The August 2022 Exhibit at the Deming Art Center will feature two artists from Las Cruces- Linda R. Sanchez and Mary Lou LaCasse. Both women have experienced an art journey that has brought them to the medium that you will see this month – clay and metal fused together to create interesting and unusual pieces. On Sunday, August 7, 2022 there will be an official“kick off“ for the exhibit from 1-3PM at the Deming Art Center.
Linda began as a youngster drawing animals. In her 30’s she took up ceramics and found it so intriguing that she changed her major and received an M.A. in ceramics and taught art for 22 years at WSMR. Linda says, ‘‘to be a true artist you must step beyond technique and make your vision your own.“ Her main strength is her commitment in clay - to make classical forms and then alter them which she feels helps create her own personal style. She now regards herself as an alchemist coming out of its shell learning more about the science of art. Some of her pieces exhibit an animated playful side that could tell a story. She is also a dancer and musician and feels the body, like clay, metal, and the materials she uses must have a gesture of playfulness and movement but still exhibit the element of expression from nature and exploration of the material.
Mary Lou LaCasse worked in New Mexico communities in public health and as a scientist for many years. Upon retiring, she excitedly dove into the exploration of her own creativity and imagination through art. Her work has been primarily in ceramics, stained glass, and multi-media mosaics and she is constantly exploring many other art forms as well. Recently she started creating welded metal artwork. She enjoys the challenge of taking power tools to metal. Her most recent work incorporates welded metal with additions of ceramic or fused glass into unique outdoor garden sculptures. She loves the melding of steel with the “gleaming” quality of fused glass or ceramics.
The Deming Art Center is located at 100 S. Gold St., Deming, NM. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10AM – 4PM and Saturday, 10AM – 1PM. For more information, please call 575-546-3663, see our website at www.demingarts.org or visit us on Facebook.