Southwest reflections: 'Between Dust & Stars' features surrealist landscapes and imagery by ArtStreet artists

The Harwood Art Center and ArtStreet of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless are teaming up once again for their 28th annual exhibition partnership.

Southwest reflections: 'Between Dust & Stars' features surrealist landscapes and imagery by ArtStreet artists

This year’s exhibit, “Between Dust & Stars: Echoes of the High Desert,” is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, through Feb. 22, at the Harwood Art Center. A free reception, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, will offer visitors a chance to meet the artists and explore their works in a vibrant, community-centered atmosphere.

Featuring surrealist landscapes, the exhibition reflects on the past, experiences the present and envisions the future, all while drawing inspiration from the rugged beauty of the Southwest.

This year’s show coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the Harwood Art Center. To honor the milestone, the center asked participating artists to reflect on themes of history and transformation.

The collaboration with ArtStreet, a program of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, was a cornerstone of this. For 28 years, the two organizations have partnered to create a platform for artists who often go unrecognized, showcasing their work in a gallery setting and providing opportunities for the community to connect with their stories.

Each piece in this year’s exhibit will offer a glimpse into the lived experiences of its creator. While some artists convey their emotions literally, others use abstraction, technique and material to create feelings of loss.

“While one artist might draw literal tears on a face, another may saturate the paper with water before beginning their painting to emulate the act of letting go of control and feeling physically wet from sadness,” said Jordyn Bernicke, director of engagement for Harwood Art Center.

These emotions that the artists are showcasing through their works are also inherently connected to New Mexico’s landscape, Bernicke said.

“This show highlights the unified mission of ArtStreet artists to explore themes associated with change and personal development set in the context of an ever-developing Southwest landscape,” she said.

Harwood platforms ArtStreet’s artists by offering gallery space, hosting receptions and promoting the exhibition through marketing and archiving. In recent years, Harwood’s photographer-in-residence, Aziza Murray, has documented each installation to preserve these works for future audiences. Additionally, 100% of proceeds from artwork sales go directly to the artists, a gesture that reinforces the collaborative and empowering nature of the partnership.