Live Clay

Cay Garcia, "Marigolds in Morning Glory," 3 3/4" x 2 1/2", 2011

In anticipation of Dia de los Muertos, I would like to share some beautiful images from two local artists, Cay Garcia and Margot Geist. I don’t know if I’ll make it to local los Muertos festivities this year, including the Marigold Parade, because I’ll just be returning from Haiti *woop!*.  I’ll be there Oct. 31-Nov 4 to meet my Paper Turtle business partner, Aly, and experience a bit of his country.  I’m really excited to see Haiti for the first time (and be there for All Soul’s Day, a national holiday).  I’ll try to write a few posts from Port-au-Prince, but it will of course depend on wi-fi, time, and sanity.

Back to art: Cay Garcia makes amazing, miniature pictures by cutting, layering, and stacking colored paper.  She’s a self-taught artist who has a studio in Downtown Albuquerque not far from my own.  I met Cay last summer at the Grower’s Market where she had a table with one original piece (above) and lots of reproductions including magnets, cards and prints. When I asked if she had any other jobs in addition to being an artist, she said, “Yeah, I’m a mom!”  The time-consuming nature of her intricate work (sometimes up to 1,000 pieces of cut paper in one picture!), combined with the demands of motherhood, makes her original pictures rare little gems.

 My friend bought “Marigolds in Morning Glory” to add to his growing collection. It’s impossible to appreciate the scale and beauty in photographs, but I’m posting all three pieces anyway because I think they’re so amazing.

Cay Garcia, knife-cut paper original, 1 1/2" x 1 1/4", 2010

Cay Garcia, original knife-cut paper, 1.5" x 3/4", 2011

Margot Geist is a photographer whose beautiful images of natural objects are often printed on wood or canvas and covered with beeswax, giving them a warm, luminous feel.  Margot’s subjects also include landscapes, portraits, and other artists’ portfolio work (including mine).  She has a wonderful sense of humor and is always willing to fit in a rush job.

Unfortunately, Margot’s web site is under construction, but it lists her contact info, and you can also find her on Facebook. For now, enjoy these images she took at last year’s Marigold Parade in Albuquerque’s South Valley.

Photo © Margot Geist, 2010

Photo © Margot Geist, 2010

Photo © Margot Geist, 2010