Sanitary Tortilla Factory

Bad Moon Photos
Ariel C. Wilson

Exhibition: November 1 - December 27, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday, November 1, 5-8pm

Sanitary Tortilla Factory is pleased to present Bad Moon Photos, a large-scale photographic installation and participatory project by Ariel C. Wilson. It is nearly impossible to take a good photograph of the moon with a cell-phone camera, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. In the summer of 2021, Wilson began soliciting bad cell-phone photos of the moon from friends, colleagues, family, lovers, and strangers. Since then, over 1,000 low-res images have been submitted to the live and growing collection. Bad Moon Photos has become an archive of collective failure, desire, and resistance. Together, the images celebrate the actions of many over the work of the solitary artist, disregarding boundaries between professionals and amateurs. These images reflect a shared impulse to use our cameras to preserve vast objects of our love and longing—the moon included. Photographs inherently compress, reduce, and
abstract their subjects. The moon resists capture, often appearing as an oblong spot in the field of black, or a tiny spec in an expansive blue sky. Despite our predictable failure, we can’t help but keep trying.

This exhibition highlights a selection of images and videos from the archive, focusing on submissions from New Mexico residents and neighboring communities. Wilson prints each image or sequence of images like family snapshots and displays them in a loose constellation on the wall. Some are printed as large-format adhesive vinyl photographs and adhered directly to the wall, becoming a backdrop for others images while exaggerating their low resolution. Short videos play on an iPhone, recording the phone camera’s inability to focus or make a proper exposure for the moon. Visitors are invited to use a small printer in the space to contribute their own images to the archive and the walls of the gallery, completing the exhibition through their own participation.

Exhibition: Signs of life

Artist:
Karl Orozco


Exhibition: September 20-October 25, 2024
Exhibition Open For viewing: Fridays, 12-5pm
Artist Talk: Friday, October 25th, 6-7pm

TODAY OCTOBER 25 IS THE EXHIBITIONS LAST DAY!

This project is supported by the Fulcrum Fund, a grant program of 516 ARTS made possible by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Meow Wolf Foundation.

Photo:
Signs of life
Taken in stf gallery

Exhibition: Signs of life

Artist:
Karl Orozco


Exhibition: September 20-October 25, 2024
Exhibition Open For viewing: Fridays, 12-5pm
Artist Talk: Friday, October 25th, 6-7pm

REMEMBER!
Open Hours Fridays 12-5, scheduling to view exhibition starts 24hrs in advance

This project is supported by the Fulcrum Fund, a grant program of 516 ARTS made possible by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Meow Wolf Foundation.

Image taken in STF gallery
Signs of life

HAPPY HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY . STF is so EXCITED to host the 13TH BIRTHDAY of this incredible festival 😁!! These events collectively showcase the power, creativity and dedication of our local community! Thanks for the interview .acd

SIGNS OF LIFE opens next week!

Artist: Karl Orozco

Exhibition: September 20-October 25, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, October 4, 5-8pm 
Artist Talk: Friday, October 25th, 6-7pm

The installation considers the life cycles of the urban landscape through a study of abandoned roadside signs.
Since moving to Albuquerque in the summer of 2020, Orozco has photographed, mapped, and archived over 100 out-of-use signs across the state of New Mexico.
He recreates these signs using the 3D modeling and animation software Blender as an attempt to crystallize these monuments in the condition they were originally seen. Each sign is animated to exist in a perpetual state between death and rebirth, and together, their collective symbolism conjures visions of the afterlife.

Karl Orozco repurposes broken and abandoned communication tools such as printers and road signs and inventively reutilizes these objects to create vibrant prints, dynamic animations, and immersive installations.
His work revolves around the concepts of death and rebirth.
By granting new utilities to objects beyond their intended functionality, Orozco explores the potential inherent in the discarded elements of our manufactured landscape.

This project is supported by the Fulcrum Fund, a grant program of 516 ARTS made possible by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Meow Wolf Foundation.

Image from:
Karl Orozo
Signs of life

GENERAL SUBMISSIONS

We support exhibitions by all artists (emerging, established, local, national, and international) working in any visual arts or interdisciplinary medium.

for more information:
https:// sanitarytortillafactory.org/submissions/

General Submission Guidelines

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
AT MIDNIGHT MST

- IN ONE PDF:
Link to website
CV/Resume
10 images/links to videos or audios (MAX 5min.)
Exhibition proposal (MAX one page)
$10 fee

Image From:
Exhibition I WANNA BE YOURS
Grace Rosario Perkins
2019

GENERAL SUBMISSIONS

We support exhibitions by all artists (emerging, established, local, national, and international) working in any visual arts or interdisciplinary medium.

for more information:
https:// sanitarytortillafactory.org/submissions/

General Submission Guidelines

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
AT MIDNIGHT MST

- IN ONE PDF:
Link to website
CV/Resume
10 images/links to videos or audios (MAX 5min.)
Exhibition proposal (MAX one page)
$10 fee
submit to: [email protected]

Image from:
Exhibition GBCS
Santi Chávez
2024

OPEN SUBMISSIONS FOR 2025 EXHIBITIONS

for more information:
https:// sanitarytortillafactory.org/submissions/

EXCEPTIONAL VISUAL ARTIST SCHOLAR

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2024!
CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT MST!

The Exceptional Visual Artist Scholar is an award that offers professional space for a Master of Fine Art graduate student as their final thesis show. The culminating exhibition launches them into their profession as an artist. With the series, we underscore exceptional artists attending any regional institution.

Submission Guidelines
Proposals accepted between May 1 – September 1, 2024
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE September 1, 2024, at midnight MST.
- IN ONE PDF:
10 images/links to videos or audios (5min.)
Link to website
Exhibition proposal (one page)
CV/ resume
free to apply

submit to: [email protected]

Image from:
Exhibition Subjectivity and Objectivity
Fatermeh Baigmoradi
Recipient of visual artist scholar series
2019

OPEN SUBMISSIONS FOR 2025 EXHIBITIONS

for more information:
https:// sanitarytortillafactory.org/submissions/

EXCEPTIONAL VISUAL ARTIST SCHOLAR

The Exceptional Visual Artist Scholar is an award that offers professional space for a Master of Fine Art graduate student as their final thesis show. The culminating exhibition launches them into their profession as an artist. With the series, we underscore exceptional artists attending any regional institution.

Submission Guidelines
Proposals accepted between May 1 – September 1, 2024
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE September 1, 2024, at midnight MST.
- IN ONE PDF:
10 images/links to videos or audios (5min.)
Link to website
Exhibition proposal (one page)
CV/ resume
free to apply

submit to: [email protected]

Image from:
Exhibition Football
Nick Simko

Recipient of visual artist scholar series
2018

Exhibition - Material connection

Artist: Audrey An,
Baylee Schmitt,
Christopher Williams,
Emily Wright,
Twiggy Boden

EXHIBITION: August 2 - September 13, 2024
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday August 2, 5-8pm.

Material Connection brings together emerging artists from across the country who use a variety of mediums to weave connections between materials and icons, telling personal stories. Using accessible materials such as clay, yarn, and paper, they find a balance between the easily recognizable and the unfamiliar.

As these artists re-write their own stories and examine the narratives told about them through their material handling and storytelling, they invite us to fill in the spaces they leave open.

THIS FRIDAY!!! Material Connection
Audrey An, Twiggy Boden, Baylee Schmitt, Christopher Williams, Emily Wright

August 2 – September 13, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday August 2, 5-8pm

Sanitary Tortilla Factory is pleased to present Material Connection, a group exhibition curated by Emily Wright. Material Connection brings together emerging artists from across the country who use a variety of mediums to weave connections between materials and icons, telling personal stories. Using accessible materials such as clay, yarn, and paper, they find a balance between the easily recognizable and the unfamiliar. From Audrey An’s careful perfectionism to the quick and intuitive building style of Christopher Williams, the character of their stories is reflected in their handling of materials.

As these artists re-write their own stories and examine the narratives told about them through
their material handling and storytelling, they invite us to fill in the spaces they leave open. Any story is open to interpretation, and through the use of icons, they allow us to insert ourselves into the narrative. Baylee Schmidt’s use of tapestry with modern materials riffs off the historical monumental tapestries of the medieval era, repurposing these references to speak to Schmidt’s own childhood memories. Utilizing a lexicon of childhood icons and an intense exploration of materiality, these artists craft accessible narratives that delve into the intricate nuances of their lived experiences.

History behind The Sanitary Tortilla Factory

In 1974, the Montoya family purchased the business, and between 1974 and 2004, Beatrice Montoya was the proprietor. She was honored by the local Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and recognized as a judge in chile-making contests. The factory produced several traditional foods such as tostadas and sopaipillas and chile rellenos. The tortilla-making machinery was managed by Jake Montoya, Beatrice’s husband and co-proprietor. Several local restaurants, schools, and homes in Albuquerque served their food.The factory ground their own corn to make masa for their homemade tortillas.The Montoya’s daughter Eileen was a co-owner until the time of her death in 1995.During the time the Montoya’s owned the business, he factory was known for its Five-Hongo Burrito, which earned it the Ultra Supremo Burrito Rating for the State of New Mexico on the PM Magazine TV show.
The restaurant was popular with local people from the neighborhood, including office workers and artists, who had studios nearby. The South Second Street Coalition of Artists held art shows there.M. & J.’s was known for their “funky” art collection that included pictures of saints and school children’s drawings as well as contemporary art.The interior white stucco walls were hung with chile ristras and garlic bulbs as protection from “evil spirits”; an open Bible was presented on a table surrounded by candles. The walls were covered with paintings from local artists who bartered for meals with their artwork. Bea experimented with her recipes to perfect them. She said, “I pray to God to bless all my food. The homeless are my guardian angels.”
The restaurant has been written about in several books, the New Yorker, The New York Times, and Cosmopolitan magazine. The Montoyas closed the business due to rent increases in the area; when it closed, Bea Montoya said, “I’ve died a 100 times today” and stated that she did not plan to reopen at a different location.

Photos by Inez Foose

Soft LAUNCH of 's Art for Justice project is July 10th 6-730pm b there or b ▪️collaborators include .montoya

Does anyone know what happened at the parole hearing??

Submissions are open for our 2025 programming as well as our Exceptional Visual Artist Scholar award for an MFA student to support their thesis exhibition. Sanitary Tortilla Factory support's exhibitions by all artists (emerging, established, local, national, and international) working in any visual arts or interdisciplinary medium. Please review current and past exhibitions for clarity on the type of work supported. Click the link below to learn more and how to apply.

APPLY TODAY!

Submissions Sanitary Tortilla Factory (STF) is dedicated to facilitating a space for experimental, innovative, and contemporary projects. STF is a renovated storefront with 12 ft. ceilings and a 1100sf exhibit…

"A Migrant’s Table" Performance by Yashoda Latkar: Friday, May 3, 6pm

In my creative practice, I explore the relationship between migration and identity, and my constant search for home persists throughout my different bodies of work. I engage in the fundamental question of where and what home is. In my work, I renegotiate the boundaries and borders of ‘home’ by using self-portraitures, photographs of my family members and family home, mixed media spiced-infused installations, and performative videos. My creations are focused on the experience of living in an in-between space, belonging ‘nowhere,’ and embracing the ambivalence even though the sense of being rooted, notions of a permanent home, and traditional routines are challenged.

In my work “A Migrant’s Table” I create an installation using cinderblocks covered with ground spices. Each side of the cinderblock is immersed in ground turmeric, cumin-coriander
seeds powder, and a special kind of mix of spices local to my community in India. The cinderblocks are arranged in a shape of a table. As one enters the installation space, it is difficult to escape the strong smell of spices. The aroma takes me back to my home in India, where it is difficult to get away from the cooking smells. The walls of houses, the clothes, and even the pores of one’s skin seep this smell.

As an immigrant, my sense of being and belonging are pulled in multiple directions resulting in a state of flux. I (re)construct the fragments of my identity by using food, predominantly spices in various forms. I move beyond the discussion of taste and investigate the idea of experiencing food through multiple senses. My work includes multi-sensory cues of visuals, sounds, textures, and smells that create a familiar home environment. Food, then, transcends time and space.

Exhibition : Who says you can’t go home
Created by: Yashoda latkar

Opening reception: Friday, May 3 5-8pm
Exhibition Open: May 3 - 31, 2024
A Migrant’s Table Performance: Friday, May 3, 6pm

This exhibition revolves around the concept of “home” and how it evolves through the process of migration and cultural displacement. Yashoda created a diverse range of art including photography, video, ceramics and installation art, this explores the notion of “home” as both a tangible space and a psychological construct.
Yashoda Latkar is the recipient of Sanitary Tortilla Factory’s 2024 Exceptional Visual Artist Scholar (EVAS) award. The EVAS series offers professional space for Master of Fine Art graduate students per year as their final thesis show. The culminating exhibition launches them into their profession as an artist. With the series, we underscore exceptional artists attending regional institutions while highlighting Albuquerque’s innovative connection to contemporary art practices.