Let's have fun together at our March Networking Pot Luck Party!

Directions to home of Lyn Avery, for March 7 at 3:00:

Take Hwy 150 to Arroyo Seco. Drive through Arroyo Seco, as if heading for the ski basin(do NOT turn up El Salto Rd). Just past the Arroyo Seco Post Office is a dirt (mud) road - Morada. Turn right on this road. Our home is the only left hand driveway on this road. We have room for about 8 cars on the yard. Otherwise you may park at the post office and walk up. Be prepared for mud, and you may want to carry a torch for the way back! Call with any questions: 776.3221

WhiteHawk's Corner

2010 Studio Tour Alert
Join in the excitement of being in the third annual TAO Studio Tour, September 3 thru 12, 2010.
Get great exposure all year with your pictures and info in the Tour Guide/Member Directory!
Pay $100 by March 7
After March 7 and by April 5 - $125.
Mail your name and phone number along with a check to TAO, PO Box 1294, Taos NM 87571

or bring it to our next Networking Potluck Party on March 7th at Lyn Avery's
I will send an email with directions and phone number.

LOGO COMPETITION

The Taos Gallery Association ( TGA ) is having an open competition for a new logo.
This includes artists, graphic designers, high school students, etc.The new TGA logo will be used by the organization as part of its identity. The new logo needs to facilitate instant recognition of the organization and to reinforce brand expectations and public image. Below is a mission statement.
"The mission of the Taos Gallery Association is to promote the visual arts of Taos, New Mexico on a national level."
"Cradled on the edge of where the soaring Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico fan out westward toward the sage brushed mesas and plains, Taos has been a magnet for artists for over 100 years. Rooted with the now legendary "broken wheel" of Blumenschein and Sharp in the 1890's, to the formation of the "Taos Society of Artists" in the early 20th century, Taos' storied history as an artists' community is as colorful and vibrant as the arts and crafts emanating from its adobe and hollyhock-lined streets."
This new logo will be used in promoting the TGA in print, web, etc. The chosen logo designer will receive credit on the TGA website and press releases announcing the winner.

Please submit all ideas / designs to Rob Nightingale, 119 A Kit Carson Road, Taos, NM 87571 or info@wnightingale.com by 5:00 pm. Friday, MARCH 19th

TAO EDUCATION PROGRAMS

TAO Summer Arts

"TAO Summer Arts" & "Neighborhood Arts"

For me, one of the best things about being an artist is the freedom to express myself. When I imagine a new piece I think in the round and the symbolic form comes to mind. Do you remember your first art experience? How did this effect your life as a "real" artist. Who were your influences? A parent, a teacher, maybe a trip to a museum? Here in Taos, a group of TAO members who happen to be art teachers are using their influence to enrich the lives of the youth in our community. 

Lorrie Bortner, Jan Haller and I have teamed up together to create "TAO Summer Arts". We wrote grants and actually received a few small contributions to the Program. I had to back out because of limited funds but Lorrie and Jan taught their classes- Mural Painting and Expressive Painting at locations in Taos to youth ages 5-12. The classes were free to the kids and they had a fabulously enriching time. 

The other Program spearheaded by TAO member, Sienna Sanderson , in which Lorrie Bortner, Jan Haller, Barbara Barrett, Jon Greenley, Mary Barnes  and I participated in is the "Neighborhood Arts" Program. This program sponsored by TAO, The Harwood Museum of Art, the Town of Taos and YouthHeartline is also free to youth and brought art making to neighborhoods in Taos. Tents, which became art rooms, were set up in a trailer park behind Walmart and the kids and their families joined together for mask making, collage, murals and painting. What fun we have been having and what a great opportunity to use our skills as artists and teachers to influence the young artists of tomorrow. See the photos above and below. There will be more programs like this in the near future and we will be contacting artists interested in teaching in similar programs. Look for the emails...

Neighborhood Arts

Summer... hot days filled with hot art and artists

TAO 's First Masquerade Ball was a success!  

If you did not make it to the Masquerade Ball, enjoy these photos and see what you missed. Great masks with costumes adorned.  There was food, drinks and plenty of art on view at the Taos Art Plaza- the venue for the Ball. We thank Josie Lenwell (seen in center- photo below) for sharing her photos of the event.

Taos Art School- new brochure

Ursula from the Taos Art School has put a mention of TAO in their new brochure on page 43. It is great to see art groups in Taos working together and supporting each other. They want to offer all of the members of TAO a 15% discount on tuition for any class. check out their web site www.taosartschool.org

SELLING MORE ART

The Michael Shorr Workshop on "Selling More Art: new internet media" was filled with information to move forward on your own. There are two Tuesdays left- April 7th & 21st at Kit Carson conference room 7-8:30 pm. $10-50 (pay what feels right) for the two remaining classes. Don't miss it!! Testimonials from the first class: "Really informative and eye opening. I look forward to delving into the rest of it"-  Bonnie Cooper; " It's an honor for TAO to have Michael Shorr sharing his knowledge, expertise and secrets. He shows us how to use new media to increase our unique profitable communications about our artwork" - WhiteHawk

Check out this link below for more info:

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/289756/060a4f6e8e/TEST/TEST/

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$$ Opportunity Housing Art Students

Interested in making money housing an adult student for a week this summer. This is a great way to make new friends and earn money at the same time. 

Call Marilynn Nicholson at 758-0207

Marilynn Nicholson Taos School of Metalsmithing & Lapidary Design 

http://www.taosjewelryschool.com

New Mexico Wax

"Waning and Waxing: The Resurgence of Encaustic": an exhibition for New Mexico Wax, a statewide organization for encaustic artists - March 20 - May 2 at Zane Bennett Contemporary, 435 South Guadalupe, Santa Fe. Opening Reception:  Friday, March 20 from 5-7 PM. Demonstrations and Gallery Talk: Saturday, March 21 from 1-4 PM.

Our own Harriette Tsosie is in the exhibition and the founder of New Mexico Wax.

Call to all Artists: Friday, March 6th, 9 AM -5 PM

Museum of New Mexico Foundation
The Taos Artists’ Organization is pleased to introduce an exciting professional opportunity for artists, writers, and musicians living and working in Taos County. TAO will be working in conjunction with the Museum of New Mexico Foundation’s “New Mexico Creates” marketing and sales program to promote economic access for our local creative community to regional, national, and global markets.

The Museum of New Mexico Foundation operates gift shops in the state’s museums where quality arts, crafts, music CD’s, and books by local authors are sold directly to museum visitors. The Foundation also operates a highly successful website at http://www.newmexicocreates.com/.
The jury will consist of three buyers who will assess artwork, music CD’s, and literary work based on quality, authenticity, and salability. They will be looking for mid to high end products. Artists can bring photos, portfolios, samples of their work, a business card, and a bio. Artists, especially jewelers, who wish to have their work purchased during the visit should bring a wide selection of pieces for the buyers to consider. Details of the artist’s contract will be explained at the time of the buyers’ visit.

The team from the Museum Foundation will be at the Taos Visitors Center, 1139 Paseo del Pueblo Sur on Friday, March 6th, from 9 a.m. thru 5 p.m. Please RSVP at the TAO office, 751-0071.

MARCH 1st - General Meeting

On Sunday, March 1st at 3:00 pm TAO is having it's general meeting in the Taos Visitors Center Board Room. Please attend! We will be discussing the Spring Event "That Was Then This is TAO - an exhibition of LOVE". May 16 - June 21 are the exhibition dates, held at the Taos Art PLaza - TAP. Let's discuss LOVE subjects (all and everything) for the show, display, party, open mic nights and what you can do to help in the success of this event.
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ARTISTS ABOUT TOWN


Lorrie Bortner is included in the show March of the Wild Hair - Hare, at Jandreau Art, 105A Quesnal, Taos. Opening: Saturday March 7, 3-6pm, come for a Tea party and fun events. Contact: Lorrie at 751-0493. She is also included in the Millicent Rogers Minature Show.


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Diana Rico...on the Artsist Workshop

Thank you for the opportunity to teach the artist’s statement workshop. The participants’ responses were so heartening, I got inspired and wrote a post for my blog. I will send it in a separate email to the workshoppers, but here is the link, if you want to share it with the general TAO membership:http://theloveartblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/try-a-little-tenderness/ And speaking of that, I would like to offer all TAO members $5 off the JumpstART Creativity Workshops I am teaching Saturday 2/28 and 3/7 (I will be covering different material each day, and people can sign up for one or both). These are designed to address any sort of fear or blockage someone is having at any point in their creative process. I’m attaching a flier, if you want to email that to the membership as well. Thanks so much!
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The Boom is Over. Long Live the Art by Holland Cotter
Sunday New York Times, February 15, 2009
I invite all of TAO members to read this article from the New York Times on the future of art [in this economy]. It is a short history of contemporary art as well as a testiment to how we are all in this together.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/arts/design/15cott.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=all>

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TAO Networking Party

TAO Networking Party is happening on Thursday, February 12th from 5:30-7:30. Come and find out about what TAO is doing for 2009. Members bring a friend who is curious about TAO. Tables will be set up with information on various Committees including: PR, Studio Tour, Education, Catalogue, Artist Directory and more. TAO Board of Directors will be present to answer questions. Fun for all, refreshments served. Members are asked to bring a napkin finger-food to share. Location: Taos Art Plaza, 223 Paseo del Pueblo Sur.

Artists Speak Out

TAO Member Josie Lenwell participates in a Peace Demonstration in Washington, DC during Barack Obama's Inauguration

"Code Pink and Veterans Against the War formed in 2002, and both groups become well-known nationally for their outspoken tactics"..."even now, the press can count on someone from Code Pink to interrupt General Petraeus when he gives an Iraq progress report." -taken from the Village Voice 

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/01/

Art, Artists and Internet Groups

TAO Members Art on Exhibition

Call for Entries: Glam Trash Fashion show Sept 6th at the Stables Gallery in Taos. Looking for designers and models. If you want to be in the show, let us know by Aug 15th. We need your name and a contact number and an idea of what you are making. We have relaxed the "send a photo" deadline, and now just want you to check in - Call Nicole 587-2115 or Jean 587-0202. Glam Trash Fashion workshops will be held every Friday from 1-4 pm at Art for the Heart Studio in Peñasco (across from PO). We have lots of materials or you can bring your own. Contact: Jean Nichols 587-0202, 587-2889 (during studio hours -
Thurs-Sun 11-5).


Bianca Maestas, "Visual Texture", sculpture and photography at the Taos Cow on main street in Arroyo Seco, Artist Reception on Friday, August 8th from 5-7.
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TaosArtists@yahoogroups.com Our new Internet Taos Artist Organization Yahoo Group

Whether you are an artist, gallery owner, art collector, or art appreciator, we hope you'll contribute to and enjoy the liveliness of this forum. Mary Lela, TAO member, is the moderator for the Group. To begin, send an email to TaosArtists-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taosartists/join . Don't be discouraged by the joining questions. This forum is a great asset to the artists in our community. When you join, the address to post a message to everyone on the list is TaosArtists@yahoogroups.com

Communicate to other TAO members about shows, techniques, materials, distributors, great painting spots, art gatherings, art openings, go museum hopping together in Santa Fe, in Paris, in New York...the possibilities are endless.

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Oddballs in the Desert : by Alexander Theroux
A Book Review written in the Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121754696826502651.html

From Greenwich Village to Taos: by Flannery Burke

excerpt - ..."It was an art colony predominantly, but it included a range of creative guests: the painter Georgia O'Keeffe; the journalist John Reed; writers D.H. Lawrence and Gertrude Stein; the feminist Mary Austin; and Carl Van Vechten, one of the guiding lights of the Harlem Renaissance. Mabel Dodge Luhan knew everybody and, in a sense, everybody visited her in Taos...."

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A word From David Vedoe - Steering Committee Member

Visionary Visual Artists of Taos

Greetings Fellow Visual Artists: Each of us bear part of the responsibility to ensure this vibrant mountain artist community/colony is alive and kicking. As we honor and revere the past and the inherent qualities that drew us here, kept us here and inspires our daily creative energies, it is also of paramount importance, as the first link as creators in the vast Art Industry, to steer toward a future that holds the best of our individual contributions. We are the stewards of the factual legacy that will be handed down to the following generations of artists - Let us make them proud to be Taos Artists.

Artists, Gallery Owners, Collectors, Art Lovers, Museums and art related organizations in Taos must bond in improved ways to create a local atmosphere and ambiance around visual art that allows everybody involved to be the best they can be.

Therefore - Give your practical-!!! viewpoint on how to manifest that to the TAO group forum so we can present it to all the people involved in the Visual Arts of Taos.

Keep in mind:Any successful endeavor requires participation, responsibility and accountability.

Because we ourselves Love Living in Taos - People visiting will also learn to Love Taos & recognize it for its strong, engaging, sparkling and enchanting art community.

Artists for Artists at work for Visual Art in Taos.

Sincerely Yours,

David Vedoe

Co-Founder TAO Taos Arist Organization
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TAO Newsletter - Summer 2008

OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A FORUM FOR VISUAL ARTISTS AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY TO INSPIRE AND PROMOTE ONE ANOTHER

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CONTENTS:

Ongoing:

Steering Committee Corner

Artists Quotes - Barbara Kruger

Deadlines

Artists About Town

Studio Tour 2008

Special:

Donating Art to Charitable Groups

Taos Art Happenings Blog

TAO Progress

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TAOS ARTIST ORGANIZATION

CONTACT

taosartist.org

WhiteHawk@writeme.com

(575) 758-1443

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TAO Newsletter Blog is here to stay

Welcome to TAO's new newsletter! After much discussion we decided to create a Newsletter Blog that can be easily accessed by the members. The first 4 issues of the TAO Newsletter was designed, printed, sorted and mailed. This was time consuming and in turn the information got to you, the members, in a slow and frankly archaic manner. Lets jump ahead to the 21st century and welcome a Newsletter that gives you timely information that is smart, creative and current. Enjoy this Summer 2008 posting! The TAO Newsletter Blog will post each month with the summer issue incorporating July and August. Note worthy postings will be added throughout the month. TAO Members who want to post their art happenings please send them to taosart.blogspot.com

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"Lots of Fun in the Summertime...Oh Yea"

"I was raised and lived in cities my whole life, until Taos entered my life. I listened to R&B- soul music and literally danced in the streets". How does this relate to being an artist in Taos you may ask? Doesn't everything from the time of birth make up who you are and what your art is about. This is a big stretch but if art parrells life then someway it is so. Let's have fun this summer. After all, when September first rolls around you will have to take account of all you made this summer. Examine the unfinished painting in the corner of your studio or the sculpture on a shelf waiting to be fired- this is what assessment is all about. Do I have enough work, do I have my studio ready for people to visit, enough postcards?

All is good, all is calm, all is creative...if it would only stop raining!

Bonnie Cooper- TAO Newsletter Blog Editor

Contact Bonnie: ripwoman7@msn.com
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ARTISTS QUOTES:

Quotes by Barbara Kruger
" I always say that I'm an artist who works with pictures and words, so I think that the different aspects of my activity, whether it's writing criticism, or doing visual work that incorporates writing, or teaching, or curating, is all of a single cloth, and I don't make any separation in terms of those practices."

"I think there are lots of ways to make good work. You can throw big bucks at a project and make what some would call crap, or you can work very modestly with eloquently moving results."

"If most American cities are about the consumption of culture, Los Angeles and New York are about the production of culture, not only national culture but global culture. You can make good art anywhere. But these two towns have an incredible density of cultural producers: people who migrate to them in order to define themselves through their work."

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Taos County-Wide Tour of Visual Artists Studios: Two Weekends September 27 & 28 and October 4 & 5

This event will increase the artists’ visibility as well as welcome visitors to participate in a major contribution to the community at large. Taos County-Wide Tour of Visual Artists’ Studios is taking place Two Week-ends this Fall 2008. 128 artists have become TAO Tour Members which enables them to get a free web page on TAO web site, taosartist.org Artists can choose to open their studios for one weekend, both weekends, or for the entire period from September 27—October 5. In conjunction with the Studio Tour an Exhibition, which serves as an Index for the tour, will be presented at the Kachina Lodge Gallery, 413 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. Each participating artist will be represented in the show. Two other events will take place at the Kachina Lodge: an Exhibition Reception and a Meet More Artists' Nite.

Schedule For the Studio Tour Days

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TAO WEB SITE:

Here is what is needed for Active and Tour Member Artists for their web page.

1)Artist name and media 2)The contact info the artists wishes to have presented, including web site, address & email. 3)A jpeg image of an example of their art. Minimum size is 600 pixel on longest side (8in.) 4)image info - name, size & media 5)Head shot - highly recommended but not required. Size is 400 pixel on longest side (5in.) 6)Brief artist statement - Can be philosophy, history or about the process. 7)Artist phone # for Ty's questions ( if not provided in #2 ). DELIVERY OPTIONS: 1)Send E-mail with attachments to tylerh@newmex.com 2)Send a disc to Tyler Hannigan, PO Box 3530, Taos, NM 87571 3)Send photos to Tyler Hannigan, PO Box 3530, Taos, NM 87571 and email text to tylerh@newmex.com

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STEERING COMMITTEE CORNER:

So much happens from week to week we can hardly keep up with it. I often wonder how we would get things done if we did not meet so often. The steering committee meets every Friday and at these meetings we review, troubleshoot, brainstorm and come up with concepts for the future. On Friday, July 25th we had a meeting that opened our eyes and guided us into the possibilities of the World Wide Web. Mary-Lela Gilbert, a TAO member with experience in posting on UTUBE, has created two UTUBE segments about the Studio Tour. They include the artists on the tour and one has background music of an original piece created by Mary-Lele herself, the other is with the background music of Robert Mirabal. As soon as the two segments are complete we will post the UTUBE segment link on the Newsletter Blog. Also, Jean Scott Benson, from KVOT, 1340AM, "TheVoice of Taos", came to the meeting to make a video clip of TAO steering committee to be used in future "social networking" opportunities.

We at TAO are reaching out to the global community. This is one of the best advertising venues you can use today.

WhiteHawk- TAO Membership Chair

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SPONSOR LEVELS:

All Members find sponsors - see the levels below. Sponsors are needed to generate money for advertising.

Sky $1,000 or more

Summit $500

Mountain $250

Foothills $150

Mesa $100

River $50

Make checks payable to: Touchstone Foundation, Inc. and write TAO in the memo, mailing address- PO Box 1885, Taos, New Mexico, 87571, USA

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ARTISTS ABOUT TOWN:

Josie Lenwell "Homes and Sanctuary", photographic reflections has been extended till July 31st at Time Space Gallery located at Dreamcatcher Realty Building, 515 Gusdorf Road. Open Monday thru Friday from 11:00am to 5:00 pm. For info call Josie at 751-0407.

"Celebrating the Rustic Beauty of Northern New Mexico", photographic reflections at Cafe Loka located at 112 Camino de la Placitas and Ledoux St. July 19th thru August 22nd. Artist Reception August 9th 3-5pm For info call Josie 751-0407

David Vedoe "People & Houses", painting in oil and acrylic, a show focusing on various ways Art can cast a light on our Built Environment; July 3rd- August 9th; Cafe Loka located at 112 Camino de la Placitas and Ledoux St.; contact David at 575-751-7762 or visit his web site
art-architecture.blogspot.com

6th Annual Ranchos de Taos / Talpa Studio Tour- Sept. 20th, 10-5 and Sept. 21st, 12-5; TAO members WhiteHawk and Sandy Chestnutt will be on the tour. Look for the Studio Tour Brochures at the Taos Visitor Center. Contact WhiteHawk at 575-758-1443

Carol Savid Loveland Sculptural Exhibit 2008, one of the top sculpture exhibits in the country; Carol will be included in the exhibit which is previewed August 8th, 9th and 10th.

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DEADLINES:

Celebrate Global Awareness in honor of the 2008 Olympics show at the Country Club, opening August 8th from 4-6; Submit low-resolution images to artstudio2@hotmail.com along with a brief artist bio and dimensions of work. Artwork should depict the subject matter of world peace, global awareness and global games, and must be your best. Artists whose artwork is accepted will be contacted on Aug. 4 for hanging.

The Green Show at the Country Club- Pick up your art work on August 1st.

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Are you informed about TAO Progress with: Catalogue, Postcards, Pocket Map/Business Card, Sponsors, TAO Web Site, TAO Design Group

Catalogue - is beautiful and is at the printer and will be ready sometime early August.

Postcards - designed and also at the printer, info will be posted on this blog about circulation

Pocketmaps - business cards - designed and almost ready for printing

Sponsors - wait until you see the sponsor pages in the catalogue, "very impressive"; we sill need more sponsors though so do your part and get the word out and get a sponsor TODAY!

TAO web site - taosartist.org - check it out for more members faces and web pages and for valuable info

TAO Design Group - we have formed a design group with Bonnie Cooper, David Vedoe and Sandy Chestnutt. TAO design Group will be designing the marketing materials for TAO

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DONATING ART TO CHARITABLE GROUPS

"Artists tiring of giving work for charity" - from CBC News on-line http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/06/20/artists-charity.html

Some P.E.I. artists are complaining about being asked by people organizing charitable functions to donate their work for free. They say giving away art to be auctioned off at charitable events costs artists money, and often they don't even get a tax receipt. Island sculptor Carl Phillis considers himself a starving artist. He works days at The Bulk Barn in Charlottetown to make ends meet. Recently, yet another request for an artwork for a charity auction turned him off the whole idea. "They want our art, but they don't want us to go to the function," said Phillis. "They want this piece of us, really, they love it, and yet when it comes to asking us if we want a glass of wine, we don't get the glass of wine." Phillis vented his feelings in comments on a personal blog by Darrin White, who is executive director of the P.E.I. Council of the Arts. That relaunched an old debate about whether artists should willingly give away their art to help raise money for other people. Nigel Roe has been a visual artist on P.E.I. for 25 years, and he's joining Phillis in demanding change. "A lot of arts organizations in other provinces have established standards," said Roe. "If we're going to donate work we're going to put a minimum bid on it, and we have to reach that bid before it's sold. And we're not just giving it away. Anything after that is shared 50-50 with the artist and the fundraisers." The P.E.I. Council of the Arts will meet this September to try to put some guidelines in place.

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TAOS ART HAPPENINGS BLOG

The idea behind this blog is to post art events (art in all media, painting and drawing sessions, shows, workshops, art events) that are happening in Taos. Here on our TAO Newsletter is a link to Nancy's blog. Click on Taos Art Happenings Blog and you will find postings of interest to artists. Nancy is a tremendous asset to the art scene in Taos. Her blog helps connect artists and gives them access to information that keeps artists current and in-the-know. You can visit the blog at this website taosart.blogspot.com . TAO members are encouraged to use this Blog to post your own art happenings.

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BLOG DESIGN BY TAO DESIGN GROUP 2008