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This month’s cover artist: Tim Nicola

im Nicola’s sculptures capture your attention with their sensual flow and sophisticated simplicity. His expressive figures show individuals or small groups of Native Americans often engaged with baskets, instruments or water in joyful, honoring and sometimes humorous relationships.

Nicola is a Penobscot Indian who grew up on Indian Island, his tribe’s water-bound reservation, in the middle of Maine’s Penobscot river. Being surrounded by water, traveling on it via canoe, and living in an environment where rainfall was common and plentiful were big influences in his early life.

His family and his larger tribal community nurtured and inspired Nicola artistically as a young one. His father, grandmother and grandfather were all traditional Penobscot basketmakers. Having access to so many creative people engaged in the art of making or building something provided him with an ongoing workshop atmosphere of learning. He did lots of wood carving as a boy and would also "lock himself away" to give himself focused time to paint and draw.

In 1980, following a brief stretch in the army and a few years of working in construction, Nicola came to Santa Fe to study at the Institute of American Indian Art. His initial start at the school was in painting, but he soon switched his focus to three-dimensional art, which proved to be his true calling.

His teachers recognized his gift and passion for sculpture, and supported him in all kinds of ways. Doug Coffin, his first sculpture teacher, gave Nicola the key to the studio so he could work after school hours had ended. Nicola made use of his offer, working passionately into the night. He’d sleep for a few hours in his car and happily return to class in the morning.

Living in New Mexico introduced Nicola to a very different perception of water than the one he grew up with -- how precious it is in this high-desert environment -- and this has inspired much of his work here. Many may be familiar with The Life Givers, a life-size, award-winning bronze sculpture of two beautifully clad native women who, with great respect and tenderness, are helping each other gather water into large pots. Santa Fe Indian Market awarded Nicola with "a drawer full of ribbons" for this piece as well as a fellowship to assist him in furthering his extraordinary work.

Nicola says of his work, which he creates in alabaster, marble and bronze, "Mine is not the kind of art you have to look at for a long time to understand." Honoring his traditional native culture is a joy for him, as is depicting beauty. "In my work, composition, balance, line, rhythm, harmony and movement all come into play. Creating these pieces is a love affair -- it really is."

Tim Nicola’s sculpture is represented by McLarry Fine Art, 225 Canyon Road in Santa Fe. You can reach them by phone at (505) 988-1161 or (877) 983-2123, and on the web at www.mclarryfineart.com.

Craig Barnes is a former trial lawyer and negotiator on nuclear issues, ethnic cleansing, water and boundaries in Central Asia and the Transcaucuses. He is a frequent contributor to public radio, a playwright and author of Growing Up True (2001) and In Search of the Lost Feminine (2006). "Give Me a Strict Constructionist."

Linda Braun loves being a mom and enjoys practicing yoga, being out in the wild, eating pumpkin pie, taking afternoon naps, and creatively playing with life. "A Beginner’s First Steps on the Path of Self-Love" and "A Time for Change."

Jackie Camborde is a certified fitness instructor and registered yoga teacher. She owns Santé Studio in Santa Fe and has created several wellness programs, including Real World Yoga© and ROLLogic©. She believes that to be truly fit, one needs balance and fun built into every session. Contact her at www.jackiecamborde.com. "Happy Valentine’s Day to You!"

Jennifer Esperanza lives and works in Santa Fe. She has photographed for groups like the Bioneers, V-Day, FACT, the Heart Gallery and Thirsty Ear Festival, and her work has been published in New Mexico Magazine, Light of Consciousness, Yogi Times, the Village Voice, Variety and many other publications. www.jenniferesperanza.com or www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferesperanza. Her photographs appear Local Cosmos page.

Leo Hubbard, a retired New Mexico architect and former dune buggy enthusiast, is the proud owner of two early Broncos. He considers widespread off-highway-vehicle (OHV) abuse to be the single greatest threat to the motorized recreation community. He believes that unless rampant abuse is reined in, the public will turn against all OHV use on public lands. "Reining In OHV Abuse: Approaching the Moment of Truth."

Richard McCord founded the Santa Fe Reporter in 1974 and directed it until 1988. Since then he has been a freelance author, columnist and editor. Recently he has focused on books about New Mexico, including Albuquerque’s 300th anniversary and currently the history of the College of Santa Fe. "Saturday Morning at the Opera: It’s New to Santa Fe, and Already It’s the Place to Be."

Until this current issue, Gershon Siegel was copublishing and helping to edit Sun Monthly for the past 12+ years. Now clueless and never keen on long-range planning, he’s still somewhat embarrassed that the teacher of his "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" time-management class made him sit in the corner wearing a dunce cap. "A Time for Change."

You can now subscribe to Gail Snyder’s new every-other-monthly literary art book, Not Drowning, Waving, whose purpose is to not only seed the next revolution but spearhead it by choosing evolution over the hopeless anger and cynicism engendered by mainstream media these bad-boy days. www.notdrowningwaving-themag.com. "My Day in the Sun."

Paul Stamets is a visionary biologist and innovator who draws his inspiration from the natural world. A leading researcher in fungal bioremediation, the use of mushrooms to clean up toxic waste and restore contaminated soils, he is the author of six books on mushrooms, including most recently Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World. "Mushroom Magic."

Kate Storm is a writer, yogi and teacher of the Fertility Awareness Method. Winter finds her snuggled by the fire with her honey, belly full of homegrown food. "Finding the Good Life."




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	This month’s cover artist: Tim Nicola im Nicola’s sculptures capture your attention with their sensual flow and sophisticated simplicity. His expressive figures show individuals or small groups of Native Americans often engaged with baskets, instruments or water in joyful, honoring and sometimes humorous relationships. Nicola is a Penobscot Indian who grew up on Indian Island, his tribe’s water-bound reservation, in the middle of Maine’s Penobscot river. Being surrounded by water, traveling on it via canoe, and living in an environment where rainfall was common and plentiful were big influences in his early life. His family and his larger tribal community nurtured and inspired Nicola artistically as a young one. His father, grandmother and grandfather were all traditional Penobscot basketmakers. Having access to so many creative people engaged in the art of making or building something provided him with an ongoing workshop atmosphere of learning. He did lots of wood carving as a boy and would also "lock himself away" to give himself focused time to paint and draw. In 1980, following a brief stretch in the army and a few years of working in construction, Nicola came to Santa Fe to study at the Institute of American Indian Art. His initial start at the school was in painting, but he soon switched his focus to three-dimensional art, which proved to be his true calling. His teachers recognized his gift and passion for sculpture, and supported him in all kinds of ways. Doug Coffin, his first sculpture teacher, gave Nicola the key to the studio so he could work after school hours had ended. Nicola made use of his offer, working passionately into the night. He’d sleep for a few hours in his car and happily return to class in the morning. Living in New Mexico introduced Nicola to a very different perception of water than the one he grew up with -- how precious it is in this high-desert environment -- and this has inspired much of his work here. Many may be familiar with The Life Givers, a life-size, award-winning bronze sculpture of two beautifully clad native women who, with great respect and tenderness, are helping each other gather water into large pots. Santa Fe Indian Market awarded Nicola with "a drawer full of ribbons" for this piece as well as a fellowship to assist him in furthering his extraordinary work. Nicola says of his work, which he creates in alabaster, marble and bronze, "Mine is not the kind of art you have to look at for a long time to understand." Honoring his traditional native culture is a joy for him, as is depicting beauty. "In my work, composition, balance, line, rhythm, harmony and movement all come into play. Creating these pieces is a love affair -- it really is." Tim Nicola’s sculpture is represented by McLarry Fine Art, 225 Canyon Road in Santa Fe. You can reach them by phone at (505) 988-1161 or (877) 983-2123, and on the web at www.mclarryfineart.com.
Craig Barnes is a former trial lawyer and negotiator on nuclear issues, ethnic cleansing, water and boundaries in Central Asia and the Transcaucuses. He is a frequent contributor to public radio, a playwright and author of Growing Up True (2001) and In Search of the Lost Feminine (2006). "Give Me a Strict Constructionist." Linda Braun loves being a mom and enjoys practicing yoga, being out in the wild, eating pumpkin pie, taking afternoon naps, and creatively playing with life. "A Beginner’s First Steps on the Path of Self-Love" and "A Time for Change." Jackie Camborde is a certified fitness instructor and registered yoga teacher. She owns Santé Studio in Santa Fe and has created several wellness programs, including Real World Yoga© and ROLLogic©. She believes that to be truly fit, one needs balance and fun built into every session. Contact her at www.jackiecamborde.com. "Happy Valentine’s Day to You!" Jennifer Esperanza lives and works in Santa Fe. She has photographed for groups like the Bioneers, V-Day, FACT, the Heart Gallery and Thirsty Ear Festival, and her work has been published in New Mexico Magazine, Light of Consciousness, Yogi Times, the Village Voice, Variety and many other publications. www.jenniferesperanza.com or www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferesperanza. Her photographs appear Local Cosmos page. Leo Hubbard, a retired New Mexico architect and former dune buggy enthusiast, is the proud owner of two early Broncos. He considers widespread off-highway-vehicle (OHV) abuse to be the single greatest threat to the motorized recreation community. He believes that unless rampant abuse is reined in, the public will turn against all OHV use on public lands. "Reining In OHV Abuse: Approaching the Moment of Truth." Richard McCord founded the Santa Fe Reporter in 1974 and directed it until 1988. Since then he has been a freelance author, columnist and editor. Recently he has focused on books about New Mexico, including Albuquerque’s 300th anniversary and currently the history of the College of Santa Fe. "Saturday Morning at the Opera: It’s New to Santa Fe, and Already It’s the Place to Be." Until this current issue, Gershon Siegel was copublishing and helping to edit Sun Monthly for the past 12+ years. Now clueless and never keen on long-range planning, he’s still somewhat embarrassed that the teacher of his "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" time-management class made him sit in the corner wearing a dunce cap. "A Time for Change." You can now subscribe to Gail Snyder’s new every-other-monthly literary art book, Not Drowning, Waving, whose purpose is to not only seed the next revolution but spearhead it by choosing evolution over the hopeless anger and cynicism engendered by mainstream media these bad-boy days. www.notdrowningwaving-themag.com. "My Day in the Sun." Paul Stamets is a visionary biologist and innovator who draws his inspiration from the natural world. A leading researcher in fungal bioremediation, the use of mushrooms to clean up toxic waste and restore contaminated soils, he is the author of six books on mushrooms, including most recently Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World. "Mushroom Magic." Kate Storm is a writer, yogi and teacher of the Fertility Awareness Method. Winter finds her snuggled by the fire with her honey, belly full of homegrown food. "Finding the Good Life."