Taking Flight: New Works by Terran Last Gun, Ira Lujan, and Bryce Risley
Ira Lujan
Enrolled at Taos Pueblo, Ira Lujan creates abstract and figurative glass pieces that often reflect Indigenous Southwest ceramics. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lujan studied glass-blowing at the Eugene Glass School in Oregon and the University of New Mexico in Taos, where he trained with Tony Jojola. He continues to explore his medium at the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, where he met Preston Singletary and Dale Chihuly. Using a range of techniques, his glass pieces include images of feathers, parrots, quails, rain, clouds, and other elements of nature on his vessels, which often reflect historic pottery shapes and designs from across New Mexico. Ira Lujan is based in Albuquerque, where he continues to create and experiment with new forms.
Terran Last Gun
“When approaching new work there are a number of steps I find important, and those are paper choice (size; quantity), compositional choice (shape), and color choice (color theory; color relativity; RYB color wheel; harmonious color schemes). The new works I created for Gallery Hózhó are done with colored pencils and archival ink on antique ledger sheets that are all from various Montana locations, which is my home state and traditional Piikani (Blackfeet) territory. I’ve been working with the idea of how color and shape can provide energy and create mood. These works are part of that pursuit and continue to push color relationships using low and high intensity color schemes. There is a term I came across recently and it really resonated with me and my work, and that was retro futurism. I feel my work pulls from the ancient and future, all while being aware of the present. Through my work I am adding to and reestablishing the Piikani experience in North America. I’ve often looked at my work as being geometric abstraction, but yet it is still potent in meaning and symbology. Working with ledger sheets further adds to the concept of time, history, and place—it’s a beautiful and unique piece of history given new life and meaning.”
Bryce Risley
“My approach to photography is grounded in documentary and photojournalism style imagery. This exhibited series is exclusive to a book publication project, The Albuquerque Balloonist. My work spans various cultural and industry related subject matter. I moved back to New Mexico after graduate school and dedicated my photography work to capturing elements of my home environment. I was motivated to do this because I know I’ll leave New Mexico again soon and I want to have photos on hand that I can share with others wherever I go next so they’ll see how precious and unique the beauty and culture of my home is. Returning to my academic roots, one of my next photo projects will focus on coral reef fisheries in South Asia.”
