Art On The Rio experienced a great first year of operations. We are heading into year two with an extreme amount of gratitude and hope. We think that there’s got to be a number of folks in New Mexico’s creative economy ecosystem that have at least heard about AOR. Maybe they’re not familiar with the ins and outs – or the all abouts, in terms of what we do and who we are, but we are confident in the way that the brand is stretching its limbs and beginning to walk toward a future of promise.
We promise that we are working hard to engage artists, businesses, buyers, and those who are just lovers of art, in all that we are doing and aiming to do as we go forward. For us, 2022 will look a little different from 2021. It will be more “organized” and less “busy.” What does that mean? It means we WON’T be hosting monthly auctions online, but instead we are going to focus our efforts on FOUR auctions in 2022.
We will be holding auctions in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. So keep an eye out for the invites to those online engagements. We are thankful to each and every person that logged on to see what was going on when we had our online auctions. We have decided that it was a great engagement tool in our infancy, and something to be evolved and adjusted as we move into our future.
Also, although things aren’t ever going to be “normal” again – who really wants or likes normal anyway? So instead of your normal “variety” show at a brewery – the type of show where patrons watch artists perform and painters paint – and then don’t know if they can talk to the artists or painters. Instead of those same events where artists perform and painters paint, and then want to head to the next gig or be left alone… We are launching a series of meetups in 2022 that are exactly that – meet and greet mixers and meetups.
We are asking the general art loving public to come out and meet the artists we work with and for. In some cases these events will function for the artists we work with and for to meet one another as well. We think this loose and inviting setting with some announcements and ability to answer any questions that ANYONE might have about AOR and what’s new, how we do what we do, how folks can get involved and the like, will serve as a great breathe of fresh air from the “old normal,” and allow for something new to grow in its place. Join us for the first at Tractor Brewing Wells Park Sunday, February 20th from 4-6pm.
If you can’t join us then – don’t fret, we understand life is busy. We are in the business of keeping busy and aiming to meet YOU wherever you are. That being said, look for us on screens and in common areas around town, thanks to our LOCAL advertising partner JohnnyBoards and their upcoming efforts to spread the word that is Art On The Rio. Thanks to our largest #BrickAndMortarPartner American Home Furniture, and their generous donations, we were able to secure some advertising in both print and digital fashion, that will flash before your eyes, in real-time on your downtime. So just keep an eye out for locations around town that utilize JohnnyBoards services – we will be on the screen! We are super excited about this opportunity to continue to spread awareness and grow not only the potential population of art buyers and collectors, but brick and mortar partners, and artists we can work with and for.
Also coming to your living room via a screen – or maybe your palm thanks to your smartphone, catch us on an upcoming installment of NM Living. We will join the team at NML for a chat about 2022 and some of the things we have cooking in the digital world, thanks to our newest member of the AOR family Benjamin Hensley. Heard of NFTs? If not, he will change that on an upcoming blog post – that will cover all you need to know. So, I won’t steal his thunder, here. But, tune in then – and if for some reason you can’t, or you miss it, keep your eyes peeled for Ben’s “drop” on this blog spot. We’re going to give artists more than one marketplace for means of sustaining their creative livelihoods – and we feel “Gud” about it (small hint there).
In 2021 we grew into a NEW city – with our brick and mortar partner American Home Furniture’s support – we are now showing the works of Michael Martinez at their Santa Fe location. Next time you’re up North, stop in and check it out – or tell your auntie who lives up there (I have an auntie who does), to do so too. In 2022, we are going South, look for us in Los Lunas, thanks to, again, one of our current brick and mortar partners, Tractor Brewing! We will be displaying a single piece and rotating it regularly, for the looking and possible purchasing pleasure of their patrons in the Southern area of NM. We are heading to Colorado Springs too – soon! So we will soon be saying “artists of the Southwest,” in our messaging – instead of “New Mexican” artists. It’s exciting – and you’ll know about it as soon as it happens. Keep your eyes and ears open, we will do the rest.