D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
May
2009
Art Shorts
Grant County Art Scene
Leyba & Ingalls ARTS will spotlight the works of Zoe Wolfe in "Garden of Earthly Delights," with an opening reception on Thursday, May 21, at 5 p.m. Wolfe has resided in Silver City since 1994. Her local personas include as a clay artist, sculptor, dancer and arts educator. She received her MFA from the University of Hawaii, and has "hung out, taught and created" in Katmandu, Israel, New York and San Francisco.
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Works by Zoe Wolfe open at Leyba &_Ingalls
May 21. |
In this body of sculpture constructed for exterior or interior, Wolfe revisits a recurring theme in her work: the trine of man, woman and nature. The focal piece for the show is a direct assimilation of this subject — two torsos (one male, one female), morphed together into a plant form. Hands come together in the symbol of a peaceful greeting sprouted from the plant's bud. The sculpture, she says, gives the sense of calm and shared love that the idea of "Garden of Earthly Delights" implies. Each piece in the exhibition exemplifies a feeling of loveliness that one enjoys in a garden setting with a connection of human to nature. The works are totemic, created from diverse crafted shapes stacked upon one another, varying in scale and in story. Using personal and universal symbols, some take on the personas of spirit houses, others the wonders of an exotic fruit or animal, and all rejoice in their form and surface. 315 N. Bullard St., 388-5725.
Silver City artist MF Dondelinger has been awarded a fellowship by the Jentel Artist Residency Program. Jentel is located in a rural setting approximately 20 miles southeast of Sheridan, Wyo. The highly competitive fellowship allows artists and writers unscheduled, unfettered time to focus on their own creative projects at a working retreat. She will explore the connection between the antiquity of the traditional religious icons she creates and the modernity of her conceptual work (see Tumbleweeds, November 2008). During the four-week residency, Jentel provides space where artists and writers may focus on creating. In addition to communal spaces designated for research, recreation, food preparation and dining, each artist and writer is furnished with private accommodations and a workspace, and receives a stipend to help defray living expenses during the program. In addition to creating her poignantly humorous "Eraser Aways," Dondelinger paints iconic images in egg tempura, a series of women in boxing gloves and, recently, a series of works dealing with the Greek god, Pan. themaryfrances.com
A new show, "Old Dogs, New Tricks," featuring new stick figures by Sally Elliot and paintings by Karen Kesler, along with ceramic works by Malcolm Davis, will be on exhibit at the Blue Dome Gallery starting this month and running through June, with an opening reception for the artists May 22, 2-6 p.m. 307 N. Texas St., 534-8671, www.bluedomegallery.com
Silver Spirit Gallery will feature black-and-white photos of Silver City by David Brink, May 9-15, with an opening reception and presentation by the artist May 9. For more information, call 534-9488. 109 N. Bullard St.
Seedboat Gallery will host "4x4 Show," four works by four artists — Allan Cox, Jeff Turner, Judith Meyer and Michael Metcalf — through June 6, with a reception for the artists May 9, 4-7 p.m. 214 W. Yankie St., 534-1136.
The San Vicente Artists' new "2009-2010 Artists Guide" will be distributed throughout Silver City and adjacent areas the end of this month. Artists, art studios, galleries and art patrons' names and addresses are listed in the guide, along with maps and directions. Pictures of sample works and statements by the artists are included.
Copper Quail Gallery will have an opening reception May 23, 4-7 p.m. for their three new artists: Shari Chandler, a photorealist oil painter, working in landscapes and nature subjects; Mark Bowen, a metalsmith, who presents works from five-foot-tall "Garden Gods" to free-standing sculptures and fine copper jewelry; and Nancy Wachholz, a watercolorist who paints Americana scenes from the heartland as well as works portraying western subjects. Appetizers will be served and guitar music provided by Allen Sanders. 211 N Texas St., Ste. A, 388-2646.
JW Art Gallery in Hurley is featuring a collection of bronze sculptures by Roy Harris. 99 Cortez Ave, 537-0330.
Silver City art galleries will be open for the Downtown Blues Festival Art Walk on Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Las Cruces and Mesilla Art Scene
An eclectic one-person exhibit by local artist Margaret Bernstein, "Flowers and Sunshine, with occasional dark," is on display at thetheatregallery in the Black Box Theater, with a wine-and-cheese artist's reception as part of the Downtown Ramble, May 1, 5-7 p.m. The works foretell the mood and tone of the play, Enchanted April, running through May 3 at the theater. "To create artwork inspired by a playwright's look at the world is a unique experience and one I enjoy," Bernstein says, "because the playwright's view often coincides well with my concept of making art." Bernstein is the resident artist at the Black Box; her previous solo exhibits include "The Mask of Perception" and "The Complete History of Las Cruces (Abridged)," both in conjunction with new works by local playwright Tom Smith. The gallery is open an hour before all performances or by appointment. 430 N. Downtown Mall, 523-1223.
The NMSU Art Gallery will host the MFA Thesis Exhibition, an exhibit of works by students graduating from NMSU with a Master of Fine Arts degree, through May 8. This year's students are Jose Avalos, Colin Blakley, Dianne Frank, Eric Hansen, Jennifer Higginbotham, Kristina Todd, Ned Lane, Jesus Mata and Mike Phillips. The gallery is located in DW Williams Art Building, 1390 E. University at Solano. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturdays, 12-4 p.m. For more information, call 646-2545.
NMSU students earning their Bachelor of Fine Arts also will exhibit their works in shows at the Museum of Art and the Branigan Cultural Center, opening with a reception for the artists May 8, 5-7 p.m. On display through May 16, the exhibit features painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic design, photography and metals/jewelry works from 19 graduating BFA students at the university's art department. The Museum of Art is located at 491 N. Main St. The Branigan Cultural Center faces the Museum of Art. Call 541-2137, or visit museums.las-cruces.org for more information.
The Branigan Cultural Center will also host the Dona Ana Camera Club photography exhibit, "Our World: Through the Lens," May 1-30, with an opening reception for the artists May 1, 5-7 p.m., in conjunction with the Downtown Ramble. Both natural and man-made wonders inspired the eye and lenses of the members. Landscapes, still life, portraits, special events and festivals are represented in the photographs, which display a full range of techniques and formats. 501 N. Main St. 541-2154, www.las-cruces.org/museums
The Museum of Art will not be open during the May 1 Downtown Ramble.
As part of the Las Cruces Arts Association's ongoing support of student art, the exhibit, "Zealous Expression" will open at the Terrace Gallery, showcasing the art works of Onate High School students under the direction of Toni Gilman. A reception for the artists will be held May 1, 4-5:30 p.m., as part of the Downtown Ramble. Terrace Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E. Picacho. For information call 528-4000.
Check your studio and garage for art materials you wonder why you ever bought and bring them to sell at the Las Cruces Arts Association's meeting, May 17, 1:30 p.m. Recoup some bucks on the things you sell and find bargains on items you'll actually use! LCCA members' art materials sale and meeting will be held in the Arts and Crafts Room at Good Samaritan Society-Las Cruces Village, and is open to the public. 3011 Buena Vida Circle. 496-8834.
The Tombaugh Gallery will host silk-painting artists Lucia Wilcox and Judy Licht with their exhibit, "Web of Life," running May 3-29, with an opening reception for the artists May 3, 12-2 p.m. Wilcox has studied watercolor with Sally Quillen and silk painting with Sudeshna Sengupta. She tries to capture the natural world in her work with firsthand observation of the animal life of the Southwest; this includes recent birding trips to Holloman Lakes and Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park to observe migrating flocks of birds. Working with dyes and silks gives Licht the opportunity to explore color and texture in new ways. She is fascinated with the sensuous quality of the silk and the intense colors of the dyes. Her lifelong passion for color and expressing her feelings for the natural world are finding new outlets in this medium. This exhibit is Wilcox and Licht's third two-person exhibit at Tombaugh Gallery. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano.
The Tombaugh Gallery is also calling for submissions from New Mexico artists for exhibits in 2010. Artists must live within a 150-mile radius of Las Cruces. Works in non-traditional mediums and subject matter are welcome, and all artwork submitted must be for sale. Submission packets should include a letter of proposal with information about the artist or group, type of work to be exhibited, and a disk of representative images. Artists entering as a group must supply a list of the names of all members and one or two images from each member. Submission deadline is August 1, addressed to: Diane Taylor, Chairperson, Tombaugh Gallery Committee, Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, 2000 S. Solano, Las Cruces, NM 88001. For details, email tombaugh-gallery@zianet.com
The New Mexico Watercolor Society, Southern Chapter, will hold its monthly meeting May 3, 2 p.m. at Good Sam's Arts and Crafts Room in the Administration Wing, 3011 Buena Vida Circle, off of Telshor near Memorial Hospital. After a brief business meeting, Laurel Weathersbee will demonstrate a technique using "creepy cobwebs!" Open to the public. 526-5374.
The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery will feature works by Betty Sweeney, a multimedia oil and watercolor painter, and Louise Lockhart, who works primarily in watercolor capturing the colors of the Southwest desert. 2470 Calle de Guadalupe, 522-2933.
Hidalgo County Arts Happenings
Works by Narca Moore-Craig will be featured by the Chiricahua Gallery, with an opening reception May 16, 2-7 p.m. See story in this section. The gallery is located on Hwy. 80 in downtown Rodeo.