Greetings fellow Artists and Appreciators,

Like most of you, I’m finding the time to tackle my computer projects a bit more accessible with so many things having been cancelled or postponed.  As all this began to swallow our normalcy, so many of us were in the midst of events, trips, spring break and such.  We all started to have to scramble to keep the train on the tracks until we could get to the other side of whatever we were in the middle of.  For a number of plein air painters from all over the country and our own John Meister, the Santa Fe Plein Air Fiesta was one such challenge.  

After a beautifully planned kickoff that John had organized with a team of trusty volunteers, everyone was eager to hit the hills and town with their paints and the promise of beautiful paintings to come.  As I sat talking to so many of the participants, their joy of being in Santa Fe was was as evident as the smiles on their faces.  After that, the news, day by day, was becoming concerning.  By the time the scheduled Celebration Dinner came around, there was even talk that we may not be able to honor our reservation at the restaurant.  But indeed we were able to.  Everyone was given a wipe for their spot at the table and their chair, and the restaurant spread us out a bit so we would not be quite so confined.  As the hours (literally) passed, John was consulting with the Sorrel Sky Gallery and myself on how we were going to be able to handle awards and the reception.  The choice was made by the gallery to have a closed reception, because by then, the number of people allowed under roof had been limited.  Hour by hour, some of the participants had to make the hard decision to go home because of health reasons or out of fear they would be unable to fly back home.  Some even cancelled flights and rented a car instead to return home.  By the time the awards were to be given out, the restrictions had gone from 100 to 50 allowed in an establishment.  All that happened in a matter of days, then hours, then minutes.

The story here is that everyone remained flexible.  Everyone communicated and came together to discuss how best to handle the situation that was changing minute to minute by the end.  The result was an extraordinarily beautiful show, with happy artists so grateful to be a part of the event even in the subsequent difficulties that dampened the prized opening night.

I can tell you that, as an artist who has the privilege of leading this amazing organization, as well as others in the past, I have never been so proud of a volunteer as I am of John Meister.  This man’s leadership was second to none in this unprecedented situation.  His cool headed responses to the rapidly changing social dictates by the governor had everyone feeling secure and comfortable with their own personal decisions to stay or to go.  The show went on and the gallery was beyond happy with the event and working with John despite what was happening.

This organization owes a big debt of gratitude to John Meister.  His leadership of this event shines bright on him, but is also an indicator of the integrity of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico.  It should remind everyone reading this that we all play a part in the public perception of PAPNM.  Whether it’s the honors we garner, the volunteerism we sign up for, down to simply our kindness to the people around us and respect to the land we visit to paint, it all factors in.  John has been integral in the movement of PAPNM for a number of years and I hope everyone will take a moment to drop him an email, or to remember to thank him when our lives get us back out doing what we love.  I, for one, am one grateful President….

As we move forward into what has been said will be “the worst of the situation” lets all be kind, flexible, and understanding as PAPNM’s calendar, like so many others, may have to also undergo some shifts and changes.  Now is the time to come together.  What that means to me is, to watch the site and your email.  Participate in the regular PAPNM online contests.  Donna Barnhill championed our latest Cure the Quarantine Blues popup contest, check it out!  There are a few days left!  Go out and paint where you can, even if its your back yard and post your paintings on the PAPNM facebook page or tag PAPNM on their new Instagram page.  Connect with your painting buddies, check on one another.  We can get closer and even grow in times of distance.  

I’m wishing everyone a healthy, happy day…

Most Humbly,

Natasha Isenhour

President, PAPNM