D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
May 2010
Art Shorts
Silver City/Grant County Arts Scene
Two downtown Silver City galleries will be closing at the end of May. Pat Bouchard and Bill Blakemore are shutting down their Moonstruck Gallery at 106 W. Yankie St. Fabric artist Susan Szajer will also be closing her Yello on Yankie gallery next door at 108 W. Yankie, to give her time to travel and do other things, but a replacement is already set for the space: Ginny Wolf, who formerly operated Luna Gallery at the same address, will take over the gallery space for an as-yet-unnamed gallery, which will continue to feature works by some Yello favorites, including Szajer.
Fiber artist Jean McLaughlin Cowie will be showing contemporary fine art wall quilts at the Wild West Weaving Gallery through May 11, with a reception during the May 7 First Friday gallery walk. Cowie will do a talk and trunk show of her work at 5:30 p.m. 211D N. Texas St., 313-1032, wildwestweaving@yahoo.com
Also featured for First Friday will be new weavings by Susan Hill, at Copper Quail Gallery. The gallery will host a preview of Hill's work May 7, 2-7 p.m., followed by an artist's reception on May 8, also 2-7 p.m. 211-A Texas St., corner of Yankie and Texas, 388-2646.
And Saturday, May 8, Seedboat Gallery will feature a special "Art in the Courtyard" sale, with works by a variety of artists, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 214 W. Yankie St., 534-1136.
That's also opening day for a new art market in the Western Stationers parking lot, 703 N. Bullard, which will run through Oct. 30. For information, contact Jean at 388-2184.
May 8 and 9 bring the annual Mother's Day Sale at Kate Brown Pottery Studio in the Mimbres, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. 536-9935, www.katebrownpottery.com
On May 15, the JW Art Gallery in Hurley will open an exhibition of works by six artists with a reception and music by Veronika Barnes, 3-6 p.m. 99 Cortez Ave, 537-033.
Silver City's annual Blues Fest also brings some treats for the eye. The Blue Dome Gallery opens two new shows on Friday, May 28, 4-7 p.m. In conjunction with Jamie Zane Smith teaching a workshop at Western New Mexico University, the gallery will feature his hand-built pottery in a show titled "Coming Home." Smith's pieces reflect his Wyandot heritage and his love of ancient Native American pottery. His vessels are from clay and materials he has collected and processed. Some of the pieces retain their coils in a traditional corrugated pattern; some he uses hand-carved paddles in designs of prehistoric Mound Builders to texture the vessels. The pieces are wood fired to create various "fire cloud" patterns and a rich surface. Smith graduated from WNMU and has gone on to become a star in the pottery world; he will give a short talk at 6 p.m.
Also opening at the Blue Dome on May 28 is a show by local artist Barbara Nance with the irresistible title, "Desert Exposure." Works include a painting showing "Mr. Quail" reading, yes, "the biggest little paper in the Southwest," as well as a fantastical desert garden and metal horses. 307 N. Texas St., 534-8671, www.bluedomegallery.com
The Silver City Museum will also open a new exhibit on May 28, with a reception from 4-7 p.m.: "From the Mines," recycled-steel sculptures by Barbara L. Harrison, in connection with the June celebration of Silver City's mining history. The 15 featured sculptures are constructed from objects found at area mines. Harrison, who lives in Silver City and Florida, is known for her wall and ceiling suspended sculptures in solid brass. Two large wall sculptures were commissioned by Neiman Marcus for their permanent collection, and her work is represented in many other corporate collections. She has had three solo shows in New York City and been represented in exhibits including the New York Academy of Design, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC, and Ringling College of Art in Sarasota. The exhibit runs through Oct. 30. 312 W. Broadway, 538-5921, www.silvercitymuseum.org
An Invitational Art Doll Show will open May 28 at Leyba & Ingalls Arts, with a reception 4-7 p.m. 315 N. Bullard, 388-5725, www.LeybaIngallsARTS.com
Las Cruces & Mesilla Arts Scene
The Tombaugh Gallery presents "One Land, Many Voices," a photo documentary by Carol Eastman, opening Sunday, May 2, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., on view through May 28. The photo documentary captures the activities and emotions of children and youth who live along the Rio Grande on the southern border of Texas. Las Cruces Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano, 522-7281.
The New Mexico Watercolor Society, Southern Chapter, will meet May 2 at 2 p.m., at Good Sam's, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. The program is a discussion and demonstration of watercolor painting tips and techniques gathered from the membership. The public is welcome and there is no charge. For information, contact Marie Siegrist, 647-1193. Works by 16 Watercolor Society members are on display at the newly opened Adobe Café in the Caballero Plaza on the Avenida de Mesilla in Mesilla, through September 14.
The Las Cruces Arts Association will be having its Spring Membership Show at the Rio Grande Theater on the Downtown Mall, with an opening May 7, 5-7 p.m.
NMSU's annual spring Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) candidates art exhibition opens with an reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 7, at the Las Cruces Museum of Art and Branigan Cultural Center. On display through May 15, the exhibition features painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic design and photography from 31 graduating BFA students at the NMSU Art Department. 501 N. Main St., 541-2137.
The Branigan Cultural Center will also exhibit a juried membership show of the Black Range Artists, with an opening reception May 7, 5-7 p.m. during the First Friday Downtown Ramble. The exhibit will remain on display through May 29.
During the May 7 Ramble, Quillin Studio and Gallery will feature new works by Sally and Dedri Quillin and Aline Fister, with special hammered dulcimer music by Robert Brown. 317 N. Main St. behind COAS Books.
On May 8, continuing the series "Some Artists Are Born Women," works by Sally McDevitt and Yvonne Postelle will be on view at an open-house reception at Casa de Zia, 1-5 p.m. The exhibition and sale continues, by appointment only, through June 11. 4372 Camino Dos Vidas; contact John A. Boler Fine Art, 382-6914.
This month the Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery will feature Joyce Ann Key and Sally Quillin, as well as welcoming new artist Karin Bradshaw, who creates traditional Pueblo Indian designs on symmetrical gourds. 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, 522-2933.
Looking to, er, brush up on your plein air painting? Las Cruces artists Nancy Frost Begin and Bonnie Mandoe (who was featured as our cover artist in November 2006) team up to present a workshop on June 5-6. All artists are welcome, including beginners. For registration information, call 523-9760 or 523-8081 in Las Cruces.
Deming Arts Scene
The Deming Arts Council hosts two events this month: a Studio Art Tour, May 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and May 16, 1-5 p.m., plus a Watercolor Society Show, with a reception May 16, 1-3 p.m. 100 S. Gold St., 546-3663.
Sierra County Arts Scene
Works in wood will be in the spotlight at Percha Creek Traders in Hillsboro when the "Sawdust Dudes" hit town. Works by Bob Shipley and Geno Washburn will be featured beginning May 15, with an opening 1-4 p.m., through June 13. Both work with native local woods such as sycamore, black walnut and juniper, using these woods' distinctive grain patterns to enhance their creations. Shipley specializes in crafting cutting boards, butter knives, coasters, letter openers and inlaid picture frames. Washburn turns, carves and fabricates collectible bowls, salad sets, furniture, frames, boxes and other items. The Percha Creek Traders artists' cooperative is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hwy. 152, 895-5116, www.perchacreektraders.com