Portals —New
Work by Hillary Riggs
In
everyday life, in seemingly mundane experiences we all have,
there are passageways
to revelation, gateways into a new way of seeing the world. These
imperceptible doors may be thrown open by a wave of tears, or by
something as
simple
and profound as the passage of time or the touch of another‚s
hand on yours. Santa Fe artist Hillary Riggs has been exploring
many of the
ways we experience subtle or dramatic shifts in perception as we
move through life. Portals is a series of low relief wall sculptures
incorporating
exquisite natural woods, finely carved and painted images, and
mixed media. Each Portal is a meditation, a reminder of the power
of common
events to shift our view of reality. In a manner similar to the
function of retablos or other religious icons, these pieces provide
a potent
physical presence that can act as a stimulus for reflection, imagination,
and the unfolding of deeper levels of understanding.
Also at Quimera is a selection of Riggs‚ one-of-a-kind furniture,
carved and painted in the artist’s signature style with imaginative,
colorful geometric and botanical motifs. Her work is a collaboration
with woodworkers Steve Sovelove and Dan Stubbs, carver Carlos Rascon,
and others.
Riggs grew up in Mexico City, the daughter of American artists who ran
a weaving factory and surrounded themselves with other creative intellectuals.
She studied art in San Miguel de Allende, with a year of intensive independent
art history study in Europe.
In 1981 Riggs moved to northern New Mexico, where she established Sombraje,
a highly successful and influential business creating furniture with
twig accents. After selling Sombraje in 1995, the artist turned her
attention to one-of-a-kind custom furniture and fine art.
In all her work can be seen the influence of Mexico‚s rich, soulful,
vibrant culture, combined with Riggs‚ intense interest in
such diverse subjects as science, myth, anthropology, cultural
patterns,
and art from around the world.
In recent years Riggs has become known for her work, The Mind at Large,
six large, elegant carved and painted wooden totems. The totems, which
represent sources of power for the human tribe, are a celebration of
the cumulative explorations, inventions, wisdom, and creative energy
which is the legacy of our collective experience.
For more information: call (505) 955.0998
