D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
August 2009
Arts News
Grant County Arts Scene
 |
Local gourd artist and gallery owner Valerie Milner closed her Silver City gallery, Elemental Arts, at the end of last month in preparation for a move to Louisiana. Milner says that the artists who have exhibited in her space, some of them for years, are moving on to other local galleries.
Fiber artist Susan Hill, weaver of cotton and chenille scarves and ruanas, has moved her work to the Copper Quail Gallery on the corner of Texas and Yankie Streets.
Speaking of gourd art, "Ancient Whisperings — Mimbres Stories of the Past," works by Pierre Nichols (see the April 2009 issue), will be on display at Seedboat Gallery. There will be an opening for the show August 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at which the artist and author will read some of the whimsical stories he has written about the images on his crafted vessels. 214 W. Yankie, 534-1136.
"A Prelude to Happiness," an exhibit of works by Todd Shelby and Karen Prittchett, opens Aug. 6 with an opening reception 4-7 p.m. at the Blue Dome Gallery. The show runs through Sept. 8. 307 N. Texas St., 534-8671, www.bluedomegallery.com
Hutchings Fine Art gallery in Silver City is celebrating its first birthday August 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with a new exhibit of art and refreshments. 211-B N. Texas, 313-6939, www.debhutchings.com
Lois Duffy gallery is featuring Duffy's paintings, prints and cards of famous faces. 211-C N Texas St., 313-9631, www.loisduffy.com
The Mimbres Region Arts Council will dedicate its latest mural on August 15, 1 p.m., at Manzanita Ridge, 107 N. Bullard St. The MRAC's Mural Camp students, interns and artists Zoe Wolfe and Buck Burns created the mural, which celebrates the history of Chihuahua Hill.
The Mogollon Rim Fiber Guild will meet August 15, 9 a.m., at the Chino Building on WNMU's campus. The program is "Antiques and Unusuals." Guests welcome. 388-4839.
Mike Murphy will teach a beginners oil and acrylic painting workshop on August 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., in his studio in the Mimbres. Limited to six students, $125. 536-3824, www.mimbresartclasses.com
The San Vicente Artists will hold their 17th Annual Labors of Love art show on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-6, at the historic Silco Theater in downtown Silver City. Artists who would like to participate can contact Diane Reed at 534-4269. Applications can also be found on the group's Web site at silvercityartists.org Deadline for applications is August 3.
Las Cruces & Mesilla Arts Scene
The summer exhibition at the NMSU Art Gallery continues through this month, including new acquisitions and selections from the retablo collection. Summer hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. DW Williams Art Center, University Avenue, east of Solano, 646-2545, www.nmsu.edu/artgal
The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery features "impressionistic expressionism" works by Ray Baird and realistic caricatures by Hal Fore. 2470 Calle de Guadalupe, 522-2933.
A new young artist, Lulu Hedrick, a recent graduate and class valedictorian of Alma De Arte Charter Art High School in Las Cruces, will present her works this month in a one-woman show at In Effect Gallery. An artist's reception will he held August 1, 5-8 p.m. 514 W. Griggs Ave., 526-1551.
Register now for exciting new photography workshops being offered at the Preston Contemporary Art Center in September. The Mesilla Digital Imaging Workshops, located in the center, have announced a second season of digital photography weekend workshops: Howard Wallach will open the season with "The Photographic Narrative," Sept. 10-13. Participants will examine the history and varied form of the photographic narrative, as well as selected literary and musical works, then create photographic narratives of their own. Portrait photographers Edda Taylor and Sandra Mendez will offer "Portraiture on Location," Sept. 15-18, a two-part workshop wherein participants will learn ways to pose individuals and groups on location, followed by instruction in enhancing and correcting images. And Lucas Cichon will teach "The Figure in the Landscape," Sept. 25-27, for photographers who want to master using available light and shadow, and pre-visualization in composition, to effectively and creatively photograph the female nude in nature. More instructor information, workshop details and easy online registration are available at www.mesillaworkshops.com
Also at the Preston, Myriam Lozada-Jarvis will discuss her digital paintings now on exhibit and engage in conversation with the audience about her body of work at an Artist Dialogue, August 23, 1 p.m. Admission is free. 1755 Avenida de Mercado, Mesilla, 523-8713.
Two new exhibits, "Batteries Not Required," a display of historic cameras, and "Light Fantastic," an exhibit of new art quilts, will open at the Branigan Cultural Center August7, with a reception 5-7 p.m.. "Batteries Not Required" features more than 70 cameras from the collection of Don Brenner. "Light Fantastic" is an exhibit from New Mexico Art Quilters of new art quilts that echo the practical and decorative skills of quilt making from yesteryear. The juried show features 31 quilts by 14 artists from across the state. 501 N. Main St., 541-2154, www.las-cruces.org/museums
The Tombaugh Gallery will feature fiber art by Cyndi Clark and Jan Harrison in its new exhibit, "Finding a Voice through Fiber." The show will run August 3-28, with an opening reception August 9, 12-2 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano. 522-7281.
Luna County Arts Scene
The Black Range Artists, Southwest New Mexico's oldest artists' organization, presents its Fall Members Exhibit for 2009 at the Deming Arts Center, at the corner of Gold and Pine Streets in Deming this month. There will be a reception for the artists August 9, 1-3 p.m., with refreshments. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Sat. 546-3663.
Sierra County Arts Happenings
The Monte Cristo Gift Shop & Gallery in Chloride will hold its 3rd Annual Birthday Bash, featuring new works by artists and artisans, locally grown and produced foods and live entertainment, on August 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tom Diamond, a long-time ranch owner at Beaverhead, will be on hand to sign his historical novels. Several artists will offer wood-carving demonstrations. Homer Bryant will perform his original cowboy poetry and music. There will be door prize drawings and refreshments. A purchase of $25 or more will enter you in the drawings, which will be held at the end of the day. You need not be present to win. The gallery is located in the old Monte Cristo Saloon & Dance Hall, built in 1880 to serve the thirsty miners of Chloride about 40 miles from T or C. Today the Monte Cristo, which is a site on the New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail, is home to the works of approximately 30 local artisans. From I-25 take exit 83 or 89 to Hwy, 181, then take Hwy, 52 west to Winston. At Winston take the first left past the General Store, stay on the paved road 2 miles to Chloride. 743-0493, montecristogallery@windstream.net
The monthly Art Hop in downtown Truth or Consequences will be August 8, 6-9 p.m. Galleries, studios, shops and restaurants are open late. www.torcart.com, torcgalleries@gmail.com