Wild Hearts Gallery presents Karl and Mary Hofmann “Fragments of a Childhood Odyssey”
Wild Hearts Gallery in Placitas invites the public to a reception on January 10, 1-3 pm to meet Karl and Mary Hofmann and talk about their show: “Fragments of a Childhood Odyssey”, Exhibit runs from January 2 – February 1.
Childhood memories are our earliest recollections, shaping our identity and well-being. As a visual artist, Karl Hofmann has transformed some of these memories into a visual journey, a series of pastel paintings for this exhibit as he takes a whimsical look at the experience of a walk to a barn in rural Germany through the eyes of a three year old boy. He uses bold colors and strong designs to illustrate the story. Mary continues the 50-year tradition of Hofmann Pottery with pieces embellished with stamped, incised patterns.
While recently spending a sleepless night in a hospital bed, images of past experiences came and went. Some of these images showed up again and again, recalling important moments. They had a common feel of having been part of a continuous experience and slowly formed a vague composite.
I recalled an image of my street with its half timber houses, and being taken by my nanny Marta. Marta was a 15 year old farm girl from a nearby village and she told me that we were going on a trip to her parent’s farm in a nearby village. I recall looking at a huge bed of mushrooms in a nearby forest. They were beautiful, but I was told that they were deadly. Marta explained that not all beautiful things are what you should take home.
Other visions included being stared down by a big cat, the guardian of the lager and smoked meats; a simple breakfast of homemade rye bread and fresh milk; and a pig, named Fraulein, who was running loose in the courtyard. They probably went home the following day but it seemed like a lifetime to a young boy.
After living in New England, the Midwest and Denver, Karl and Mary Hofmann found themselves in New Mexico and 50 years later they are still enjoying New Mexico life. They have been an integral part of art fairs and galleries here which include the New Mexico Potters Association, New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair, Weems Art Fair, Placitas Studio Tour and the Placitas Holiday Market.
During First Sunday ARTScrawl, January 4, join us for coffee and view this brand new exhibit at Wild Hearts Gallery. The artist’s reception will be celebrated with fellowship and refreshments on Saturday, January 10, 1-3 p.m.
Wild Hearts Gallery is an artists’ collective, supported by 14 local artists. Located at 221-B State Highway 165, the gallery is open Tuesday–Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday–Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
