Luna Project Artist Biographies
Ruth Cohen
Ruth is self-taught and widely travelled. She attended classes, individual lessons and workshops in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos. She was a featured artist at Mariposa Gallery. Her prints and drawings have been exhibited in New Mexico including the New Mexico Art League juried exhibitions.
Lauri Dickinson
Lauri received her BFA and MA from the University of New Mexico. She has taught art in the Albuquerque Public School, Laguna and Acoma pueblos, London, England, and Oaxaca Mexico. Art is integral to her life and avocation as an artist. Lauri has shown her art since 1985 in juried and invitational exhibits national and internationally. Her work is included in the Bernalillo County Public Art Collection.
Mary Dornacker
Mary was born and raised in Albuquerque. She attended UNM and received a BFA in 1971 and a MA in art Education in 1973.
Catherine Eaves
Cate grew up in New Mexico and studied Art Education and English at UNM. A member of the National Art Education Association, she taught Art and English in New Mexico and Minnesota for 37 years. Retired from APS, she works in a variety of media and finds the landscape a source of enduring inspiration.
Nance Elsinger
Born in New Mexico, Nance received her BA from the University of Colorado. Committed to her art education, Nance has taken classes and workshops in oil, acrylics, pastel, and mixed media. From 1995 to 2004, she was an active participant in Silver City art activities, having several one-woman shows, exhibiting in a local co-op gallery, and opening her studio for visitors. Currently in Albuquerque, she shows both as a member of the Pastel Society and the Luna Project.
Marta Light
Marta has lived, taught and painted in New Mexico for a lifetime. She has exhibited her work in museums and galleries in the USA and Canada. Her work in included in the books Creative Collage and Making Connections.
Joani Murphy
A native New Mexican, Joani received her BFA in painting and drawing at UNM. She has participated in Luna project exhibitions since 2003. She has been in several two-person shows at Mariposa Gallery and groups show at the African American Performing Arts Gallery. Joani’s work was selected as one of the temporary land art installation pieces at Bachechi Open Space.
Margy O’Brien
Margy O’Brien’s paintings and artist’s books have been included in many juried shows including the Albuquerque Museum Arts Thrive exhibit and the artist’s book show at Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe. She has completed six ceramic tile public arts projects in Albuquerque and is exploring other mixed media.
Nancy Rutland
Nancy studied art in the U.S. and England and received her BA in English from the College of William & Mary and her MA from the University of Virginia. She founded Bookworks bookstore in Albuquerque’s north valley in 1984. Her drawings have appeared in People Soup, Caduceus and Iris. Her work has been in juried and invitational shows and was featured in a solo show at Mariposa gallery.
Phyllis Benia Salazar
Phyllis earned a BA in Art and Psychology and a MA in Art Education from the University of New Mexico. She taught art at Albuquerque High School for twenty-five years. The Albuquerque School Board recognized her for excellence in teaching. After retiring, Phyllis volunteered at Zia Elementary School teaching art to kindergarten students.
Althea Light Stockli
Althea was born and raised in Albuquerque. She showed a talent for drawing, sketching and painting at an early age. While at Albuquerque Academy summer school, her large drawings of insects were deemed print ready for publication. She has completed high school at Sandia High, and is enrolled at UNM where she plans to refine and expand her knowledge of art.
Kristin Thacher
Kristin was born in the hills of West Virginia and has lived in the mountains of New Mexico for 44 years. An award-winning ceramic artist and poet, she enjoys experimenting with pastels, paper marbling, printmaking, and photography.
Alice Webb
Alice Webb, an Albuquerque artist, has a BFA and MFA in Art Education from the University of New Mexico. From 1973 until 1990 Alice lived in Taos where she studied and worked with many artists including Fritz Scholder. In the summer of 2001, Alice studied ceramics in Tuscany, Italy. In 2016, the Albuquerque Business Association awarded Alice its annual Local Treasure honor. Over the past thirty years, Alice has taught art students between the ages of 3 and 73 in numerous venues in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. At present Alice continues to paint and teach classes at the New Mexico Art League.
