If you've ever wondered about the art produced by students at New Mexico State University, it's time to satisfy your curiosity. The New Mexico State University Department of Art will host an Art Open Studio Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 in Devasthali Hall at 1308 E. University Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.
The open house will include workshops, pop-up shows and sales of student art.
“So many people have a lot of misconceptions about the work that artists do and it is considered easy and light but it's a difficult career," said Margaret Goehring, art history professor and department head. "This is a chance for the grad students to open their studios and invite visitors in to talk about their art. It's an opportunity to engage with a broader general public and to showcase what exactly they do. This is a crucial kind of professional practice that they need to learn how to maintain."
Workshops will include: “Laser Cut Sun Catchers” with Ashley Saldana from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; “Copper Stamped Keychains” with Gus Ramirez and Johanna Typaldos from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; “OutsmART Ex-Voto Collage Workshop” with Bella Maria Varela from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and “Instax Film Portraits” with Yashoda Latkar from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. All workshops will be open to participants on a first come, first served basis.
Devasthali Hall had its grand opening in February of 2020 as the new home to the Department of Art and NMSU's art museum. However, the pandemic lockdown in March 2020 closed the facilities to the public for two years. The University Art Museum reopened its doors earlier this year. The open studio day is a chance for those who have not seen the new building to tour the state-of-the-art facilities available at NMSU and to learn more about how to participate in art classes.
NMSU graduate students took the lead in organizing and planning the open studio day. Many of the workshops also will be led by graduate students.
“This is our way to welcome the community into the building. We've been very active in trying to get to know the art community here in Las Cruces and we've always been interested in having an open studio to allow the public to see what we do,” said Saldana, an NMSU art graduate student and event organizer. “We want to show the community the art facilities available for students and to see the work being created by both undergrad and graduate students in the Department of Art."
Ceramics club, metals club and camera club will be selling the work they have created during the fall semester.
“We want to help students understand that one doesn't have to be an art student in order to pursue art classes. They’re open to any student,” Goehring said. “As long as one has done the prerequisites, there is no limit to the number of art classes they may take. I'd like to see more students taking art classes, even if it's outside their major. There are a lot of design skills that we offer that are needed in so many different career paths."
Learn more about the open studio and other upcoming events.
