Shards of Truth

Albuquerque the Magazine: March 2024 Issue, “Creatives”

Mosaic Artist? Erika Harding says she’s just having fun.

“Despite being immersed in numerous levels of the art world, Erika Harding still hesitates to refer to herself by the “A” word. ‘I’ve always enjoyed playing and making things, but I’ve never thought of myself as an artist,’ says Harding. ‘Being “a creative” or “artsy” are much more comfortable terms for me.’

Anyone who has seen Harding’s wonderful glass mosaics will likely disagree with her self-assessment. For the past decade or so, she has gravitated toward making art, a transition that comes on the heels of a professional career as a school teacher, political analyst and consultant. “Ive spent 30 years teaching people how to teach people,” say Harding. “That, plus my joy of hanging out with people and creating, all collided for me in a really nice way last year.”

She’s referring to the August 2023 opening of The Groove Artspace, Harding’s Downtown collaborative studio that provides working and splay space for other artists, as well as classes and workshops on a multitude of fun, how-to subjects, like pet portraits, henna tattoos, quilting, even smartphone photography.

Read more on pages 144-145 at the link below!