Reception: Roger Evans: The Lighter Side of Art

The public is invited to a reception at Wild Hearts Gallery on March 8, to meet with Roger Evans and talk about his whimsical sculptures: The Lighter Side of Art.

Roger Evans is known for placing animals in iconic social settings – a kind of “Far Side” cartoon in three dimensions. He uses animals to express human foibles in a way that bypasses assumptions related to race, class, sex, age and other human markers. Sometimes, it’s serious, sometimes it’s just for fun which is the focus of Evans’ March exhibit in mixed-media paintings and sculpture.

Evans came to Placitas in the 1970s, when hippies were arriving in New Mexico. He was already 40, an architect who left behind a house and family in the suburbs of Chicago. He came because he was intrigued by the young people settling in New Mexico who were determined to “drop out” and not compromise their humanity. He dreamed of building a community of tiny homes surrounding a common building and pool. He was only able to complete the common building – now his home. It’s a small house, tiled in mosaic and surrounded by larger-than-life animal sculptures that required combining his knowledge of building materials and engineering with his sharp wit and habit of social commentary. A work of art in its own right.

This exhibition runs from March 4 – 30. Visit the website to view a virtual tour of the gallery at www.wildheartsgallery.com.

Wild Hearts Gallery is an artists’ collective, supported by 15 local artists. Located at 221-B State Highway 165, the gallery is open Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.