HEBÉ GARCÍA FINE ARTS

Her painting and sculpture highlight texture and form. They feature mainly female figures. That, she believes, is because she comes from a family of formidable women. “My grandmother was one of the first women professors at the University of Puerto Rico, who also played the piano, made clothes, and painted a bit. I also have three older sisters, and now I have two daughters as well.” She says her family is always present in her artwork; a group of four women represents herself and three sisters; her mother would be the fifth.

“I feel that my work has evolved since moving here,” she says. “It’s stronger, more mystical maybe, exploring themes of identity, culture, [and] psyche, weaving together stories that drift between real and unreal. I hope it encourages people to look for light, to find peace and the strength to keep going whatever the circumstances.”

Hebé García’s work is on permanent display at NOSA Inn in Ojo Caliente and Nest Gallery Shop and Showroom in Abiquiu. She has a solo show opening at the Abiquiu Inn at the beginning of August that will run through September.

Thoughts

Jim Baker is a mixed-media New Mexico artist with a unique field of expertise. He takes antique Bibles from around the world and transforms them into devotional pieces of art. Some are combined with ancient religious artifacts, crosses, clay sculptures, and spiritual symbols, transforming them into sacred works that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Baker’s vision was inspired by his years as a pastor, during which time he became interested in collecting old Bibles. “I ended up with a vast trove of them, gathered from estate sales, flea markets, garage sales, in many different languages and varying states of disrepair,” he says. “It occurred to me to give them a new life and a new purpose by turning them into enduring pieces of art.”

Baker is completely self-taught, except for taking some classes in bookbinding and working with clay. His technique involves carefully separating the pages of each worn and weathered Bible and sewing them back together with an ancient Ethiopian Coptic stitching. “My inspiration comes from the word ‘religion,’ derived from the Latin ‘re-ligio,’ meaning to rebind,” he says. “It is used in Scripture to reflect God’s desire to reconnect us to Him, to our true selves, and to others.”

Baker’s artworks can be found in the collections of religious institutions, universities, hospitals, and churches, as well as galleries, homes, and businesses. He also accepts commissions from people with old family Bibles who would like to preserve them as heirlooms by turning them into pieces of sacred art. You are invited to visit Jim’s home studio and gallery, just a few miles from scenic Abiquiu, NM. Personal tours are available by appointment.

Clockwise, from top left: The Great Physician, mixed media, 18” x 24” x 4”

Making a Difference in Two Worlds, mixed media, 20” x 30” x 5”

Come Unto Me, mixed media, 21” x 30” x 6”

Seraphym Sacred Art Gallery I Santa Fe, NM 833-HOLYART I seraphym.com

Benedictine Monks of Taos Gift Shop, Taos, NM 575-751-8531 I benedictinemonksoftaos.org

Jemez Fine Art Gallery I Jemez Springs, NM 575-829-3340 I jemezfineart.com