Airstream love
British-born Taos artist celebrates the open road in new exhibition
The polished aluminum Airstream trailer of the American roadways has become an iconic figure in the oil paintings of Elizabeth Jose.
Paintings of Southwestern landscapes along Route 66 are featured in her latest exhibition, titled “Elizabeth Jose, an Artist’s Reflections,” which opens with a reception Saturday (Feb. 18), 5-7 p.m., at Sage Fine Art, 115 E. Taos Plaza.
These 24 paintings, which have a vibrant sense of light and color, include an unusual twist. The reflective mirrored surface of the Airstream blends into the open road of the background, almost disappearing. Take a second look. That isn’t only a self-portrait of Jose sitting in a lawn chair sipping tea. The entire background is an Airstream mirroring the landscape, including trees and pink flamingos.
Jose grew up in Essex, England. As a young adult, she lived in London for 15 years. Eventually, Jose’s wanderings brought her to Taos. She speaks about how she came to be here: “A random Route 66 road trip from Ohio to Tucson led me to discovering Taos in 2005. The mountain seems to like me.” During that trip, she also found her muse, the American Airstream trailer. This past year, Jose was selected artist-in-residence for the first Invitational Airstream Art Show “Alumapalooza,” which took place at the Airstream factory in Ohio. Freely driving across the USA with easel and paints, she brings her love of painting to the open road.
What is it about Taos? “Taos feels like home,” she said. “I have a lovely circle of friends here. The scenery never ceases to take my breath away.”
Jose’s Taos theory (as she calls it) is that creative people are generally out of step with the mainstream. They then come to a place such as Taos, where they find themselves as part of the mainstream. One of those creative types is beloved Taos painter Ray Vinella, from whom she was fortunate enough to have taken painting classes. He gave her a sense of balance teaching her to love what she does. Jose also shares her love of art through teaching an ongoing Tuesday morning figure painting workshop. Saturday mornings, she co-teaches a portrait painting class with Lina Thewlis.
At one time, Taos had been a place that many Brits weren’t really interested in. Now, even her friends in England have become fascinated with Taos. A recent exhibit of paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe at London’s Tate Modern Museum has created quite a lot of buzz about the American Southwest. “This really isn’t like anything you ever saw — and no one who tells you about it gives any idea of it,” O’Keeffe wrote in letters to Alfred Stieglitz (May 2, 1929). Taos is suddenly becoming a destination for Londoners due to this exhibit. Jose is happily planning for a very busy year ahead to show her friends all those classic O’Keeffe landscapes.
On why she paints, Jose stated: “It makes me happy – a divine struggle, it’s never easy. I have no idea if I can do this and through the course of doing it, I’ve created a painting! I paint what I love and I love painting from the landscape and figure. To become an artist, it has to come from somewhere inside of you, to be able to put yourself onto that blank canvas.”
The nine artists at Sage Fine Art take turns manning the gallery, all full-time working artists. Your experience will vary when you visit Sage Fine Art. One day, you might find Jose. On another visit, you’ll be greeted by Salvatore Giglio or one of the other artists exhibiting here. Gallery member Pat Pollard spoke about Jose’s art: “Elizabeth is hardworking, prolific, still growing and improving. She just gets better all the time – 100 percent committed. She has a unique perspective on Taos, personal, animated and humorous, which we need more than ever now.” The gallery is looking for a 10th member to add to its special mix.
In England, Jose had trained to become a jazz singer. Here in Taos, she teaches private vocal lessons and performs occasionally. Jazz guitarist Larry Audette will accompany vocalist Jose for a musical interlude during the reception. Other members of the Sage Fine Art cooperative are planning to be in attendance. Additionally, larger works of classic old trucks can be seen a few doors down at the Gorge Restaurant, 103 E. Plaza.
For more information regarding taking a class or commissioning a painting, contact Jose directly at elizabethjose.com.
Jose is the Sage Fine Art Gallery featured artist of the month through Feb. 25. For more, call the venue at (575) 758-9396 or visit sagefineart.com.
Keywords
elizabeth jose, artist, airstream trailer, the taos news
Other items that may interest you
