‘Alia – Holding the Sky’ by Beverly Branch. Photo by Diane Stoffel/Step Up Gallery

‘Brenda M – My Home is Alive’ by Beverly Branch. Photo by Diane Stoffel/Step Up Gallery

STEP UP GALLERY NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, June 25, is the last day to view “Off-Grid: Women of the Mesa” at the Step Up Gallery.

The exhibit features figurative oil paintings by Beverly Branch. There are 39 large portraits showcases women and their families who live on the mesa west of Taos and Pilar whose homes are not connected to the power grid.

During the opening reception May 23, Step Up Gallery manager Diane Stoffel captured some of the real women behind these striking paintings in the accompanying photographs.  Each of the women expressed what an honor it has been to be painted by Branch.

Those who have viewed the exhibit also admire Branch’s work

“While I was viewing this exhibit, I noticed a solitary young woman there who was studying every single painting at length and reading every word of the descriptions. It was a reminder to me of the enormous impact one person can make in the world when no one is even there to witness it. This 20s-something, dark-haired woman was spellbound and I have no doubt she will go on to do powerful things during her life.” –visitor from Albuquerque.

Some of the art in this exhibit can be viewed later this summer in Taos along with additional work by Branch: July 19-26 at Stables Gallery; July 19-26 at E. L. Blumenshein Home and Museum.

Step Up Gallery is open the same hours as the library: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The gallery is on the top level of Mesa Public Library at 2400 Central Ave. Admission is free. For more information about the gallery, visit https://stepupgallery.org.