Schedule of Exhibits & Events

MAGNIFICO HONORS

Honors images

Maria Baca, Nina Bean, Basia Irland, Frank McCulloch

 At 516 Magnifico Artspace

August 25 - September 23, 2000

Each year, Magnífico's Visual Arts Committee selects a few Albuquerque artists to honor for their outstanding accomplishments in their work and their contributions to our arts community. This year, Magnífico is proud to honor: Maria Baca, painter and mixed media artist; Nina Bean (in memorium), painter; Basia Irland, sculptor; and Frank McCulloch, painter. These artists are featured in a four-person show at 516 Magnífico Artspace in conjunction with Magnífico's eleventh annual regional exhibition at The Albuquerque Museum called WATER: a juried exhibition.
Maria Baca is a self-taught artist who is also known for her community activism. Baca has received several community- based grants including an exchange grant to Morelia, Mexico. She has also served as Artist In Residence in several local elementary schools and various correctional facilities throughout the state of New Mexico. Baca's works of art reflect her multicultural interests and have been exhibited locally as well as internationally.

 

Maria Baca
Collisions of Culture (detail)
acrylic on canvas
4' x 3'

 

Nina Bean
Untitled
acrylic on canvas
6'x 3'

Nina Bean (1941 -2000) is fondly remembered for her vitality, enthusiasm and support of fellow artists and the arts community. Bean graduated from Vanderbuilt University with a degree in Art History, and spent her life in the arts as an artist, gallery owner and tireless arts community volunteer. Bean founded the Nina Bean Gallery in 1993, served on Magnífico's Visual Arts Committee, was President of the Albuquerque Art Business Association, and a board member of the Contemporary Art Society.
Basia Irland, a Professor of Art at the University of New Mexico, is a published poet, photographer, videographer and award-winning writer, in addition to being an internationally exhibited sculptor and installation artist. Her work -be it writing, sculpting, volunteering at Cuidando Los Ninos, or directing community based programs- revolves around the metaphors of water. Irland has written "Because of its universality and indispensibiity to life, water as a central metaphor has played a muse... for artists since the beginning of time."

 

Basia Irland
Kit for Paddling Through Stars
Floating on a Lake
mixed media
1'7"x3'7"x1'5"

 

Frank McCulloch
Solitaire
oil on canvas
28"x36"

Frank McCulloch was a high school teacher in Albuquerque for thirty years who has contributed many former students to the vibrant arts community of Albuquerque and beyond. In his teaching years, McCulloch instituted the first Allied Arts Humanities Program, and built several Public Art projects which are still in place at Highland High School. McCulloch describes one of his main artistic concerns as "the color and light of New Mexico." His artwork has been exhibited since the 1950's, and is in several major collections including The Museum of Santa Fe, The Albuquerque Museum, The University of New Mexico Art Museum and the Roswell Museum and Art Center. McCulloch can often be found playing his guitar with friends at local coffee shops and arts events.
For more in depth information about each of these outstanding honorees,
please contact Magnífico at 505/242-8244.

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