Nevada City gallery owner Lilly Vigil specializes in Native American works, offering fine art such as this oil by Oregon House painter Linda Carter Holman, "Pan de Muerto:' and also folk art.
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
Fine-ally: Collector Lilly Vigil branches into folk art
Monday, 29 March 2010
The Union Newspaper
Editor's note: Artist and gallery owner Lilly Vigil talks about her downtown Nevada City gallery of Native American fine and folk art.
What goods do you offer?
Vigil's Collection is a fine art gallery that has been in business in Nevada City for 25 years. We carry a wide variety of fine art and fine, handmade jewelry, weavings, pottery and artifacts.
What makes you different from other art galleries?
We specialize in Native American art. We are proud that about 99 percent of everything we carry is handmade by artists in the United States of America.
What's new?
In my recent travels, I have managed to acquire a regional folk artist from New Mexico, whom I have personally collected: Vicente Telles.
Vicente is in the tradition of saunters, artists who create images of saints, painted on tin or wood (called retablos) or carved in wood (called bultos). When the Spanish came to New Mexico in the 1500s, they were isolated from the Church because they were so far away, so they started creating their own images of saints.
Vicente goes a step farther, evolving into a wonderful, cartoon style that looks like a comic book cover. I thought it was fascinating. His work has been acquired by a museum in New Mexico.
This inspired me to get more into folk. art. This year, I will begin an emphasis in that area, featuring Native Americans and mainstream artists who work in wood, glass and textiles.
Folk art also is more affordable, making it a great genre for collectors who are just starting out.
I continue to carry the works of Linda Carter Holman, an Oklahoma resident who now lives in Oregon House, and Judith Lowry, a Native American and Nevada City resident whose work was recently purchased by the Smithsonian Institution.
What do you love about your work?
I love the appreciation that I receive from both the artist and my clients when I bring work from other areas to Nevada City. I love the discovery of a new artist and also the enthusiasm of a new budding art collector.
What do you find most challenging?
The most challenging aspect of my business is to keep it fresh and interesting. With all of the new artists, it does make my job easier.
What is your background?
I am from the state of New Mexico and grew up there, surrounded by all things Native American. I am of Apache, Pueblo and Spanish decent.
I moved to western Nevada County from the San Francisco Bay Area about 27 years ago, after being in the high tech industry.
I am an artist and have had this interest all of my life. I wanted to do something that I was passionate about, and I consider myself fortunate to be part of the art world. ~~
The gallery is open 6 days a week: hours 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays - closed on Tuesdays. Please call (530) 265-5790 to schedule an appointment for a private showing - groups welcome. Be sure to visit our Artists web page showcasing the art currently on display in the gallery and check in for announcements on up-coming shows and special events. | 
