Barela, Patrociño Barela, Lorrie Garcia, Victor Goler, Nick Herrera, Arthur Lopez, Bernadette Pino, Eric Romero, Ernesto Salazar, Michael Vargas (santos); Andrew Garcia, Don Kelsen, Roberto Lavadie (furniture); Jim and Christen Vogel (cabinet incorporating painting); Larry Martinez, Rick Montaño, Racheal Montoya (jewelry); Brian Anderson, Tom Irvin, Nicolas Madrid (metalwork); S. M. Chavez, Brandon Maldonado, Ed Sandoval, J. H. Sharp (paintings); Carla Bogdanoff, Andrew Ortega, Don Sandoval (textiles).