All Kiva Artists
Kiva Fine Art
El Centro de Santa Fe
102 East Water Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501505-820-7413
505-820-7414 (fax)
info@kivaindianart.com
Ellen Alexander
"After getting my MFA in Illustration from Syracuse University, I traveled in South America and the Caribbean. During ten years of teaching Spanish, English and ESL, I had become fascinated by the impact of foreign powers on indigenous civilizations, which led me to write and illustrate several children’s books based on stories I heard during my travels.
Books, however, did not satisfy my desire to work in three dimensions. I began sculpting in metals, then stone (both too hard), trying to express my idea of the interconnectedness of all beings in different times and places.
Finally, I “came home” to the softer, warmer qualities of wood. I prefer to use native New Mexican woods, such as juniper, fruitwoods, walnut and mesquite, and I work with a variety of hand and power tools.
My pieces range from buddhas, Santos and animals to small furniture and other functional items like spoons and bowls. Many pieces are inlaid with turquoise or other stones, metals or glass, and some are painted. But mostly, I prefer to simply oil the wood to bring out the beauty of the grain.
In 2000, I created my business, Cloud Mountain Carving, here in Santa Fe where I live. I am a founding member and officer of the Northern New Mexico Wood Arts Association Education Assn. and have had my work showcased in The New Mexican, The Albuquerque Journal, and various magazines including Design, Trend, and The Santa Fean. I have entered a few juried shows, the latest of which was The Greater Salt Lake Area Woodcarvers Assn. (Utah, 2009), where I won nine blue ribbons and a Best of Division.