R.C. Gorman Navajo Museum

In Old Town Albuquerque you will find several art galleries.  Right across from the park you will find an artist coop that houses one of the R. C. Gorman Navajo Museums.  There are also galleries in Taos, Santa Fe, and Scottsdale.  Rudolph Carl Gorman was a Native American artist of the Navajo Nation. Referred to as "the Picasso of American Indian artists" by The New York Times.  Two of his 1974 pieces are apart of the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection.  The Old Town Gallery is small and shares space with a larger coop and the art displayed in Albuquerque is (I am told) prints of the artist work and therefore not originals so keep this in mind if something catches your eye and you are thinking of making a purchase.  As for me I have a limited eye for art and when things hit the price range you find most items at I am out of the market. 

Gorman’s paintings are primarily of Native American women and characterized by fluid forms and vibrant colors. He tends to show women as strong and independent.  He also worked in sculpture, ceramics, and stone lithography.  He was also an avid lover of cuisine, authoring four cookbooks, (with accompanying drawings) called Nudes and Food.  I did not see these on the shelves!

Albuquerque Photographers Gallery

When you are in the Albuquerque area I recommend you plan at least four visits to the Old Town area.  Two for the larger museums, and two for the smaller museums and shops (make sure you stop into one of the restaurants to eat!).  Everytime we went we found something new.  Lori had this one gallery she wanted to see, so we plug it into the GPS – find the address and then go look for a place to park.  In walking to the planned gallery we see a sign for the Albuquerque Photographers Gallery and decide to stop in.  Now Lori has an eye for photography - she doesn’t make any money at it but our trailer is full of her work.  For me photography rates as my forth best art form (ice carving, sculptures, paintings, photography).  I think it is fourth because it requires the least physical labor, especially now that dark rooms have gone the way of the dodo bird.  The Albuquerque Photographers Gallery worked hard on pushing their art form up the scale a bit!

The Gallery is the only cooperative art gallery in New Mexico dedicated solely to exhibiting and promoting contemporary fine art photography by local artists. The gallery features unique images capturing the beauty and mystery of the Southwest and beyond.

 The gallery was founded in 2003 by award-winning photographer, Marilyn Hunter to provide a quality venue for local photographers to exhibit and sell their work and to create a nurturing and challenging environment where photographers can meet and discuss their work. The Albuquerque Photographers’ Gallery is also deeply committed to advancing the public's understanding and appreciation of photography as art the gallery is always staffed, usually by one of the photographers associated with the gallery. The photographers are all familiar with each other’s work and knowledgeable of the processes. The gallery operates as a co-op with ten member photographers.  Visitors may view and purchase iconic fine art images — infused aluminum, canvas, & traditional paper prints — representing a wide variety of styles and themes, including New Mexico and the American Southwest.  Now I’m going to put a little shameless commerce plug in here.  I live full-time in my RV.  There is little room for art (never mind the cost associated with it! Monet? No Way!).  I was very impressed with the infused aluminum photographs.  They are small and very light weight.  The process also seems to create a three-dimensional effect on most of them.  At the Albuquerque gallery they were going for $45.  

Not what I would consider an unreasonable amount for the quality and durability (they don’t need frames).  Soemthing to consider if you have a small space you want to decorate in your rig.  Of course you can still get that Jackson Pollack for the house!

Unser Racing Museum

When most people think of the Unser name they think of the Indy / CART racing series.  Me, I think of Pikes Peak.  Races like Pike’s Peak and IMSA usually have multiple classes running on the same day, of not running together on the track.  From my perspective you get more variety at these types of races.  When in Albuquerque the U nser Racing Museum will not disappoint you!    When you first arrive you are given an interesting briefing on the history and layout of the museum.  If you are not familiar with the Unser name when you walk in the briefer will catch you up very quickly on the accomplishments of New Mexico’s native racing family. The museum celebrates multiple generations of Unsers, from patriarch Jerry Unser, to Al Unser III and Mariana Unser as well..

The Unser Racing Museum is a multi-dimensional experience utilizing modern technologies to  immerse you in the  world of racing.  The mueum is in the shape of a steering wheel and the displays run counter clockwise as you enter.  You start with the Pikes Peak races and includes cars and motorcycles raced there. 

There is, obviously the Indy car section that includes the brief split into the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) circuit.  

There is a display just on tires and motors for the gear head in the crowd and a very nice display on the old (early 1900’s) board track circuit.     

This is where motorcycles would race in wooden tracks with high walls.  There was nowhere to go when things went bad and many people died on this circuit – so many so that William Davidson’s wife – a reporter before they married - wrote articles condemning motorcycles, labeling them “Murdercycles”.  

 From here you will see displays of the IROC (International Race of Champions) where drivers from the different versions of motorsports would compete in identical cars, hoping to claim which version of the sport was superior.  You will also see a display on the current, up-and-coming –Unsers and their race vehicles.

From the main building you will head to building two where there is an extensive collection of antique cars . What caught my attention in this second building was the trophy room. Apparently the winner of the Indy 500 always got a tour of the submarine USS Indianapolis and there were numerous plagues from the submarine in the trophy room!

The museum includes many kiosk’s that prove to be entertaining for a wide variety of age groups.  There is also a racing simulator for those that want to try their hand on the high-banked oval!

Valentines Day

Lori and I have been camping pretty much since we met.  We started out with a tent.  Back when I was a kid we would camp under the stars or in lean-to’s – going with the scouts in tens was a luxury!  I was very resistant to moving to a camper.  It seemed fate that about the time my back was giving out and sleeping on the ground – well at least getting up off the ground – was becoming an effort that a friend of ours was selling her seldom used Coleman Seapine.  By seldom used I mean that this thing had been slept in only three times, once on a trip to Maine and twice in her driveway.  I loved that Seapine! Sleeping off of the ground was a blessing for my back and because it had heat we would camp year round in Connecticut.  Winter camping in the Seapine was heaven!  For the most part we had the campground to our selves The Seapine had a chemical toilet but we always left it behind and used its cabinet for other storage.  We had that Seapine for 12 seasons before we moved up to a Coleman (yes the label reappeared!) Niagara.  This thing was heavy and pushed the limits of my V-6 RAM 1500.  The Niagara was everything we needed.  Being a popup it compacted and hid behind the Ram.  It towed straight as an arrow and when it was set up it had EVERYTHING – a full latrine (20 gal black water tank) an oven, a microwave (that we used twice).  It was a palace that we towed behind us!  That Niagara served us well for another 8 seasons! I told you that story to be able to tell this.  While we were stretching seasons in popups we had been planning for the day we would retire.  The popup life style allowed us to ‘RV’ very inexpensively so we could take some of our hard earned money and invest for our future.  I REALLY miss the Niagara.  There is nothing like sleeping with canvas.  However, our goal was to full-time and when you do that you need to be able to access a latrine on the road and have a kitchen where you can make lunch.  While we have not had to do it yet, the capability of over-nighting at a Walmart or rest area needs to be practical.  For all these reasons the Niagara had to go.  We have been travelling in our 26’ Flagstaff for seven months now and have not looked back.  I have been very fortunate to spend almost thirty years sharing a vision with my best friend . We worked hard and sacrificed along the way and now we are living our dream – and apparently the dream of many others.  I hope you all are enjoying the blog.  Give your significant other a nice hug and thank them for sharing your journey in live.  Happy Camping!  Spring is coming!!!

Pueblo Montano Open Space

There are many days when we just need a quick getaway, just something to amuse us for an hour or two until we need to be somewhere else.  When in Albuquerque, NM the Pueblo Montano Open Space is exactly that.  This area of Albuquerque suffered an accidental fire n 2003.  The fire burned approximately 100 acres of bosque (pronounced boss-K and means forest) at this site. Firefighter Mark Chavez helped fight the blaze and then brought new life to the devastated cottonwoods in the form of sculpture.  

Over ten trees were transformed into images depicting local wildlife, characters from local folklore and other themes. One piece is a tribute to the firefighters who conquered the fire, symbolically represented by a defeated dragon. The name Pueblo Montaño honors the ancient pueblo village known to have existed here from about AD 1300 to mid-1400.  The sculptures at this park are incredibly well done and the picnic area is well maintained with public restrooms available.  Did you forget to bring something to do while you are sitting there enjoying the mile-high air?  

  Don’t worry there is a small free-library exchange box on site where you can borrow a book and just relax and watch the equestrians trail riding in the background. Looking for something a little more strenuous or just looking to fill the day? Pueblo Montano is right on an extensive trail system so you can go for a hike or break out your mountain bike and head off on an adventure.  Pueblo Montano has dedicated ADA and equestrian parking areas and plenty of interpretive educational signage