ENCAUSTIC ART INSTITUTE OPENING IN SANTA FE!

E N C A U S T I C

A N   A N C I E N T   T E C H N I Q U E 

The word encaustic originates from the Greek word enkaustikos, to burn in. 

It is an ancient art of painting with wax that is over 2,500 years old. Most notably

 it was used in the Fayum mummy portraits (below) from Egypt around 100-300 AD. These naturalistic portraits were painted on wooden boards that were then tucked into the bands of cloth that wrapped the mummy. Over 900 of these ancient images still exist; their well-preserved colors seemingly unfaded by time. 

A    C O N T E M P O R A R Y   R E S U R G E N C E

A GRAND OPENING!

  E N C A U S T I C   A R T   I N S T I T U TE

A HANDSOME 4,500 SQUARE-FOOT SPACE 
 IN SANTA FE'S RAILYARD ARTS DISTRICT.

The art of encaustic has come a long way, says ENCAUSTIC ART INSTITUTE  founder DOUGLAS MEHRENS, who has been enthralled with wax for the past 30-years. 

 "No single event has changed my life so dramatically and everlastingly as when I picked up a crayon, lit a candle and dripped my first dot onto a white illustration board." 

Clearly he's taken crayolas to new heights; and for decades he has championed both the art of wax  and  the artists that have been inspired by this luminous, creative and malleable medium. 

The non-profit INSTITUTE began in 2005 with a small group of New Mexico encaustic artists, says Mehrens, but now boasts 180 members throughout North America and a permanent collection of over 200 works of art, perhaps the largest in the world. (A book showcasing the collection is in the works).

This weekend - March 27th & 28th - will mark the 10th ANNIVERSARY of the Institute that has been ensconced in a beautiful pyramid-shaped gallery that Mehrens designed and built  in Cerrillos, NM. But both Mehrens and his artist wife Adrienne, knew it was time to bring the institute to Santa Fe.

"It's a dream come true" say Adrienne and Doug. "The fact that its

 become a reality is wonderful."

.

THE VARIETY OF ENCAUSTIC WORK IS ASTOUNDING.

Traditionally, artists would add colored pigments to a warm wax/resin medium and

paint on canvas or board, using a heat gun to fuse each layer. 

But many artists have gone beyond this technique incorporating mixed media elements; photography; even sculpting wax into imaginative shapes and constructions. I walked through the gallery and tried to capture the wondrous

 variety with my camera...

+

The main gallery showcases some of the permanent  collection on one long wall and on the opposite wall are paintings and sculpture from GALLERY 901 on Canyon Road.  Owners Sherry Ikeda and John Schaeffer - both encaustic artists and ardent supporters of the EAI - have generously offered to help fund the first year of operation. Six of their 901 artists will be exhibited during the opening and through the month of April,

T H E    M E M B E R S   G A L L E R Y 

The side gallery showcases the members work and again the diversity is amazing.

To the left of the main gallery is a workshop/education space where there will be encaustic demonstrations/classes for adults as well as children.

Q.

So, what does the future hold for the Institute and the art of encaustic?

"Our goal," says the Mehrens, is to make encaustic the next big art movement."

Chasing thinks they're well on their way!



E N C A U S T I C   A R T   I N S T I T U T E

632 AGUA FRIA STREET - SANTA FE
Parking in back of building

505.989.3283 - 505.424.6487

http://www.eainm.com

GRAND OPENING PARTY - FRIDAY, MARCH 27 - 6-9 PM
LIVE MUSIC - HORS D'OEUVRES & COCKTAILS
CALL FOR TICKETS

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 -  GALLERY 901 IS HOSTING AN 
ARTISTS RECEPTION - FREE   5-8 PM


. INSTITUTE/GALLERY HOURS:

BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2015 
10am - 5pm
  WEDNESDAYS - SUNDAYS

FREE