Blogging so far

I really liked writing these posts. In fact, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The best part about it was talking with artists. I have found a kinship with them and it felt more like having conversations rather than interviewing. Hopefully I will keep bumping into artists and having interesting conversations with them, because if so I would love to keep writing this blog. I will also keep blogging because it’s a good experience for an aspiring writer like myself.    

            The first week of blogging went much better than expected. I didn’t have a hard time talking to people, and it wasn’t hard to find people to talk to about art in a town that is so full of artists. I didn’t even expect to talk to David Vigil for as long as I did, but I’m glad I stopped to talk to him. I also talked to another artist at length when I wasn’t expecting to, which I will probably write about for next week. The only thing that concerns me is planning some of the bigger things I want to write about which would require more time and a little bit of money. I’m sure I can figure it out, though.

            I hope my writing isn’t too informal, but I like this more relaxed style of writing for the blog. It feels more natural to me, and I have more experience with it. I think blogging is a good way to tell stories because it gives the writer more freedom. I like being able to write about something I am passionate about, and telling the stories in this style. I don’t have any complaints about this class to speak of, but I was a bit unprepared for three posts a week. With a little more planning, it’ll be fine.

A conversation with David Vigil

Toward the east end of Canyon Road, there is a small collection of folk art galleries next to a café I visit occasionally. Almost every time I have been in the area, a man sits outside playing classical guitar or painting. This time I decided to pay him a visit to learn more about him. This artist’s name is David Vigil, and he is perhaps one of the most deep-rooted artists on Canyon Road. Born and raised in the area, Vigil was surrounded by artists throughout his childhood. He picked up techniques here and there, and eventually went on to study art and music at the University of New Mexico. Now he paints professionally, and sometimes performs solo or collaborative concerts.

David Vigil playing guitar in front of his gallery

            Vigil is eccentric at first glance. His hair is dyed bright red, he almost always wears sunglasses, and sports a wide-brimmed hat. He has a unique manner of speaking in that he seems to choose his words carefully, and exudes an especially bright and positive outlook on life. His first words to me were about how he was happy to be alive today. Though he is a man who was born into a very different version of the artist’s life on Canyon Road, he has embraced its changes and takes it all in stride.

He said he thought it was amazing that one could post something on the internet and it could be viewed by anyone who was interested. He passed me a paper with his YouTubechannel on it, beneath a colorful painting of the Loretto Chapel with the St. Francis Cathedral in the background. The YouTube channel, he said, has over 400 videos of him playing guitar and painting, but it’s not about getting more views or attention. It’s about being able to express himself and put his work on display.

"Loretto Sunset" by David Vigil

“Artists see a limitation in the vernacular of language,” he said. “I use my art to get my emotions out. Some people can be fatalistic, but I like to think I have a way to change things.”

            As we were talking, he plucked out riffs on his guitar here and there. He had a lot to say about living life to the fullest, and even made it a point to tell me three maxims before I left:

            “The first thing is the greatest wealth and beauty is in simply being alive,” he said. “Second, methinks the earth rotates around the sun, and not around the economy – or the election.”

            The last thing he wanted to make sure to tell me was that life is a gift, and each moment from the beginning to the end is beautiful. By the time the conversation was winding down, I felt like I’d known him a long time. He said goodbye as if I was family, and gave me a hug before returning to his guitar.

A Walk Down Canyon Road

Photo courtesy of santafe.org

Canyon Road is Santa Fe’s art street. Lined with galleries, sculpture gardens, and restaurants, it is a popular destination for tourists and local art lovers. There are constantly new instillations of art, as well as monumental pieces like John Houser’s equestrian bust that has been at Ronnie Layden’s fine art gallery for years. Though southwestern art is a main attraction for tourists, there are a variety of art styles on Canyon Road, from contemporary to surrealism. There are even some antique shops, with artifacts from many different periods and sourced from all over the world.  It is within walking distance from the heart of downtown Santa Fe, and it serves as a great way to enjoy a leisurely, sunny day.

John Houser's equestrian sculpture

            Walking down Canyon Road is a relaxing and inspiring experience. It is a road populated not only by galleries, but the artists themselves. It is not uncommon to see a painter outside, layering oil onto canvas in the sunlight. The historical houses that have been converted into galleries are picturesque and many are built in the traditional New Mexican style – with stucco, adobe, and wooden beams. The road also has a lot of greenery and flowers, and every gallery is complete with its own ambiance.

            The atmosphere on Canyon Road is serene and vibrant. It is a locus for self-expression, where talent and craftsmanship are revered as much as depth and abstraction. There simply aren’t a lot of places quite so saturated by the arts. In a way, it’s as if Canyon Road is an expression of Santa Fe itself. 

Introduction

Hello! I am Jordan Baca and welcome to my blog. This blog is what I will be working on as the backbone of the Blogging for Journalists class I’m taking at the University of Northern Colorado. Its purpose is to give me an outlet to improve my journalistic writing skills, and learn to cover a beat on a new platform that I have never used before. It is also a way for me to delve into something I’ve been interested in since childhood: art.

This is the first time I’ve ever used a blog, so throughout this process I’ll be learning about how blogging works and improving on my journalistic voice. I am confident about my writing skills in general, but I want to improve my writing nonetheless. What I hope to improve even more through this experience is mainly my interpersonal journalistic skills, since it’s always been difficult or daunting for me to conduct interviews. As I’ve gone through several journalism classes, I’ve slowly been building on my reporting skills so I hope to hone them even further by writing this blog.

            In the past, I have written pieces for UNC’s campus magazine, the Klaw; and its literary magazine, the Crucible. I often cover art events, like the performing arts gala and writer’s conference, so covering the art beat in my hometown is something I would enjoy and a subject I am also familiar with. In doing so, I hope to learn more about the people who bring key cultural influences to Santa Fe.

            I’m looking forward to this blogging experience because I picked a topic I am passionate about, and I know that blogging is an important thing to do in the writing industry. Santa Fe is brimming with art of all different styles and forms, and I look forward to sharing some of my favorite artists on this blog, and getting to know curators at some of the galleries downtown. Though it is known for Southwestern and Native American art, Santa Fe has a lot to offer in terms of pop art, and there are galleries that specialize in art from different parts of the world. I am proud to come from such an interesting town, and I’m excited to share one of my favorite aspects of Santa Fe with anyone who reads this blog.