FLAC NEWS RELEASE
Fuller Lodge Art Center presents Sandi J. Ludescher’s Dia de los Muertos series as a solo show, Oct.14 through Nov. 12. Meet and greet the artist at an opening with refreshments 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
Ludescher is a contemporary New Mexican regionalist figurative painter. Her life and work is about celebration. Her original and unique paintings explore the distinctness and sometimes quirkiness, which is part of our New Mexican fingerprint. Her series at Fuller Lodge is not a traditional representation of Dia de los Muertos, where well known caricatures are subtle critics of the rulers and wealthy.
Her series highlights real people behind makeup and costuming who express what the holiday means to them; about the life they breathe into it, remembrance of their dead and how they mitigate their grief and loss. The subjects have turned themselves inside out to show us who they are and what they feel. Each painting, though, begs many interpretations; tales that are common and also invite inclusivity. Captured in the paintings, the viewer will experience symbolism, humor, nostalgia.
There are 33 paintings and 33 drawings in the series. Music has always played a big role in Ludescher’s life and work. For this reason, she has chosen a song to accompany each painting, although the painting does not illustrate the story of the song. Rather, they’re an eclectic collection from extensive playlists that she listens to while working. To increase the experience with each painting, A QR code appears next to each painting.
Dia de los Muertos is a traditional celebration best known for its Latin/Hispanic roots. Appropriately, this opening falls on the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month. Ludescher graduated with a BFA from the University of New Mexico in 2006. She’s also worked as a professional musician and award winning journalist, while still painting.
She was born near Chicago, but raised in southern California and moved as a young adult to the Pacific Northwest. In 1998, she moved to New Mexico for a journalism job and to pursue serious painting. Her journalism came to an abrupt halt shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. Her painting continued on. Even though her inspiration comes from the Land of Enchantment, her work resonants with people everywhere and is collected globally and featured in calendars, journals, magazines and videos.
Exhibition credits include invitational shows, including Farmington Museum and “Voices Against Racism” Canada, as well as six solo shows and many awards.