A warm, early autumn evening beckoned a well-curated group of artists, gallerists, and art lovers to a fifthn anniversary celebration at Kay Contemporary Gallery, nestled off Canyon Road. Heather Hunter takes us into the gallery’s secret garden for the festivities.
Garden of Delights
The juxtaposition of a 300-year-old adobe house with contemporary art was not lost on me. It is the contrast of old and new that inspired gallery owner,
Karla Winterowd, to open Kay Contemporary Art Gallery five years ago. Working with a bevy of nationally known, local contemporary artists including Rick Stevens, Kate Rivers, Kevin and Jennifer Box, and Kelly Cozart, Winterowd knew this distinctive space would allow artists’ work to shine in a whole new light.
“These artists all have a deep desire to share with others the human connection to nature and our desire to be connected to nature, which is one of the most important things Santa Feans have in common,” says Winterowd. “In a world with all this visual information, we find that nature is the antidote to that cacophony. It also helps us get back to our core of our own being.”
More surprises!
Slipping through the back door, there was another surprise. The metal origami sculptures created by Kevin Box of Box Studio punctuate the serene backyard. It was also the welcoming scene for the gallery’s five-year anniversary celebration. A glorious apricot tree provided generous shade. Under it, we sipped wine and nibbled on canapes by Jackson Ault, aka Santa Fe Chef.
While mingling with the artists and guests, I marveled! Among my favorites: the origami art by Box and his wife and business partner, Jennifer Box. In 2014, they launched a wildly successful outdoor traveling exhibit, “Origami in the Garden.” It began at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden and for the past decade has travelled all over the country.
It’s not about origami
“While my art is origami, it’s not about origami,” Kevin revealed. “It’s a roundabout way to guide people to the blank slate concept: Anything is possible. When we unfold it, every single choice is remembered by the paper and it truthfully describes every choice that was made.”
Of Kevin’s art, Winterowd said, “Kevin’s work explores the outside objects of what we look like but also what we are on the inside. His work unfolds — every origami shape when unfolded tells a story of the journey of the life of that shape. Most origami, when unfolded, is a star and this connects us to the universe.”
Kate Rivers – another artist represented by the gallery – was also on hand for the party. Rivers’s work is in corporate and public collections, including The University of Texas at Austin and University of Virginia Hospital. Winterowd succinctly captured Rivers’s unique approach to creating art: “She uses mixed media ephemera. It’s subtle, but it’s rich in content and context.” Rivers cuts words and phrases from books and sews them together to create a tapestry of story
“With Kate, the books help us engage in what is important to us. The work references back to man’s connection to nature. And we were in the garden and the food came from the earth … it’s all part of this interconnected web of life,” said Winterowd of Rivers’s mesmerizing visual creations.
Don’t follow trends
As the sun was setting, I savored another canape of Sicilian curried shrimp with Israeli couscous and kaffir lime and spoke with Jamie Garrison-Withrow, the gallery’s director, who helps customers and art collectors identify pieces that speak to them. Her advice? When it comes to collecting art, she said, “Don’t follow trends. Purchase what you love and what brings you joy.”
Another featured artist was Kelly Cozart, who has been creating art for 40 years and serves as the gallerist at Kay Contemporary Art. She said, “Today, as a gallerist and an artist, I guide art patrons to find incredible artwork that inspires them, while my artistry allows my creativity to flow.” Cozart feels this combination is invaluable for collectors seeking artistic insight and inspiration.
Attendees:
Karla Kay Winterowd, Owner, Kay Contemporary Art Gallery
Kate Rivers, Mixed media artist
Kelly Cozart, Gallerist and artist
Kevin and Jennifer Box, artists
Jamie Garrison-Withrow, Director, Kay Contemporary Art Gallery
Hunter Chomer, Fine art delivery service and installation expert
Rachel Zell, Two Casitas Vacation Rentals
Story by Heather Hunter
Photography by Tira Howard
Food by Santa Fe Chef
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