Happy Birthday to Taos Blue and Sue Westbrook!
This month they both celebrate birthdays and 30 years on the corner of Bent Street. Since first opening her doors in just a tiny corner of what once was Taos Society of Artist’s founder, Bert Phillips’ home and studio, Sue has steadily acquired more and more space, while establishing her gallery as a must visit, destination spot in Taos.
Filled with American made treasures, Sue sources the very best artists and artisans from the region and beyond. And Jarret West is no exception. “I’m delighted to add Jarrett West to the artists I show at Taos Blue,” Sue told me. “I just bought two stunning outdoor sculptures for our garden,” she continued, “ as well as some fabulous ceramics for the gallery.”
Jarrett West was born in Santa Fe but his childhood years were spent on a cattle ranch in Eastern Wyoming and on a farm in Teton Vally, Idaho. After discovering an interest in ceramics during high school, he moved back to Santa Fe and began a series of apprenticeships with renowned ceramicists Mary Ann Gerber, Peter Dougan, and Robert Brodsky that would span a decade.
During this period of study and apprenticeship, he began to design and build numerous homes and studios working in adobe, straw-bale and stone, hence the desire to combine the knowledge of ceramics with the practice of building structure, which has led to his interest in large sculpture with some pieces soaring to ten feet in height. Sue’s purchase of two of these intriguing and abstracted forms are sure to add a whole new energy to the little courtyard garden in front of Taos Blue.
The (small) and practical pieces shown here, are created with a stoneware clay body fired to 2,192° F., and the glazes, formulated in the studio, are both food and microwave safe. All West’s work is one-of-a-kind with the original maker’s mark stamped into the clay. His sculpture will hopefully be installed in time for Sue’s Taos Blue 30 Year Anniversary Celebration in the garden this weekend.
On Friday there will be an Artist Reception for painter Bruce Barnes from 4-6pm. Barnes began painting very late in life, and his charming, whimsical and naive works, are much sought after by collectors these days.
On Friday too, Sue will host a Trunk Show at the gallery (get a head start on your Holiday shopping), with Art in the garden, running through Sat. Oct. 5 with Callie Long and Karen Wilkinson in the garden. The Trunk Show will happen from 10-5.
There’s something wonderful on the corner of Bent street and the Paseo, just look for the (Taos) blue door with Corn Maiden beside it.
For more information on Taos Blue and all of the above, please visit the site linked below.
For more on Taos Blue Doors go here: bluedoors
All images thanks to Taos Blue
