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If you live in Albuquerque or are visiting during the holiday season, stop by The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space for our Holiday Sale and Art Bazaar. Check out our selection of original artwork by local artists at reduced prices for the holidays. Our Art Bazaar features a selection of significantly discounted artwork, as well as, art and craft supplies for the budding artist. We’re adding new things everyday! Put The Cow at the top of your list for all your gift-giving needs.

Artists are decorating and enhancing toilet seats for the Wooden Cow Gallery’s art show “Art de Toilette.”

Elaine Russell, member of the Wooden Cow cooperative, organized the show, which will be displayed in the gallery’s bathroom. Artists pay a $20 entry fee, which also pays for the wooden toilet seat. Russell chose wooden seats because they’re cheap and easy to hang.

They’re available for pickup at the gallery at 7400 Montgomery Blvd. N.E.

“My daughter and I had the flu, and we were spending more time in the bathroom than we cared to admit,” Russell said. “It occurred to us we have a really huge bathroom at the gallery. We intended to put some art in there but not a show. We said, ‘What better than wooden toilet seats?’ Toilets would be hard to mount on the wall, (but) we would probably accept those.”

Artists must price their toilet seats to sell between $50 and $200. There’s no deadline, as it’s an ongoing, semi-permanent bathroom installation.

So far, a handful of people have made a toilet seat for the project.

“We have a mosaic-tile artist, and she’s going to take the finish off and mosaic-tile it,” Russell said. “We have a gentleman who does art in colored pencils. He’s actually putting pencil stubs all over it. We have one lady who does primarily jewelry, but she also does mixed-media stuff. She’s doing an homage to Queen Victoria.”

Cindy Chavez used to live in England and has collected lots of Queen Victoria memorabilia. Her piece is called “Ascending the Throne.”

“The top will have a crown, and where the seat is, there’s a mirror,” Chavez said. “Actually, I’m doing two seats. I’m doing one with an Aztec theme called ‘Montezuma’s Revenge.’ He was the emperor in – I can’t remember the period. It’s very Aztec.”

Russell decoupaged love letters from World War II onto her toilet seat. They’re written in German, and a friend found them for her at a garage sale. The piece is called “Dear John.”

Russell was a nurse for 17 years, she said, and struggled to situate herself into a comfortable art-making flow.

“The family I grew up in did not consider art a way to make a living, and because my brother was the artist in the family, I was really, really discouraged,” she said. “Like, ‘You don’t have any talent. Go make a real living.’ I didn’t have lofty artistic goals in my life. But over the years, I’ve done all kinds of things. I’ve worked as a professional photographer since ’86.”

The 25-member cooperative Wooden Cow Gallery opened in September, and the name was inspired by the Donkey Gallery, which closed in the summer.

“(The Wooden Cow) used to be a chocolate store or something,” show director Jill Riester said.

For $50 per month, artists can rent gallery space to sell their works. Russell said co-op members do a lot of promotion for the artists.

“The beauty of the co-op is there’s no rules about fine art or real art,” she said. “Lots of galleries will only show fine art.… We have everything from $3 to $15,000. We’re actually doing really well. It’s surprising because Albuquerque, in general, has a lot of art galleries. We’re doing something so different because we involve a lot of art and have more modern art.”

For more information, call the Wooden Cow Gallery at (505) 999-1280.

To read the original article, and to support The Daily Lobo, visit the article on their website, here.

Semi-Permanent Show Installation, hosted by The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space.

The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space would like to invite you to take part in a wild, wacky, engaging art installation that’s guaranteed to raise eyebrows (and toilet seats) everywhere. Break artistic conventions. Challenge yourself. Be part of something that everyone’s talking about… Join in on our special “Art de Toilette” show; a semi-permanent installation inside The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space’s spacious restroom (really!).

Your mission: decorate a classic white toilet seat with your own personal artistic touch and turn a basic bathroom staple into a masterpiece. Open to any technique and any medium, so long as you use our basic toilet seat set as the “canvas.”

Marcel Duchamp would be proud.

How it works / Submission Guidelines

• Open to New Mexico residents only. Open to all media. Any theme or subject matter—does not have to be bathroom-related.

• Ongoing, semi-permanent art installation will be on display in our spacious restroom and will be sure to generate a buzz.

• Artists may submit one toilet seat per entry form. You may submit as many toilet seats as you wish, by completing a separate entry form for each entry.

• Artists turning in a finished entry form and payment will receive a blank white toilet seat set to use as a canvas. We ask that you use the toilet seats we provide for this run of the project, in order to apply a consistent canvas to the installation.

• Artist’s statements and CVs may be included with submission.

• A nonrefundable $20 entry fee must be included with each entry form. This also includes your blank toilet seat set. We accept checks, cash, credit cards.

• Accepted artwork will be displayed at the Gallery in an ongoing installation, inside the large restroom. Be part of something wild!

• All work must be for sale. All work must be priced between $50 – $200 per seat entry. You cannot price your finished seat below $50 or above $200, in order to maintain consistency within the installation.

• Customers will be able to purchase your entry in the gallery, at the price you set (based on the guidelines above).

• A commission of 25% will be taken on all works sold as a result of this exhibition. Payment will be mailed to the artist within 30 days of the exhibition closing. Artists are required to sign a Consignment Agreement when they drop off work.

• All artwork must be ready to hang or install when delivered – defined as having a wire of appropriate composition and weight attached by a set of d-rings or eye-screws on the back of the work. The artist must indicate if a piece is not meant to be hung (i.e., freestanding sculpture).

• By submitting artwork, the artist agrees that images of selected artwork can be used to promote the show including publicity, ads, and web site promotions. Copyright credit will be given to the artist. Submission of entry constitutes agreement to all conditions in this Call for Artists and the attached Entry Form.

• All artwork must be picked up if The Gallery ever closes the installation.

• This is not a juried contest, however, The Gallery reserves the right to choose not to display a particular toilet seat (very rare occasions). If your toilet seat is not displayed, you will receive a refund of your entry fee, less the cost of the “canvas.”

• You may use any medium, technique, or material to decorate your seat. Feel free to paint, carve, decoupage, or decorate your blank canvas. We encourage you to think of ways to use photography, clay, paper, paint, ink, spray paint, resin—and anything else your creative mind can come up with. All we ask is that you use the toilet seat we provide, so everyone starts with the same blank slate.

• Artists of any age may enter the contest, however those under the age of 18 require permission and signature from a parent or guardian. It should also be noted that since our contest has no restrictions on content, parents should be aware that their children’s work may be displayed alongside work with potentially mature themes.

To receive an official entry form, or to contact us for more information about how to join in on the fun–contact us at thewoodencow@gmail.com, through this ad, or through the Show Director at joliedesigns@msn.com.

Applications and blank canvases (seats) will be available at the gallery, at 7400 Montgomery Blvd NE, Suite 20, in Albuquerque, NM, in the Mossman Center (The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space).

The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space
7400 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Suite 20
Albuquerque, NM 87109, telephone 999-1280

Contact us through this post to get an official entry form! Some details are below, to whet your creative appetite. Enter up to three pieces! Arts & crafts welcome.

You’ve all heard the cliché to think “outside the box.” The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space would like to invite you to think inside the box for a change. Send us your interpretation of the box in all its forms, from real 3-dimensional boxes to boxing-in, enclosure, gifts, squares, cubes, etc.

Submission Guidelines
• Open to New Mexico residents only. Open to all media.

• Deadline for submission is November 24, 2008.

• Artists may submit up to three (3) pieces of art that explore the theme of What’s In the Box? The Gallery may or may not accept all three pieces, for reasons of size limitations or jurying.

• Digital images of actual artwork to be juried may be e-mailed to joliedesigns@msn.com no later than November 24, 2008. Images should be in JPEG format, no more than 500 kb each. Artists may also deliver (or mail to the address above) a CD with digital images or hard copy photographs to the Gallery. CDs must contain the artist’s name on both the CD and the case. Photographs must be labeled with artists’ name. Please note that CDs and photographs will not be returned.

• Artist’s statements and CVs may be included with submission.

• A nonrefundable $15 jury fee must be included with each entry form. Please make checks payable to The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space. If you would like to pay by credit card, please visit the Gallery during business hours (Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm). Work will not be considered for this show unless the jury fee has been paid.

• Artists will be notified, via the e-mail or telephone number provided on this entry form,no later than November 26 if their work has been accepted. Accepted artwork must be delivered to the Gallery on November 26, November 28, or November 29 during regular business hours.

• Accepted artwork will be displayed at the Gallery from December 2-27, 2008.

• All work must be for sale. A commission of 25% will be taken on all works sold as a result of this exhibition. Payment will be mailed to the artist within 30 days of the exhibition closing. Artists are required to sign a Loan Agreement if accepted.

• All artwork must be ready to hang or install when delivered – defined as having a wire of appropriate composition and weight attached by a set of d-rings or eye-screws on the back of the work. The artist must indicate if a piece is not meant to be hung (freestanding sculpture). Artwork will be juried by founding members of The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space.

• By submitting artwork, the artist agrees that images of selected artwork can be used to promote the show including publicity, ads, and web site promotions. Copyright credit will be given to the artist. Submission of entry constitutes agreement to all conditions in this Call for Artists and the Entry Form.

• All artwork must be picked up from the Gallery by December 28, unless prior arrangements are made.

What’s in the Box Show Schedule
November 24, 2008 ……………………………………………………Submission Deadline
November 26, 2008 ……………………………………………………Artists notified of
acceptance
November 26, 28 or 29……………………………………………….Deliver accepted
artwork to the Gallery during regular business hours
December 2-27, 2008…………………………………………………Artwork to be displayed
December 5, 2008 ……………………………………………………..Official opening of
What’s In the Box?
Show, 5 pm
December 28, 2008 ……………………………………………………All artwork must be
picked up from the Gallery

Entries must be received no later than November 24, 2008. A jury fee of $15 must accompany an entry form. Checks, payable to The Wooden Cow, should be mailed to the Gallery at 7400 Montgomery Blvd NE, Suite 20; Albuquerque, NM 87109. If you would like to pay by credit card, please stop by the Gallery or call (999-1280) during regular business hours (Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm).

Please send an e-mail to Jill Riester, Show Director,at joliedesigns@msn.com, to receive an official entry form.

Dia De Los Muertos Show
Friday, November 7th, 2008
5 – 8 pm
First Friday Artscrawl evening
TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Come celebrate the colorful, age-old Day of the Dead festival with The Wooden Cow’s select offerings!

Featured artists:
Elaine Russell (photography, jewelry, mixed media), Sue Orchant (silk painting), Vanessa Brown (recycle art skeletons)

Guest Artists (Day of the Dead entries):
John de Jesus, Albert Noyer, Steve Snowden, Francisco Bussetti, Lisa Rossignol, Jessica Coulson, and many others!

Face painting (Day of the Dead inspired!) by Jeannette Lyle. Tarot readings by Wendy.

Festive refreshments provided. Funky music. Easy parking! Come see what all the fuss is about.

Don’t forget to stop by and check out the life-sized recycle art skeleton by Vanessa Brown and Lisa Rossignol’s impressive, larger than life recycle art skeleton Wedding Party (they will blow you away!).

Silk paintings by Sue Orchant, featured artist.

Unique Mixed Media Dolls by Cindy Chavez

Other fine work on display.

Multicultural prayer beads by Elaine Russell, Featured Artist.

The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space
7400 Montgomery Blvd NE, Suite 20
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(in the Mossman Center, between Louisiana and Pennsylvania)

505-999-1280

http://thewoodencow.wordpress.com

Dia De Los Muertos Show
Friday, November 7th, 2008
5 – 8 pm
First Friday Artscrawl evening

Come celebrate the colorful, age-old Day of the Dead festival with The Wooden Cow’s select offerings!

Featured artists:
Elaine Russell (photography, jewelry, mixed media), Sue Orchant (silk painting), Vanessa Brown (recycle art skeletons)

Guest Artists (Day of the Dead entries):
John de Jesus, Albert Noyer, Steve Snowden, Francisco Bussetti, Lisa Rossignol, Jessica Coulson, and many others!

Face painting (Day of the Dead inspired!) by Jeannette Lyle. Tarot readings by Wendy.

Festive refreshments provided. Funky music. Easy parking! Come see what all the fuss is about.

Don’t forget to stop by and check out the life-sized recycle art skeleton by Vanessa Brown and Lisa Rossignol’s impressive, larger than life recycle art skeleton Wedding Party (they will blow you away!).

Silk paintings by Sue Orchant.

The Bride and Groom!

Other fine work on display.

The Wooden Cow Gallery and Art Space
7400 Montgomery Blvd NE, Suite 20
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(in the Mossman Center, between Louisiana and Pennsylvania)

505-999-1280

http://thewoodencow.wordpress.com

It’ll sneak up on you before you know it. Be sure to stop by the gallery next Friday, November 7th, between 5 – 8 pm to enjoy our Dia De Los Muertos Show (and get some shopping in early).

If you’re a last-minute shopper, you’ll also be happy to know we are extending our business hours during the holiday week.

<b>Extended Holiday Shopping Hours:</b>
Sunday, December 21st – 10 am – 8 pm
Monday, December 22nd – Wednesday, December 24th, 10 am – 8 pm
We’re open Christmas Eve for last-minute shopping!