Arts Scene: October 2023

 OPPORTUNITIES

• Otero Arts is hosting a Plein Air Workshop led by Santa Fe artist, Anita Louise West, Oct. 12 – 14 in Alamogordo, White Sands area, Tularosa and Bent. Class is limited to 10 artists. West will demonstrate in oil and pastel as well as give instructions on location and at the students’ easels. The cost is $150 per person. For details and to reserve a place see www.oteroarts.org.

• The Grant County Art Guild is accepting entries for “The Body” Art Show, which will be held Nov. 24-Dec. 3, at the Grant County Art Guild Studio, 200 W Market St, in Silver City. This is a judged competition, and prizes will be awarded. Deadline for entry is Oct 24. Entries should depict, or be inspired by, the human body. All mediums are welcome. Show details are on the entry form, which may be found at gcag.org, or at the Grant County Art Guild Gallery, 316 N Bullard, Silver City.
  
  

SILVER CITY

• Oct. 6-8 is the 25th Annual Weekend at the Galleries in downtown Silver City. WAG began in 1998 with the Silver City Gallery Association, now the Silver City Art Association. Since 1998, the organization expanded to include art studios and independent artists in addition to galleries. A painting by Lois Duffy, one of the founders of the gallery association, is featured on the cover of the WAG brochure. Her work will also be shown at Sterling Fine Art at 307 N Texas. Ten additional downtown galleries host artist receptions, and opening receptions for shows and exhibitions, plus art demos and other art events. The weekend kicks off with October’s First Fridays at the Galleries, from 5-7 p.m., where SCAA gallery members are joined by a variety of businesses and restaurants plus independent artists, vintage cars and music on the streets. Saturday WAG activities include art demonstrations and Saturday evening receptions. An art walk is on Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with some galleries open until 5 p.m. For more information about the Silver City Art Association, the Weekend at the Galleries, or SCAA First Fridays, see silvercityart.com. WAG brochures, and other information about Silver City, may be picked up at the Visitor Center, 201 N Hudson. Brochures are also at Light Art Space, 209 W Broadway, and Grant County Art Guild, 316 N Bullard, all in Silver City.

• Made In Silver City Gallery presents a special exhibition featuring silversmith, Yarrow Mead. Opening receptions with light refreshments will be held 5-6 p.m. Oct. 6,7. Mead uses asymmetrical forms and organic textures, as well as non-traditional elements like teeth or bone, to create unique pieces that capture the wild essence of the southwestern desert she now calls home. Her work is created using a combination of lost wax casting and hand fabrication with a focus on ethically & sustainably sourced metal and stones. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 206 W. Broadway St. Silver City. Info: madeinsilvercity.com.

• The Grant County Art Guild has two October art shows, plus three days of Silver City Art Association Weekend at the Galleries activities. Wood carver Mark Cantrell’s show, “Wood Stories,” is at the GCAG Studio from Oct 6-9, and a Dias de los Muertos show featuring Guild artists Sally Tilton and Franky DeAngelis will be on site Oct. 28-Nov. 4. Weekend at the Galleries Guild events start with a First Friday reception from 5-7pm at the GCAG Gallery, and the opening reception for the Cantrell show at the Studio, also 5-7pm. Saturday WAG activities include art demos at the gallery from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and an evening gallery reception from 5-7 p.m. Both the Guild and the Studio will be part of the Sunday gallery walk from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with both locations staying open until 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Grant County Art Guild Gallery is located at 316 N Bullard. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. The GCAG Studio is at 200 W Market, both are in Silver City, NM. For more information about the Guild see gcag.org.

• Francis McCray Gallery is proud to present the Bi-Annual Department of Expressive Arts Faculty Exhibition Oct. 19–Nov. 16. The exhibition showcases a wide range of traditional and contemporary media and processes including drawing, digital art, ceramics, painting, photography and sculpture. These professional artists have received both national and international recognition for their engaging and thought-provoking works. During the opening reception, Faculty members will share insights regarding the concepts and processes behind the creation of their artwork. Featured Artists: Ed Brandt, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design; Matt Drissell, assistant professor of drawing and painting; Cynthia Gutierrez, adjunct instructor; Michael Metcalf, professor of sculpture and department chair; Courtney Michaud, associate professor of ceramics; Jim Pendergast, associate professor of photography; and Erin Wheary, assistant professor of sculpture. The Francis McCray Art Gallery can be found at 237 W. Rhoda Road on the WNMU campus in Silver City. Info: 575-538-6517.

• Light Art Space gallery, 209 W. Broadway in Silver City, presents “H2O: Shifting Currents,” a juried exhibition of handmade prints. Water can represent cleansing, purity, power, wisdom, an open heart and mind, and change. After three years of constant change and uncertainty involving much pain and loss, this call asks artists to consider water and what it can represent. Juror Kristen Martincic chose 33 images by 23 artists from across the United States. This exhibition is part of the Silver City Print Fiesta. “Phoenix Ink: New and Eclectic Image,” prints by Kim Boege, Wendy Willis, Marlys Kubicek, Paulette Olive and Donna Atwood is also on display at the gallery. Both exhibits will be open through Nov. 4. Also, on view at the gallery is work in various media by the Light Art Space Artists: Joel Armstrong, Joe Huebner, Karen Hymer, Kathleen Koopman, Rhonda Munzinger, Art Peterson, Susan Porter, Eric Renner, Nancy Spencer, and Juan Velasco. The gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday (until 7 p.m. on First Fridays); 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday; and by appointment. Info: lightartspace.com.

DEMING

• October 2023, at the Deming Art Center will feature the annual DAC Membership exhibit. Anyone who is a member is eligible to participate and there will be a diverse body of work on display. The show will run from Oct. 3-30 with a time to meet the artists 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8. The exhibit will be on display through Oc. 30. Deming Art Center is at 100 S. Gold St., Deming. The gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. Info: 575-546-3663 and at www.demingarts.org.

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

• New Mexico Indivisible Young Artists Fellowship presents “Young At Art - Art to Shape the Future,” at The Ice House, Rio Bravo Fine Arts Gallery, 110 N. Broadway in Truth or Consequences. There will be an opening reception from 5-9 p.m., Oct. 14. This is the first group art showcase featuring artwork by the five individuals selected for the 2023 Young Artists Fellowship featuring a diverse collection of artworks by Domm Izaac, Shea Brill, Gustavo Ramirez, Hazel Batrezchavez, and Shundiin Desbah Nakai. Prior to the showcase, there will be a panel discussion and Q&A between the fellows, their mentors and the public on the subject "How does one find an artistic voice during challenging social times?" This event will take place from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Turtleback Coworking, 400 N. Broadway in T or C. Info: chantalelenamitchell@gmail.com.

• Also featured at Rio Bravo is the work of Noël Hudson. This show is a collection of bold, large-scale abstracts “From the Freedom Series.” The artwork in this show by Hudson was created during an intense, transitional period for the artist. This show is a carefully curated selection of pieces that reflect a time of exceptional creativity by the artist. These pieces are striking compositions with bold and vibrant color palettes. This show runs through Oct. 29. Rio Bravo Fine Arts Gallery is at 110 N. Broadway in Truth or Consequences.

ALAMOGORDO

• "Enjoying the Journey" by Anne Aleshire is on display for October at Otero Artspace. Reception for the painter is 5-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6 at Artspace, located at 1118 Indiana St. (the corner of 12th and Indiana) in Alamogordo. The Michigan native, who now divides her time between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Bent, developed a passion for nature and travel early in life. Anne’s preferred medium is oil, but she also paints in watercolor and gouache. The gallery is open throughout the month 1-4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Info: oteroarts.org.

CLOUDCROFT

• The Cloudcroft Art Society's Gallery (CAS) annual Holiday Arts and Crafts show and sale is coming up beginning Saturday, Oct. 7. The show is on display in the back room of the Nivison Library in the old red brick schoolhouse, 90 Swallow Place, Cloudcroft. CAS serves Cloudcroft, the surrounding Sacramento Mountain communities, and the Alamogordo-Tularosa area. Info: sznana@totacc.com.

MAGDALENA

• “DARK SKY LAND Exhibition Series,” is a transdisciplinary time-based exhibition, featuring works by astronomers and artists in the context of a Night Sky environmental project. This exhibition takes place in one of the darkest regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The project offers an innovative situation where art, science, nature, culture, community, advocacy and the unknown converge. Co-curated by Catherine DeMaria / Warehouse 1-10 and Marisela La Grave / Magnetic Laboratorium the exhibition is conceived as a three-part series: One. DARK/The Astronomers, Two. SKY/Time and Three. LAND/Space. It features a collection of astronomical artifacts, astrophotography, and works by 27 artists in a broad range of media. Opening 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 (through Nov. 18) at 1-10 Art Space, 110 North Main Street, Magdalena NM. The opening reception will be followed by an evening of Night Sky Observation. Info:  www.warehouse110.com;  www.darkskylandfilm.com; www.magneticlaboratorium.com; 575-517-0669

LAS CRUCES

• Artist Victor Whitmill is now showcasing a selection of works at Trails End Gallery and Studios in Las Cruces. His new pieces reflect his interest in human consciousness. With a flair for the surreal, Whitmill's paintings take viewers to a plane beyond our existence and into his metaphysical mind. His controlled brushstrokes and soulful color palette combine in languid

forms, swirls, spheres, and otherworldly landscapes. Whitmill’s new works are available for viewing on the studio side of Trails End Gallery, 1732 N. Mesquite Street in Las Cruces

during the monthly First Friday event from 4-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6. Private showings may be scheduled with Victor personally through his website at www.vwhitmill.com.

• The Metals Club students at New Mexico State University are hosting the 41st Anniversary NMSU Annual Jewelry Sale 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 30. The sale location is the coffee shop at NMSU Bookstore (Follett) on University next to the Department of Art (1400 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces). This fundraising event supports workshops, field trip activities for students, studio tools and equipment and visiting lecturers. Info: motoko@nmsu.edu.

• Camelot Studio announces its fall exhibit: “East Meets West: Chihuahuan Desert Artists from Southern NM and the Big Bend of Texas.” The show runs through the Renaissance Arts Faire weekend and will be available for viewing by appointment through Nov. 12. Open hours for viewing at 2008 Camelot Drive in Las Cruces are 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3; noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4; and 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Info: contact Mary Diesel at 432-294-0771. 

• Paper, canvas and clay works by Noël Sandino, Lisa Carlson and Maria Lopez are featured at Gallery 925 in October. Sandino discovered her passion for printmaking around 2008. She works in both art forms and studies music as well, playing her guitar and fiddle. Carlson’s work is about her love of music and nature which inspires and influences her artwork. Lopez is a retired elementary school educator who used art to enrich her students’ learning experiences. She believes that art should be an integral part of a student’s education. Maria presently paints flowers, faces and figures. An opening reception with artists and refreshments is 4-7 p.m., First Friday, Oct. 6. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m., Fridays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. An artist talk with Lopez is from 1-2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, Sandino will give a talk 1-2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 and Carlson’s talk will be 3-4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 22. Gallery 925 is located in the Mesquite Historical District near the corner of Spruce Street. Info: gallery925nm.com.

• Agave's Artist of the Month is Barbara Williams. She began making functional pottery in 1980.  Her plates, bowls, and mugs are all table-safe and can be used in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Williams demonstration will include a drawing for some of her work and will happen noon-1 p.m. for Saturday, Oct. 21 in the Agave Artist courtyard

The gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday to Monday at 2250 Calle de San Albino. Info: 575-339-9870.

• For Elizabeth Abrams, whose work is on display at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces, the art of photography offers an opportunity to connect deeply with the world, especially in the form of nature. Her exhibit, “Antidotes: Seeing Beauty, Finding Connection,” continues in the Museum’s Arts Corridor through Dec. 2. The show features 24 landscape and wildlife images by Abrams, who lives in Las Cruces. The show also includes the “Death and Life” display, a memorial work dedicated to horses and other animals. Info: 575-522-4100.

• The Las Cruces Museum of Art, is featuring “Artistas de las Fronterizas – Borderland Contemporary Artists.” Sixteen contemporary artists from local borderland communities, including Las Cruces, El Paso, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, come together in this colorful and expressive exhibit to showcase their work as prominent Borderland artists, on view from Friday, Oct. 6 to Saturday, Dec. 16. An opening reception will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, with artists in attendance to discuss their artwork and their respective experiences as artists. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at 491 N. Main St. Info: www.lascruces.gov/museums or 575-541-2137.

• The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery, 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, across from the historic Fountain Theatre features two local artists for the month of October, Frank Peacock and Rhoda Winters. Peacock, the native son of a New Mexico pioneer family is known for dramatic use of color and texture, and the mystery of the ever-changing landscape. Drawing in class helped Winters explores the wonder of the moment, the beauty of life and the structure of the natural world. First American Bank in Mesilla is well represented by gallery members who rotate the galleries artists’ work monthly. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Info: 575-522-2933, www.mesillavalleyfinearts.com.

• At Branigan Cultural Center the newest exhibition, “A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico,” explores the history, heritage and traditions of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations in Oaxaca, Mexico. It features 26 photographs that capture a typical Oaxacan Day of the Dead celebration. The exhibit opens Oct. 6 and runs through Dec.30. The museum is open from 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday. Info: www.lascruces.gov/Museums or 575-541-2154.