El Monte Sagrado Unveils the Grand Bohemian Art Gallery Featuring Local Artist Thom Wheeler

 

TAOS, NM (June 1, 2007) – The AAA Four-Diamond El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa unveils the Grand Bohemian Gallery, a Kessler Collection gallery, on-site at the Taos, New Mexico property. This gallery makes it the sixth Kessler Collection gallery nationwide, with additional galleries set to open at the Grand Bohemian Hotel and Residences in St. Petersburg, FL and Grand Bohemian Hotel, Atlanta, GA in 2009.

 

The current exhibition at the gallery showcases works from local artist Thom Wheeler, famous for his many large contemporary sculptures. He will be showcasing the 17 pieces at the Grand Bohemian Gallery at El Monte Sagrado from April 1 to June 30.
Key pieces that are being highlighted include: “The Grand Hotel”’ Aluminum, Bronze, Copper with various gemstones 5’x 4’; “Twin Arrows” Paint on copper 42” x 76”; and the “Lady in Taos Garden” Oil 48” x 36”.

Wheeler is a Texas native who became one of Houston's foremost contemporary sculptors in the 1970's/80's, creating many large commissions for corporations and architects, commercial and public spaces such as hotel and bank lobbies. He worked in grand scale ranging from 54 feet for bas relief works to 60 feet tall three dimensional pieces. Major works were executed for Banco di Roma, Rome, Italy; The Grand Hotel, Houston; and Ole Miss University, Oxford, Mississippi among many others. Private collectors include Dr. Jonas Salk and country music star Randy Travis.

 

His materials are highly polished and textured metals such as brass, copper, and aluminum plate set with ivory, wood, cast glass, stag horn, and stone such as turquoise, malachite and jasper. His tools include the band saw, lathe, drill press, shears, kilns, welding machines, buffers, and sanders.  Wheeler moved to Taos in 1985 where he began concentrating on smaller pieces with a feeling for the icons of the West and Southwest - gypsy women faces, crosses, bucking broncos, howling coyotes, cow skulls, and the saguaro cacti, all of which he calls wall jewelry.  He often titles his work after country western songs, such as "Don't Fence Me In" and "Cow Cow Boogie".
 

About El Monte Sagrado
El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa is located in Taos, NM at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  The property offers 36 suites and casitas positioned around a pristine Sacred Circle and is undergoing a major expansion calling for more than 35,000 square feet of new guest rooms, banquet and meeting space and spa facilities.  The Living Spa expansion will add six additional treatment rooms where guests can experience traditional spa treatments as well as special offerings such as Sound & Vibrational Therapy, Intuitive Touch and Egyptian Anointing designed to help find balance within and with the environment. At the core of El Monte Sagrado is the “Living Machine,” an effective system for collecting, treating and recycling water used by the resort with minimal impact on the land.

About the Grand Bohemian Gallery
The Grand Bohemian Gallery, a Kessler Collection gallery, is also located in the Beaver Creek Lodge, Beaver Creek, CO, Celebration Hotel, Celebration FL, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Orlando, FL, and Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA.  The Grand Bohemian Galleries encompass prominent American and European art, including original works of art and photography by local, national and international artisans complemented by art glass, contemporary jewelry, and unique gift items.