Walk into the Sideshow Emporium and Gallery in Dolores and you will see 158 faces staring back at you.
The gallery at the Sideshow is displaying Image Harvest by local farmer Rosie Carter. The show features photographs of people who stepped into Carters photo booth at the Cortez Farmers Market over the summer.
Ive always wanted to document the farmers market because it is an amazing community event, Carter said.
Each smiling face in the show depicts a local community member proudly holding up their purchase for the day basil, garlic, onions, kale, lettuce, potatoes and much more.
When people get into the booth, they tend to relax because it is private; some people are silly, Carter said.
Chances are, if you had your photo taken inside Carters booth, your photo is in the show. Carter said she used nearly every shot she took, unless it didnt come out for some reason or another. And even if you didnt get your photo taken, chances are, you will know many of the people featured in the show.
The booth was set up on two days over the summer at the farmers market, one Saturday in August and one in September.
Carter said she has always loved farmers markets.
I always think of the farmers market as a positive community event, she said People see friends and I build a positive relationship with my customers.
That positive energy Carter describes comes through in the show Image Harvest.
And while the community members are the stars, so is the food.
Thats what the farmers market is about is bringing the community together over locally grown food, she said.
Carter has spent 17 years in farming and farms 12 different crops with her husband Chuck Barry on their small farm in Arriola called Stone Free Farm. She sells organic crops, ranging from greens to carrots and tomatoes, at the Durango and Cortez farmers markets and to local restaurants.
While Carter considers herself a farmer first, she is also an artist. She creates three-dimensional work depicting local landscapes and much more.
My artwork is a lot about this area, she said.
The show will hang at the Sideshow in Dolores until Thanksgiving.
As the growing season ends, it is a good thing to go see. You will definitely see someone you know and you will likely leave craving a salad.
Visit www.ruralunderground.com to see more of Rosie Carters artwork and www.stonefreefarm.com to learn more about her farm.
