Suspended Horse by David Trujillo. Courtesy photo

ART News:

Oct. 16-18 is Art Weekend in Los Alamos! Both the 2015 Los Alamos Studio Tour and the Gateway to the Holidays Arts and Crafts Fair will take place that weekend. The Los Alamos Daily Post is featuring artists from both events leading up to the Tour and Fair.

The 2015 Studio Tour is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Samples of all artists’ work will be on display throughout the weekend in the Pajarito Room at historic Fuller Lodge.

The Fuller Lodge “Gateway to the Holidays” Arts & Crafts Fair runs 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at Crossroads Bible Church. A list of particating artists and their work can be viewed at http://fullerlodgeartcenter.com/Fair_Fall2015.

Angler Fish by David Trujillo. Courtesy photo

Meet David Trujillo

David Trujillo retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2008 and begin welding his steel and rock art sculptures. He is a registered engineer in the state of New Mexico as well as a Master Aviator in the Army and National Guard, flying helicopters, including Vietnam and Desert Storm. He has mentored under his friend Richard Swensen, who recently moved to Los Alamos from Mississippi. 

Trujillo has shown his work at various galleries. including the Karen Wray gallery in Los Alamos (now closed), the Art Matters gallery in Salidia, Colo. and the Coldale art gallery in Coldale, Colo. He has participated in the Contemporary Hispanic Market (CHM), in Santa Fe for the last 5 years. In 2014, his Cholla Lobo (a steel and rock wolf pup) won the award at the CHM for the best Sculpture.

Trujillo lives in Los Alamos with his wife, Janice, and enjoys traveling the world, fly fishing, skiing and rafting in Colorado, as well as visiting with his three Colorado granddaughters and their parents. He has built a midlevel tower at his Los Alamos residence where he will show his work for the Los Alamos Studio Tour.

Cats by David Trujillo. Courtesy photo

Santa Fe Vessesl by Patrick Soran. Courtesy photo

Meet Patrick Soran

When I first became interested in woodworking many years ago, I found that it was a form of therapy after a day of work in the scientific arena. I am a nuclear engineer by trade, and working in my shop at night offered a pleasant change of pace for me.

Gradually, I accumulated a nice set of tools. My first attempts were primarily furniture pieces for the house. For my daughter’s wedding present, I fashioned a bed for her and her new husband, which pleased both them and me. I followed this with a rocking cradle when they had their first child. Since then I have made several wooden objects for my children and grandchildren and I discovered how enjoyable it was to share my woodworking results with others.

Platters by Patrick Soran. Courtesy photo

Wood has always fascinated me. As some people crave textile sensations, seeing a fine piece of wood and imagining what it could become has the same effect on me. In 2007, I applied to and was accepted into the Northwestern Woodworking School, taught by Gary Rogowski, a regular contributor and editor of Fine Woodworking magazine.

This two-year course, taught at the Northwest Woodworking Studio in Portland, Ore. really opened my eyes to the artistic side of woodworking. We were encouraged to see beyond the lines and angles of the product and to stretch our imaginations to the beauty of the finished product. Every three months, we completed a new project, consisting of boxes, cabinets, tables, and chairs.

At the completion of the course, I became an accredited Master Woodworker. Though I am an engineer at heart, I find that designing graceful, creative wooden objects has brought out a new side of me that I did not know existed. Matching the correct wood with a design or using an inlay to make a statement is an exciting part of the design process.

Though I am an engineer at heart, I find that designing graceful, creative wooden objects has brought out a new side of me that I did not know existed. Matching the correct wood with a design or using an inlay to make a statement is an exciting part of the design process.

For the last several years I have been working with my favorite woods (birds-eye maple, cherry, walnut) to create various pieces of furniture (tables, blanket chests, Morris chairs, and cabinets), several types of wooden boxes, and numerous wood turnings. Many of my works have been sold at the Los Alamos Art Center, private galleries, and numerous commissions. I hope you enjoy seeing my creations and the sensuous nature of the wood in their composition and makeup.

Maple Box by Patrick Soran. Courtesy photo