D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
June
2009
Art Shorts
Grant County Arts Scene
The Mimbres Region Arts Council Gallery in the Wells Fargo Bank Building opens "Everything Including the Kitchen Sink," a new exhibit, at 5 p.m. on June 5. The arts council's Mural Camp for ages 9-12 will be held June 22-July 3 at Manzanita Ridge, featuring the history of Chihuahua Hill; call the MRAC or Leyba & Ingalls Arts for information, 388-5725. 1201 Pope St., 538-2505, www.MimbresArts.org
"OP Art Opportunity," optical illusion pen and ink drawings by Jim Andrews, will be featured at the JW Art Gallery June 6-30. Gallery hours: Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The gallery and museum are located in the Old Hurley Store, 99 Cortez Ave., Hurley. 537-0300. www.thetown.com
Lois Duffy Art will feature jewelry by Alice Royer during June, with hand-crafted pendants of silver and polished stones. 211-C N. Texas St., 313-9631, www.loisduffy.com
A Recycled Art Walk will be held at downtown Silver City galleries on June 27 as part of the Viva Verde Expo.
Leyba & Ingalls Arts will feature large works by Ro Begay and "Recycled parts" by gallery artists and invited guests, with an opening June 27, 4-7 p.m. The current show is "Garden of Earthly Delights," works by Zoe Wolfe, 315 N. Bullard, 388-5725, www.LeybaIngallsARTS.com
Moonstruck Art Gallery will feature "Look What We Found!," a presentation of collage and assemblage by Pat Bouchard and Bill Blakemore and works by Renee Whipple, with a reception for the artists June 27, 3-7 p.m. The show coordinates with other Silver City Galleries' "Recycled Art" shows and openings. 110 W. Yankie St., 956-5346, www.moonstruckart.com
The Blue Dome Gallery will join in the recycling fun with its exhibit, "Cool Stuff Revisited," featuring gallery artists and invited artist Steve Palestine, June 26-28. Cece Stanford's workshop, "Cement Dreams," runs June 22-26. 307 N. Texas St., 534-8671, www.bluedomegallery.com
Silver City's San Vicente Artists group will hold its annual "Body Beautiful" art show at the historic Silco Theater July 4-5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The show is open to all artists. Entrance fee: $20 for 4 pieces of art. The emphasis is on the beauty of the human body. Pornography or sexually explicit art will not be accepted. Cash prizes will be awarded. The collective's annual Kids Camp art program for children grades 1-6 will take place July 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Silco. San Vicente Artists will tutor the children through a variety of art mediums. The camp is free and snacks will be served. For further details on either event, contact Luanne Brooten at Silver Spirit Gallery, 388-2079, on Monday or Tuesday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or by email: luannebrooten@gmail.com
The Southwest Women's Fiber Arts Collective has a full class schedule for June: "Beginning Crochet — Making a Hat," Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 2, 4, 9 and 11, 5:30-7 p.m., instructor Anaia Song, $25 (member)/ $30 (nonmember). "Dyeing Cotton Fabrics Workshop," June 13, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., instructors Claudia Toenies and Kathy Cole, $21/$26 plus $14 materials fee. "Natural Dyes," June 19, 4-6 p.m., and June 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., instructor Hosana Eilert, $90/$95 plus $10 materials fee and yarn. "Basic Needle Felting," June 25, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., instructor Virginia Sonne, cost not yet determined. For more information contact: The Common Thread, 107 Broadway, 538-5733, or see www.fiberartscollective.org
Elemental Arts presents "The Figure Quick Sketch in Oil with Chris Alvarez," a three-day workshop, June 19-21, 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4 p.m. each day. This class is for those who enjoy the challenge of working from life. Learn to judge value, color, temperature and proportion so as to render the figure quickly yet accurately. Students will learn to work from the simple to the complex through the use of quick gestures and longer sustained studies. This class will benefit artists of all levels, covering draftsmanship, composition, values, temperature and more. Although not required, drawing and painting experience would be helpful. $250 plus $25 model fee. Contact Valerie at elementalarts@gourdweb.com, or call 590-7554.
Kate Brown Pottery and Tile Studio in the Mimbres will hold a one-day intensive tile-making class, July 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $95 for all materials and instructions. 536-9935, katebrown@gilanet.com, www.katebrownpottery.com
Las Cruces & Mesilla Arts Scene
"Up Close and More," a photographic exhibit of works by Les Boyse, will be on display in thetheatregallery at the Black Box Theatre this month. A wine and cheese reception in conjunction with the Downtown Ramble will be held June 5, 5-7 p.m. thetheatregallery is open an hour before performances and by appointment. 523-1223.
"Las Cruces Collects," an exhibit offering a rare look into the private art collections of area residents, opens at the Museum of Art June 5, 5-7 p.m., running through Aug. 22. Featured art works range from European Old Masters to American Contemporary, in a wide variety of media and artistic styles. The exhibition includes Civil War antiquities, Pueblo pottery, Surrealist sculpture, African and Mexican folk art, religious iconography, and many surprises. 491 N. Main St., at the north end of the Downtown Mall. 541-2137, museums.las-cruces.org
The Tombaugh Gallery will exhibit "Quilts for All Reasons," works from the Las Colcheras Quilt Guild, featuring wall quilts and table items, such as totes, fabric baskets, vests and table runners. The show opens with an artists' reception June 7, 12-2 p.m. The exhibit continues through July 3. Las Colcheras Quilt Guild is a diverse group of about 200 quilters who meet regularly to share their knowledge, skill and talents, to build new friendships, to promote the art of quilting in the Mesilla Valley and to engage in community service by providing quilts and other items to those in need. LCQG also engages national quilt artists to give lectures and classes to their members. They welcome all who have an interest in quilting or who would like to learn more about this ancient and fascinating art. Guild members participating in the show include Cheryl Price, Linnea Egbert, Mary McKinney, Geraldine Dee, Sally Morge, Chris Ramsey, Laurie J. Churchill, Marsha Self, Jolene Ficklin, Lee Beatty, Kris Northcutt and Marcia Gramzow. The Tombaugh Gallery is located in the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano, with regular gallery hours 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 522-7281.
The Branigan Cultural Center is offering summer craft workshops, highlighting various traditional crafts found historically in New Mexico and the Southwest. Each workshop is a four-hour class spread over two days, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. each day. The $10 per person cost includes all necessary materials. The workshops are geared towards family participation, and grandparents, parents and youth are encouraged to enroll together. Children are not required to bring an adult; however they must be at least eight years old to enroll. Class size is limited and advance registration is strongly encouraged. June workshops are "Corn Husk Crafts," June 9 and 11; "Pine Needle Baskets," June 16 and 18; and "Ojo de Dios," June 12 and 23. Workshops in July include "Retablos," July 7 and 9; "Gourd Carving," July 14 and 16 and "Colcha Embroidery," July 21 and 23.
The cultural center also will feature "Fiber Fest," an exhibit of fiber arts from the Mesilla Valley Weavers, opening with an artist reception in conjunction with the Downtown Ramble, June 5, 5-7 p.m. The exhibit includes painted silks, basketry, rugs, clothing, accessories, linens and wall hangings. More than 20 artists will display their work.
And "Fighting the Fires of Hate: America and the Nazi Book Burnings," a traveling exhibit from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, continues at the Branigan Cultural Center through July 11, featuring chamber music, banned book displays, films and other special events. 501 N. Main St., downtown mall. 541-2154, www.las-cruces.org/museums
As part of the Las Cruces Arts Association's ongoing support of student art, the exhibit "Zealous Expression" will run through June 27 at the Terrace Gallery, showcasing the art works of Onate High School students under the direction of Toni Gilman. Terrace Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E. Picacho. For information call 528-4000.
The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery will feature an exhibit of works by Elaine Frink, a local, self-taught photographer, and Pat Burnett, a painter who works primarily works in acrylics, specializing in southwest scenes and wood blocking. 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, Mesilla, across from the Fountain Theatre. 522-2933.
The New Mexico Watercolor Society, Southern Chapter, will hold its monthly meeting June 14, 2 p.m., in the Arts and Crafts Room at Good Samaritan Society-Las Cruces Village. The meeting is open to the public. After a brief business meeting, Jim Turrentine, owner of the Big Picture Studio and the Main Street Gallery, will talk about the process of giclee and its use for watercolorists. 3011 Buena Vida Circle. 647-1193.
Sierra County Arts Happenings
The monthly Art Hop in downtown Truth or Consequences will be June 13, 6-9 p.m. Galleries, studios, shops and restaurants are open late. For details, contact torcgalleries@gmail.com or visit www.torcart.com