Flying Star Nob Hill
Evan Travnicek

Artist Bio:

To call myself a self-taught artist feels misleading; I was born to make art. My creative process is intuitive and I can’t imagine life without it. Creating art brings balance to my life. I have been a professional working artist since my first exhibition over 17 years ago.

International folk art most inspires my work, specifically traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls. I have played with the Kokeshi in my work for over 10 years, incorporating its lively and cheerful image in endless variety. I constantly find renewed inspiration from the vibrant and endearing Kokeshi. These dolls allow me to express my clandestine inner world by connecting folk influences of the past and a vivid hope for the future.

For more information about my art or to contact me please go to: www.alexandragjurasic.com.

Flying Star Juan Tabo
Jenny Malvern

Artist Statement:

I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Cinco de Mayo, which may explain part of my fascination with Latin cultures. My grandparents raised me in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and I spent much of my childhood hiking in the Jemez Mountains with my aunt and uncle, and spending summers with my father and his family in Southern California. In addition to being an artist, I am the mother of two wonderful children.

For two years I studied architecture at the University of New Mexico. I earned my bachelor’s degree in art history with an emphasis in Latin American modern and contemporary art from the University of Delaware. Professionally I have worked as a graphic designer, art gallery manager, art teacher, office manager to the founder of the Smithsonian’s Museum of African Art, book copyeditor and layout designer, and most importantly artist.

Hot air balloons, the ocean, seashells, swimming pools, pets, hikes, calligraphy, watching my grandfather paint, and the pawnshop where my grandmother worked—these are the experiences of my childhood that influence my work. Currently my children, my relationships, nature, old family photos, music, and travel inspire me artistically. My paintings range from the completely abstract to the representational. I like street art: the hard-edges of graffiti, stencils, tattoos, concert art of the 1960s hippie festivals and the 1980s punk era, and Latin American folk art. My affection for bright colors comes from my optimism and my appreciation of the use of color in the art of Latin cultures. My favorite artists are Remedios Varo, Matisse, Frida Khalo, Sol Le Witt, Elizabeth Murray, Joan Miro, Roy Lichtenshein, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali.

Flying Star Downtown
Stacy Hawkinson

Artist Statement:

My art education began in earnest after obtaining several science degrees and working in the Medical technology field for a couple of years. But something kept drawing me back to the arts I had always loved and this resulted in undergraduate work at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. This in turn resulted in an MFA degree in painting and drawing from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. By the time I got to Albuquerque I knew how I wanted to paint, I just didn't know how to go about it. I like to work big and that requires space to paint, which I didn't have. To avoid that problem I started a small cooperative gallery with people who responded to my ad in the Alibi.

After the LUCY Gallery played out I discovered I was left with a few art friends and still no where to work so I painted smaller and participated in a few shows. Eventually I found my way to studio space at Fort 105 in downtown Albuquerque where I could produce and show paintings. My work now ranges from very large to very small. These pieces are composed with images I've found somewhere or another, often painted on fabric or maybe a blanket or discarded drapes, or on canvas or board.

Realistic, banal, commercial, popular, appropriated images may be combined with abstract painting, cartoonish clip art renderings, silhouettes, dripping house paints, whatever works at the time. I really just like to play with the elements using a wide range of techniques and styles until a sense of balance, or imbalance is struck. Or I might paint a single image all by itself, or no image at all.I also like polka dots.

Flying Star Bernalillo
Joy Conway
and the
Sandoval Community Arts Organization

Artist Statement:

This was a fun and rewarding project for me, as well as being educational. Most of my work is done with private homeowners or business owners, and involves making their imagined designs come to life, or me creating a design out of...again...imagination. The Flying Star Bernalillo project involved over 30 hours of research, to insure that we had dates, chronological order and historical details such as clothing style and design portrayed accurately. Also, most of my commercial work is with an eye toward the future and sales. I found this project especially compelling because we were honoring the past events that had taken place around a new business site. It makes me look at Bernalillo with new awe and appreciation.

Finally, the best part about this project were the people involved, every last one a volunteer. We had both "real" artists and those who had no artistic experience work on the mural. It lends a sense of whimsy and beautiful "not-perfect" results so when many hands are involved and so many different styles come together. Everyone had a positive attitude, even though there was an intense deadline, and I made several friends of the special women who helped out. It was especially rewarding to me to realize that we had people of Mexican, Indian, Irish, Polish, Russian, English etc., descent working side by side to get the job done, with respect and cooperation. Who says we haven't come a long way?

The Flying Star and Satellite restaurants have been my favorite since moving to the Albuquerque area eight years ago. I was thrilled to be a part of this project, and hope to work with the Sandoval Community Arts again!

Flying Star Bernalillo
Brian Vallo

Artist Bio:

Brian Vallo (“Phragaiseewa”) is of the Sun Clan and a member of the “Haaku” (Acoma Pueblo) tribe in New Mexico. Brian grew up on the Acoma reservation where he first became introduced to a “western” education by attending the Bureau of Indian Affairs “Day School”. He also spent a significant amount of time with his grandparents and learned the language, values and cultural traditions of his tribal community, values handed down for generations. Brian continues to enjoy and take pleasure in observing the unique Haaku landscape, an environment that has sustained the Pueblo Indian people for millennia. This “life canvas” profoundly influenced Brian’s artistic and professional interests and strengthened his desire to remain close to, and involved with his Pueblo. Brian has nearly 20 years of experience working with tribal communities in areas of historic and cultural preservation, cultural resources management, economic development, and tourism. He voluntarily serves on a number of local, regional, and national Boards focusing on education, cultural preservation, the arts and tourism.