D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
March
2009
ART SHORTS
Grant County Arts Scene
The JW Art Gallery in Hurley is featuring the work of Christine Sandifur. In the Old Hurley Store, 99 Cortez Ave., Hurley. 537-0300, www.thetown.com
Las Cruces & Mesilla Arts Scene
After conducting an extensive national search, the Dona Ana Arts Council announced that Robyn Nelson has accepted the position of executive director and will take the helm this month. Nelson brings 20 years of experience in non-profit arts administration, arts advocacy, arts festival programming and development, having spent 18 years in numerous positions, including executive director, at the Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake City. She most recently served as executive director of the Dogwood Arts Festival in Knoxville, Tenn. 211 N. Downtown Mall, 523-6403. daarts.org
The New Mexico Watercolor Society, Southern Chapter, will meet March 8, 2 p.m. at Good Sam's Retirement Home, 3011 Buena Vida Circle. The program will feature Jo-An Smith, who will share inspirations, favorite techniques and examples of her work and discuss "Free Flowing into Intricate Detail" for watercolorists. For more information, call 526-5374.
Metal sculptor Frank Morbillo will be featured in an "Artist Dialogue" presentation at the Preston Contemporary Art Center, March 7, 1 p.m. There is no admission charge for this latest in a series in which artists talk about their art and hold conversations with their audience. Morbillo, of Tesuque, NM, works with steel or stainless steel, bronze and glass, where he often combines patinaed fabricated steel with cast bronze in an original process. In addition to discussing his works on display in the sculpture gallery, Morbillo will share information and visuals about the making of "Partners," a 22-foot stainless steel fountain commissioned work.
Also at the Preston, Chicago photo collage artist Sandra Mendez will instruct a workshop in the art of digital collage at the Mesilla Digital Imaging Workshops lab, March 9-11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. The three-day workshop, tuition $525, will teach the art of creating personal still-life imagery by offering several methods of photographing, scanning and digitally enhancing. 1755 Avenida de Mercado, 523-8713, www.prestoncontemporaryart.com
The works of contemporary representational color pencilist Wendy Blackwell will be exhibited at the Unsettled Gallery & Studio, with an opening reception for the artist March 14, 2-6 p.m. The show runs through April 11. Blackwell has incorporated an impressionistic style into her pastel work. Her art resides in private collections, as well as publicly celebrating a hallmark of southern New Mexico, the Hatch Chile Festival. Her piece titled "Ristra" was introduced as the first official print for this event. 905 N. Mesquite, 635-2285, chicls@aol.com, www.wendyblackwell.com
The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery will feature artists Lucia Wilcox and Bert Gammil this month. 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, 522-2933.
The Abraham's Bank Tower Restaurant, on the 4th floor of the Wells Fargo Bank building at Main and Lohman, will host "Art for the Fun of It," an exhibit of works by the Ten O'Clock Club artists who meet there monthly. The exhibit, with works in many mediums, will open with a reception for the artists March 10, 10 a.m. The artists represented in the show are June Decker, Jane Addy, Alice Dressler, Penny Duncklee, Jean Smith, Susan Rivera and Margaret Bernstein.
"Pilgrim's Progress," works by photographer David Salcido, will open with a reception March 6, 5-7 p.m., at the El Paso Electric Gallery in the Rio Grande Theatre. (602) 384-7756/523-6403, MythCreant@gmail.com
There are a number of exhibit openings and happenings at the Branigan Cultural Center this month. The Black Range Artists will present their 2009 Spring Show, offering a mix of works in seven categories: oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, mixed media, graphics and three-dimensional. An opening reception for the artists will be held during the 1st Friday Downtown Ramble, March 6, 5-7 p.m. The show will run through March 28.
That March 6 Branigan opening will also feature three Las Cruces artists — Judy Licht, Lynn Unangst and Laurel Weathersbee — presenting their works in a combined exhibit, "Colors and Textures of Southern New Mexico," in the Richardson Gallery. The show will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional works interpreting the artists' visions of this area's flora, culture and landscape.
And later in the month, the Branigan will host the Spring 2009 Cultural Connections Fair, March 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Area arts and cultural non-profit organizations will share information about their programs, activities, events, membership and volunteer opportunities. The event will be held in the courtyard and walkway between the Branigan Cultural Center and the Museum of Art. 501 N. Main Street, 541-2154, museums.las-cruces.org
Bev Denney and Mayanna Howard will exhibit their paintings at the Tombaugh Gallery in the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano, with an opening reception and artist talk March 1, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The show runs through March 27.
Sierra County Arts Scene
The monthly Art Hop in downtown Truth or Consequences will be March 14, 6-9 p.m. Information and walking maps online. torcgalleries@gmail.com, www.torcart.com