"Treasures of Sierra Madre: The Tarahumara of Copper Canyon"
The images shown in this gallery are from a series of 20 original oils each with limited editions of 100 Giclée Prints on Canvas released in October of 2005. The images which inspired this series were gathered in the spring of 2005 on a month-long back country camping trip in remote areas of the Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) in the state of Chihuahua Mexico. The Tarahumara people who are featured in this series live in small clusters in remote inaccessible areas, speaking little spanish and shunning outside influence. They are a reclusive, gentle people with strong ties to one another and to the earth. Outsiders have been particularly fascinated by their endurance running. The runners participate in organized races over 100 miles in length on rocky trails which rise from sea level at the bottom of the canyons to 6-7000 feet wearing the traditional thong sandals.
Artist's Statement
"My work as an artist has been nourished and developed not only by my training and experience in design, drawing and painting but also by my work as a clinical psychologist, my profession for many years. In that work I have had the opportunity to view the rich, complex, and often magical world of the human psyche. As I have moved gradually into working full time as an artist in the graphic sphere, I have been motivated by the passionate desire to communicate the beauty, the strength and the depth of feeling I have had the privilege to witness."
About the Artist
Sharon has been dually trained as an artist and as a Clinical Psychologist. Her most recent training in art has been in New Mexico where, among other training, she was juried into advanced design courses in the School of Architecture at UNM. Prior to that she received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UCLA in 1971 and did her post-doctoral training at the C.G. Jung Institute in Los Angeles. She has lived and worked in NM for over 30 years and presently makes her home and studio in Rociada, in the northern NM mountains where she lives with her husband Wayne Brock. She has traveled extensively throughout the world and enjoys animals, cooking, hiking, backpacking and back country camping.
Partial List of Recent Awards in Juried Shows & Publications:
- Cover Art Award--Names & Numbers phone books for Los Alamos & Las Vegas NM--2007
- First Place–Arts International Exhibition, International Museum of Art, El Paso, TX--Oct. 2005
- Grand Prize–Old Town Artist's Competition, Albuquerque, NM--May 2004
- First Place–NMSF Professional Fine Arts Exhibition, Albuquerque, NM--Sept. 2002
- Portrait Society of America, Member's Gallery, The Art of the Portrait, Vol. III, Issue 14, forth quarter--2001
- Award of Merit–¡MAGNIFICO!, 12th Annual Exhibition, "Roots & Routes", Albuquerque Museum, August 2001
- First, Second & Third Places in Contemporary Oils--NMSF Hispanic Arts Exhibition, Sept. 2000
For More Info and Other Paintings and Prints Available Contact:
Sharon Stillwater, P.O. Box 609, Rociada NM. (505) 426-8200 sharonstillwater@desertgate.com or, visit her web site at sharonstillwater.com
Agent & Gallery Representation:
Sari Shapiro–Image Consultants, 11520 Rochester Ave., Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA
Patio Gallery–206½ San Felipe NW, Patio Market, Old Town, Albuquerque, NM 87104
War Dancer Design & Gallery–150 Bridge St., Las Vegas NM 87701