Thank you to all who participated in the Rio Rancho Go Local Community Art Expo! We saw a great interaction between Artists and people, the Cup Drawing Shootout was amazing.

Watch this site for information on the next Go Local Community Expo!

GO Local Community ART Expo

Rio Rancho Go Local Community ART Expo

Saturday June 23rd 10am-2pm

at Vision Plaza

2115 Golf Course Rd SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124


Three key events rolled into one amazing weekend.


ART SHOW LAUNCH, ART EXPO & COFFEE CUP SHOOTOUT

See local artists and their works! Varied media, photography, artisan jewelry, woodworking, paint and more!
This is a free event open to the public and launches on the previous evening with the opening of the Cafe Bella Coffee rotating art program.

Come stroll the plaza and learn about local artist in a calm relaxed environment.

Art Show Launch Reception

Friday May 22nd
5pm-7pm

at Cafe Bella Coffee

Enjoy the work of Nina Baldwin as her work is installed for a two month showing at Cafe Bella Coffee. Come meet the artist and learn about her inspiration and work.

http://www.ninabaldwin.blogspot.com/                                                 Nina Baldwin all rights reserved

About the Rotating art series:
Nina Baldwin is the first artist to be showcased at Cafe Bella Coffee for the start of the rotating art series. Working closely with the Rio Rancho Art Association and Paula Scott to curate an installation featuring local artist every two months. Join us on this visual journey of beauty.

The Rio Rancho Art Association is a non-profit regional organization dedicated to improving the quality of lives through the arts. As an open, regional art association we welcome artists of all levels and mediums to join, exhibit their artwork, further their skills, and become a part of an active, vibrant art association. We also welcome art lovers from everywhere to become involved in the RRAA.

COFFEE CUP SHOOT OUT

Saturday June 23rd from 10am-11am.

One cup one pen and you head to head up against anyone that wants to participate in an all out Coffee Cup Shootout. A collaboration by the Rio Rancho Art Association, Go Local Community Art Expo and Cafe Bella Coffee this very special artist shootout is open to anyone from 8 to 99 years of age.

Cup photos above from flickr account
Boy Obsolet's Photostream Artist: Cheeming Boey

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13895571@N04/sets/72157614580046629/

More details and examples can be viewed at  http://www.rioranchoart.org/2012/05/coffee-cup-shoot-out-ready-set-draw.html

Registered Artist Participant list:

Paige Bacon

Born and raised in Texas, I have been drawing since the age of three.  I was inspired by my art teachers, Hyun Ju Chung, Chong Keun Chu, and Frances Merrill, to become an art educator. I graduated from Texas Woman's University and started my teaching career. I have taught in Texas, MI, and NM for over ten years. I enjoy helping people to become more creative in their lives. After the birth of my son, I decided to change directions only slightly and open my own art studio. I am a member of the Rio Rancho Art Association. My specialty is creating pet portraits but I am thrilled to create custom artwork for businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.

Wendell W. Unzicker

Professional colored pencil artist

Born and raised in Galesburg, Illinois where he lived until the age of 21. Interested in science, visual arts, and theater his whole life.  Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College in 1976. Worked within the professional theater community designing sets and lighting for stage plays for 5 years in Chicago, Il. Worked for Seagram Americas (the adult beverage giant) for 23 years as a Director of Marketing designing and implementing advertising campaigns, point-of-purchase materials, packaging, new consumer products, public relations efforts, special event marketing, and serving as product-placement liaison with movie and television companies. After this company was sold, he worked as a Director of Product Development for Wellpoint (the healthcare giant) for 4 years. Thereafter he has worked as a consultant for a local Harley Davidson dealer as well as concentrating on a growing professional art business. Wendell and his family have lived in Missouri, California, Texas, Illinois, and have now moved from the Ventura, Ca. area to New Mexico.

Starting as a hobby, Wendell’s colored pencil work has burgeoned into a respectable business as he is widely recognized as one of the leading artists in this medium in the country. His work has been featured in competitions and galleries in Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, California, New Mexico, Baltimore, New York, and Nebraska as well as in foreign countries like England, Germany, Japan, and Australia. His work is prominently featured in the online, international drawing and painting exhibition at Upstreampeoplegallery.com.  He is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, a member of the most recent “Living Masters” pencil art series, a member of the Rio Rancho Art Association, a member of the Corrales Society of Artists, and a member of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists. His work has been featured in a number of publications, most recently as the cover artist for Sunshine Artist Magazine. He recently won awards at the CPSA art show at the Arts Alliance Gallery in Albuquerque and was chosen to design the American Marketing Association’s “Marketer of the Year” award. His commercial work includes over 250 book covers and magazine illustrations, story boards for 8 movies, posters, logo designs, architectural renderings, and technical drawings for Northrup Grummen, Hughes Company, and NASA.

   Wendell has appeared in a number of art shows and festivals including the New Mexico Masterworks show, Rio Grande Art Festivals, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Dallas Artsfest, Fort Worth Blues Festival, New Mexico Arts and Crafts festivals, the Northern New Mexico Art Festival, Ventura Art by the Sea and Ventura Artwalk, New Mexico Wine Festival, Red River Art and Wine Festival, Albuquerque Go Festival, Los Alamos Art Festivals, the Santa Fe Art Festival in the Plaza, and Corrales Art in the Park and Art Studio Tours. He was a co-owner of the Wooden Cow Gallery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, recently voted the best Gallery in Albuquerque by both Alibi and Albuquerque Magazines.

   Wendell’s pictures tell a story through vibrant color and hyperbole drawing from the natural world and the realm of pure imagination in equal measure. Check out his work at www.unzippedart.com.

Marin Zeyen

Crochet and Nature Crafts
Marin is a 29 year old New Mexico native who brings the beauty of the desert into her work. Having grown up in Albuquerque’s east mountains, she developed a love of natural color and texture. After taking up crochet, Marin began experimenting with other textured materials, particularly dried flowers, gourds and vines.

Jane Bringle

Hair Artist I have been a stylist for over twenty years. My journey began in the Midwest but now I happily reside in New Mexico. I specialize in textured cuts and shaping your hair to fit your face. Over the years I have learned to pay attention to detail. I have worked very hard to make my hair designs personal, care free, and fun. As a matter of fact I have a PhD; Professional Hair Dresser. My clientele is mainly women and teens, but I also style the seniors on occasion. I have studied Toni and Guy styles from California and Arizona. I like to be creative and use European colors and highlights. No matter your style I will make you smile! Overall, I would say that I am a diverse stylist with razor-sharp technique and attitude.  

Theresa Laferriere

I was born in 1952 in a small town in Vermont, the seventh in a family of thirteen children. Because of poverty and strife I clung precariously throughout my childhood to the magnificent world of creativity. That left an indelible craving within me. I continued into adulthood pursuing many creative venues. Thereafter, comedy, dance, theatre, and a blind insurgence into the world of visual arts were on my agenda. I studied here and there with great earnestness. I have always had a tremendous amount of energy, and it showed up in my art work as great production. I became obsessed with doll making in 1981. Dolls embodied a kind of life and archetype which spoke to all aspects of life. I loved the world of "real life" dolls. In 1994 an old friend of mine was killed in a boating accident in Alaska. Because I could not attend her funeral; I decided to go down to the Rio Grande River and say goodbye to her there. That was the day I found the glass dump. Piles and piles of glass left over from garbage discarded many years ago. I knew instantly that I was supposed to do something with this glass. I spent that day building glass sculpture at the dump, and I came back the next day and did the same thing. Needless to say I brought some glass home and began the process of glass and me. Ten years later I've come to a whole new place with glass. Melting glass, cutting glass and creating mosaics and kaleidescopes is what it is all about now. No doubt this will change too over time. I continue to pursue creativity as a reason for living. Because of this I am constantly given creative impetus. This is a good thing.

Nina Baldwin

I paint in a contemporary style, sometimes bordering on abstract, which allows me the freedom to create in a way that conveys emotion to the viewer…soft, impressionistic, transparent, vulnerable, spiritual, full of beautiful colors…these are all words I would use to describe my work…it is experimental and many of the techniques I use are unique to my own style, having discovered them on my own in my studio.

“tHE ARTISTS WHO INFLUENCED ME MOST...

...didn't pass down their favorite techniques or best paint brushes. They did more than that. They taught me never to stop learning, to always be curious, to try new things inspite of any fears, to face life with anticipation, and to delight the eyes - they are the doors to the soul.”

I BELIEVE THAT…

“Art is power. It can influence perception, opinion and values. And the artist who creates uses his paintbrush to focus on a moment in time...recording those things that touch the heart."

“Art touches the soul...art is communication...it reaches out from the canvas and passes through the eyes of the viewer right into his heart where it can leave an imprint of beauty that can make the spirit sing."

Nina Baldwin and her husband, Dave, have called New Mexico home for more than thirty years.  Active members of their community, they raised their four children there.

They live high on the mesa overlooking the valley of the Rio Grande.  Nina paints the Southwest landscape in the beautiful colors she sees every morning from her back porch.  The big skies and the mountains feed her soul and are the inspiration for her work.  Her paintings from her “Women Gathering” series, amber series and landscapes, are contemporary expressions of her love for the land, the history and the people of New Mexico.

“There is an energy about the desert…it touches my spirit…it's a part of me...this is my home…it’s where I belong…it’s what I do…I use color, texture and pattern to convey the breadth and emotion of a moment in time…recording those things that touch my heart and make the spirit sing.”

Nina’s painting, “Rio Grande Gorge”, will be featured in the soon-to-be published premier textbook, “Color and How to Use It”, by Pearson Prentiss Hall.  Her artwork was recently accepted into NEW MEXICO CREATES!   She can be found most days in her studio on the mesa!

Event #2 Community Art Expo Saturday June 23rd

The next Rio Rancho Go Local event will be a Community Art Expo!

The Next Go Local Community Event at Vision Plaza in Rio Rancho already in the works. The Rio Rancho Go Local Community Art Expo will showcase local artists and their works.

This event will back up against our first Art Showing on Friday June 22nd at 5pm-7pm

Launching the Cafe Bella Coffee rotating art installation. This new series of rotating art installations will feature individual artists for two months. Displayed on the interior wall of the Cafe for all to enjoy then after two months a new series from the next featured artist is displayed.

Attention Artists

The Rio Rancho Go Local Community Art Expo is now accepting artists for booth space at our upcoming event.

This is a no fee event, Artists are invited to bring samples of work and promotional materials.

The event is held at Vision Plaza in South Rio Rancho. Artists can bring tables and stands (shade covers are not needed as the plaza has covered walkways)

Event is open to varied media: Textile, ceramic, jewelry, pottery, iron, wood, photography, graffiti, photography, floral, silk and other

Register for booth space by emailing info@cafebellacoffee.com.

Requested information needed for registering to participate: Name of Artist and Short Bio.

The last Go Local Community Expo was a great success; we have room for approximately 30 exhibitors. Loading & unload is very easy at this location and parking is free.

Event #1 Huge Success!

Thank you to all the participating exhibitors that made the first ever Rio Rancho Go Local Community Expo a huge success. Vision Plaza was a the place to be on Saturday May 19th as locals strolled the Plaza and registered for great prizes, learned about community based non profit organizations and local micro businesses.

Plans are in the works for another event soon so watch this space for upcoming news

Join us May 19th 2012 from 10am-2pm

May 19th Cafe Bella Coffee will be hosting the first ever Rio Rancho Go Local Community Expo at Vision Plaza. Located at 2115 Golf Course Rd. SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 from 10am-2pm.

Open to the public, this is a free community event!


MAY 19th 10am-2pm

Come see local small businesses, community groups, organizations, food & beverage retailers showcasing their businesses. Allowing you to "Go Local" by being up do date on the wonderful range of products and services that are available in our local area.


Come stroll the Vision Plaza in a relaxed casual environment.


The below list of participating exhibitors is still growing:

Gluten Free Gourmet
100% Gluten Free food products for consumers that are seeking to reduce their gluten intake or live with gluten allergies or Celiac disease or symptoms. Sweet and savory food items available.


Zuberfizz Soda
Gourmet Micro Soda Company our of Durango Colorado local supplier representative will be on hand at the event providing taste samples of the naturally sweetened soda flavors


Frequency 528
Get a Frequency 528 card and benefit from a number of discounts or complementary items from the businesses that are part of the Frequency 528 network. Or sign up your fundraising group with Frequency 528 and earn.


Westside Fit Body Bootcamp
Rio Rancho Boot Camp, the number one fitness and fat loss workout program designed to help you burn fat and get in the best shape of your life.


Re-New Sharpening Services
If you own knives Re-New Sharpening Services can keep them sharp. Visit the showroom to see the complete line of specialty scissors knives and tools too.


Z's Hat
Your local dining, beverage, entertainment and event resource online


Watermelon Ranch
A no-kill animal shelter, non profit organization helping animals in need


Block Taper Scissors Barbershop
Your Sports Barber shop, open 6 days per week, play some hoops in the shop! 


Doggy Door Delivery
To your door delivery of pet food, no more special trips to the store. Let Doggy Door Delivery bring the food to your home or office with out breaking the bank.


RAM Motors
Rio Rancho's independent used car super-center, financing & warranty's available and great selection of previously owned and cars, trucks, Suv's and specialty vehicles. 


ABQ Sports Magazine
New Mexico's Premier sports magazine, free issues monthly, local stories about local sports.


SCUBA 8
Learn to dive! Your Rio Rancho source for scuba certification, instruction, snorkeling and excursions for all ages.


HIS Realty Group
Your LOCAL Real Estate Experts! They have over 13 years experience in Real Estate Sales. Having served over 650 families in the process of buying and selling their homes, they work hard with passion, integrity, and dedication. John and Danielle focus on facilitating each transaction with detail and excellent negotiation skills. They are highly trained in all aspects of the business. From land sales, new construction, residential, commercial, remodeling, foreclosures and short sales. John and Danielle have been residents of Rio Rancho since 2006 and love to support Local Business! Being Self Employed/Business Owners they want to make sure they support and join together with the local community! John and Danielle sell Real Estate in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Corrales, Placitas, Santa Fe and Los Lunas!


Loving Thunder
Horseback Riding for the Special Needs Community. Therapeutic riding enables those with special needs to learn ride a house by offering a support system that is not available at other stables.


New Life Church
New Life, a non-denominational church seeking to love God and love others! Our goal is to fulfill His Great Commission as we live his Great Commandments.


Visiones Photography
Visiones Photography and Productions provides affordable, professional, photo imaging and video to help your business grow.

Chase Realty

With over 25 years of experience in Property Management and Real Estate sales, Chase Realty offers excellence in customer service for management of residential and commercial properties in Rio Rancho and the surrounding areas. Lisa Chase started her real estate career at 14 working as a receptionist at her father's office, Chase Realty in Burbank, CA.  She and her husband Peter Ceballos moved to Rio Rancho 2002 and opened the New Mexico branch of Chase Realty in 2007.

Pet Food Gone Wild

Locally owned and operated, we carry healthy choices of dry, can, dehydrated and raw food for your dogs and cats. We have the healthy treats for your best friend and also have a state of the art self serving bath area for your convenience.

Lei Lani Design Studio
Lei Lani Design Studio is owned and operated by Anna Doo. Lei Lani Design Studio is a veteran-owned, small business based in Rio Rancho, NM offering high quality graphic design, website design and photography. Anna's design style is clean, elegant, sophisticated and focused on usability. 

Paws and Stripes 

Paws and Stripes™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for wounded veterans of our United States military that works to provide service dogs for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.  The service dogs are obtained only from shelters, and are trained by professionals specializing in service dogs.  It is the aim of this organization to provide these dogs and training for no cost to the veteran.

Education Travel & Culture (ETC)

is a non-profit [501(c)(3)] educational exchange organization. Its purpose is to promote international understanding and goodwill by providing high quality educational and cultural exchange programs in the United States and abroad. ETC provides inbound program opportunities for high school students throughout the world to study in an American high school and live with an American family. Host families provide room and board, a quiet place to study, and an American family experience for guest students during their semester or academic year in the United States.


NM Small Biz
An online resource focused on small business marketing education. Grow your small business with services that include: free training videos, marketing packages designed to increase sales and business management software complete with access to a network of experts for your small business.

K'Lynn Your Personal Cook
Gladly serving New Mexico since 1992.

Whether  its a high tea, intimate dinner for (2) or a gathering of 200.We provide friendly, professional catering services for any event. Also, offering bartending, personal chef services, action stations, and more!

Petals & Pages Press

Welcome to Petals & Pages Press. We are a very small publisher based in Rio Rancho. Producing many award winning fiction and nonfiction books. Founded by Tomi Jill Folk, our books celebrate gardening as therapy, the value of stories and storytelling as a form of communication between people and generations, sustainable solutions to hunger and celebrating the creativity that dwells within the human spirit. Our goal with these books is to empower people, celebrate diversity and recognize the everyday heroes found in our families and neighborhoods, and cultivate the joy of reading a good book.

Loco Fun Jumps 

We are New Mexico's Premier Jumper and Bouncer fun Jump leader, We Specialize in any event big or small with the best Jumper selection on the market! With Customer service available 24/7/365 we try harder to be available to you any time night or day! call us and one of our specialist can assist you. Follow us on Facebook to hear about our newest Jumpers or latest events. in 2010 we were chosen to provide Jumpers and bouncers for all the home games for the New Mexico Thunderbirds, We serve many communities with in New Mexico, We Serve Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Bernalillo, Tijeras, Edgewood, Taos and many, many more communities across New Mexico.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico

For nearly 10 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico has been serving Rio Rancho.  We are currently serving nearly 100 children in the City of Vision, but there are more than 50 families who have expressed a need for our services.  As the nation’s leading donor-supported, volunteer-driven mentoring organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters needs volunteers from Rio Rancho to serve the children in our community.  Volunteers spend 4-6 hours per month with the child they are mentoring doing things like playing basketball, board games or simply hanging out.  It’s a small time investment that makes a big difference in Rio Rancho.


Fresh
Fresh is a local food distribution company connecting New Mexico farmers and value-added producers to local restaurants.  Our mission is to make eating local easier and economically viable for farmers, restaurants, and consumers.  We believe that a strong local food system enhances the economic and ecological viability of our region, and it is our goal to make this a commonplace practice

Get NM Fit

We are a non profit organization that is in the beginning stages. With 24% of NM youth being overweight or "at risk" we feel that the only way to affectively change these rising statistics is to provide people with opportunity.
We need to educate our youth on nutrition and physical activity in order to change their future habits. By providing scholarships to young people and get them involved with educational programming we hope to make a difference in the lives of our young people.

Local Fitness Champ Jessica Rinaldi with Get NM Fit

Event location MAP

About Vision Plaza

Vision Plaza is a retail center located at 2115 Golf Course Rd SE in Rio Rancho. Two blocks east of Itel, two blocks North of Lovelace Westside Medical Center and two blocks west of Presbyterian Rust Medical Center. Adjacent to Cabezon Planned residential community. Plenty of parking with ease of access from Golf Course Rd SE. Cross streets are Golf Course Rd & 22nd Ave. 

From 528 north - take a left onto Westide and proceed to Golf Course. Take a right at Golf Course heading north a short distance Vision Plaza is on the left.

From North Albuquerque - Head north on Golf Course to Westside Blvd. Ne. Continue through the traffic light entering Rio Rancho you will see a large stone landscaping sign that says "Welcome to Rio Rancho City of Vision". Vision Plaza is on your left shortly after that sign.