Wester-Perez Work To Be on Display at Artistic Celebration of Our Mountains

Newmanista Susan Wester-Perez gazes at a work-in-progress

Newman Park's very own, Susan Wester-Perez, will be one of the local artists whose work will be on display at tomorrow night's Artistic Celebration of Our Mountains. The art exhibit has traditionally been the opening reception for the annual Celebration of Our Mountains , a series of events meant to encourage appreciation of the El Paso region's environment.

Although painting since she was 7-years-old, Susan only began to exhibit her work since 2007. A scion of generations of artists, Susan prefers water colors since, she says, "I'm not one for preparation."

"One just needs some cups of water and cans of paint and is ready to go. Who knows how long the Muse will be there," she told me.

Our Lady of Guadalupe on Alabama is the subject of this ornament

Influenced by O'Keefe, Matisse, Van Gogh and others, Susan's works have a dreamy quality of magical realism. She is inspired by the old missions, mountains and natural life of our region. Recently Susan left full-time work in the book retail industry (she was a manager with Barnes and Noble) and now works for a company that discounts textbooks. The work there is intensive for just a season which means that she now has far more time to devote to her painting year-round.

The Artistic Celebration of Our Mountains will be held at Ardovino's Desert Crossing from 6 until 9 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, September 23rd. Savor the delicious Ardovino hors d'oeuvres. A cash bar will be available.

Plan now to see more of Susan's work at this year's Chalk the Block. For more information about Susan Wester-Perez, visit www.susanwesterperez.com.

Union Plaza by Susan Wester-Perez

Taste of Frontera Benefits Land Conservation

I urge you to support Frontera Land Alliance. It protects in perpetuity a network of lands that are chosen for their natural beauty, conservational utility, and cultural values throughout West Texas and Southern New Mexico. Frontera cooperates with landowners, donors, government agencies and other organizations to conserve the region’s deserts, mountains, arroyos, canyons and rivers for all. Frontera, the El Paso area’s only 501(c)3 land trust, is a member of the national Land Trust Alliance, and subscribes to the LTA’s Standards and Practices for Land Trusts which set forth a legally and ethically sound program of natural resources transactions and stewardship.

Frontera helped preserve Resler Canyon and today manages the Wakeem/Teschner Nature Preserve. Through a conservation easement, Frontera has taken on the responsibility of conserving Thunder Canyon. Under the leadership of our fellow hiker and a Master Naturalist, Judy Ackerman, Frontera is on its way to preserving Castner Range as open space land.

The Frontera Land Alliance’s second annual gala fundraiser, Taste of Frontera, will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2010 starting at 6:00 pm. at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing in Sunland Park, New Mexico.

This year’s Taste of Frontera promises to be a memorable event with local wines, tasty foods, live music, and a plethora of silent auction items and door prizes. Proceeds from the fundraiser support conservation and restoration of critically important natural land resources in the El Paso region. Congressmen Silvestre Reyes will be the special guest that evening.

Tickets cost $40 per person and will be available at the door. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 526 7725 or 490 8601. For more information about The Frontera Land Alliance, go to their website at www.fronteralandalliance.org.