Arts Scene

SILVER CITY

• The Silver City Art Association First Friday Gallery Walk is from 5-7 p.m., May 5. During First Friday walks, SCAA downtown galleries stay open until 7 p.m. to hold receptions, and feature art demonstrations or other special activities. For a map showing SCAA downtown gallery locations, or to find out more about SCAA galleries, studios, and independent artists, see silvercityart.com. 

• “Spring Celebration“ features work by the Light Art Space Artists: Joel Armstrong, Joe Huebner, Karen Hymer, Kathleen Koopman, Rhonda Munzinger, Art Peterson, Susan Porter, Eric Renner, Nancy Spencer, Carmen Ruiz and Juan Velasco. The show runs through May 28. Light Art Space is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. , First Fridays until 7 p.m. and by appointment. Info: www.lightartspace.com.

• The Grant County Art Guild has doubled its First Fridays offerings with an art demonstration at their downtown Silver City gallery, and an art show at the downtown Studio. The gallery will be open until 7 p.m. on May 5, with light refreshments and a paintin demonstration by Gay Scheibl. The Studio will also be open until 7 p.m. The GCAG Gallery is located at 316 N Bullard Street in Silver City. Hours are from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week. In addition to promoting the work of local artists in the gallery, the Guild hosts open studios, classes, art shows and other events. Open Studios are at the GCAG Studio, 200 Market W. Market St., from noon-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month – bring a creative project or use our basic art supplies. Info: gcag.org.

MAGDALENA

• Art Magdalen Gallery & Studio Tour will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7. The tour features15 locations around the Village of Magdalena, and over 50 participating artists and artisans working in a broad range of media. The afternoon includes gallery exhibitions, open studios, an artisan market and demonstrations in printmaking, bookbinding, watercolor painting, weaving and blacksmithing. All daytime events are free and the art is for sale. Also on Saturday The Magdalena Chamber of Commerce hosts a fundraiser Pancake Breakfast from 8:30-10:30 a.m. ($8) and Warehouse 1-10 Gallery features an evening performance by jazz guitarist and composer James Emery at 7 p.m. ($15). Seating is limited, reservations are recommended at 575-517-0669. For a complete list of studios, artists and galleries visit www.artmagdalenanm.com.

DEMING

• The annual Luna County Fine Arts & Crafts Show will be presented as is the May 2023 exhibit at the Deming Art Center. Featured are local artists and crafters from Luna County. It showcases many different mediums including painting, sculpture, fiber arts, jewelry and more. The exhibit will be up from May 2-30. There will be a time to meet the artists from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. 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

• The Border Artists have a group exhibition at the RioBravoFineArt Gallery. The opening reception will be on the Second Saturday Art Hop, from 6-9 p.m. April 8, 110 N. Broadwayin T or C. The show will be up until May 28. The Border Artists were conceived in late 1990 as a way of increasing visibility and recognition for the work of a group of fine artists in southern New Mexico. They were later organized as a non-profit artists’ association in 1995. The members are residents of southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Membership is by invitation. The 20 members work in various media: painting, sculpture, fiber art, clay, and jewelry. Their exhibitions are often fundraisers for other local not for profit groups, and they award annual artistic scholarships for high school and university students. Info: www.riobravofineartgallery.com.

ALAMOGORDO/TULAROSA

• Otero Arts received an “Arts and The Military 2023 Mini Grant” from New Mexico Arts for $2,000 to underwrite activities to celebrate “Otero Arts Veterans Art Showcase” on Armed Forces Day, the weekend of May 20. While some members of Otero Arts are military veterans or related to veterans, there are many other active duty military who are sharing their talent at the Veterans Art Showcase. On Saturday, May 6, Rochelle Williams and Lori Arella are hosting a writers’ workshop beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. Friday May 19 the musical “Ghost Town,” written and staged by veteran Nathan Young, will be performed. The cast is comprised of local talent some of whom are Veterans. On Sunday May 21, a Pop Up Art Exhibition of Veterans Art will be on display from 1-7 p.m. Coinciding with the art show will be musical performances, readings and an open MIC beginning at noon. The art exhibit continues from 3 – 6 p.m., May 22 – 23. The All Veterans Art Showcase events take place at Otero Artspace located at 1118 Indiana Ave. in Alamogordo. Info: oteroarts.org.

• Starting May 5 Otero Arts also features paintings by Maria Aragon at the Artspace with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. The Artspace is located at 1118 Indiana Ave., Alamogordo. The exhibition continues through May with the gallery open from 1-4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Aragon’s love of mythology and symbolism infuses her work with images from Hellenistic depictions of Apollo and Asian influence of the Buddha. The exhibit also includes landscapes and abstract pieces. According to Aragon, “It’s all about beauty, playing with color and symbolism.” Info: oteroarts.org.

• Paul Vesey, featured artist at the Dancing Dog Gallery has worked as a professional artist for more than 40 years. He has enjoyed working in a variety of mediums including wood, canvas, clay, metal and semi-precious stones. Known professionally as "Pablo" he lives in Alamogordo and is known for painting the murals on the iconic Desert Aire hotel. Pablo is recognized for the clean lines and meticulous detail in his work. The gallery is in Tularosa at 313 Granado St. and can be found at: dancingdog.art.

LAS CRUCES

• The Tombaugh Gallery welcomes artist Mark Morden, with an opening reception on May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to architecture in college, Morden studied pastel painting and drawing. Morden is a portrait artist who paints portraits of both architectural works and people. The exhibit continues through June, 2. The Tombaugh Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday - Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday and located inside the Unitarian Universalist Church at 2000 S. Solano in Las Cruces.

• The Branigan Cultural Center newest exhibition, “Trinity,” features artwork by Sarah Nguyen. Trinity addresses political, cultural, and scientific events by questioning our past and the choices we have made through her piece Break into Blossom. This exhibit is on view from May 5 through July 1, 2023. Opening reception will take place 5-7 p.m. on May 5. Nguyen’s work as a mixed media artists revolves around storytelling and reexamining our own actions. The museum is open 1- a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays and located at 501 N. Main St. in Las Cruces. Info: 575-541-2154.

• Gallery 925 is celebrating International Print Day in May by inviting local printmakers to show their hand pulled prints in the Third Annual Printmaking Show. Among the artists exhibiting their works are: Diane Alire, Diana Ayres, Chris Bardey, Nancy Frost Begin, Francisco Delgado, Manuel Guerra, Karen Hernandez, Raul Monarez, Louis Ocepek, SABA, Noel Sandino, Penny Scribner, Gabriele Teich, Gummi Thordarson, Roy van der Aa, Isaac Varela, Diane Vera, Shane Wiggs, Corinne Whitmill, Adriana Zavala and Naida Zucker with a variety of printmaking processes including photogravure, etching, woodcut, gel printing, linocut and screen printing. Gallery 925 will be participating in live printmaking demos and studio tours from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. An opening reception is 1-8 p.m. at the gallery during first Friday, May 5. First Friday features free trolley rides from 5-8 p.m. between all open Mesquite district galleries. The work is up through May 28. The gallery is open 1-5 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Gallery 925 is located in the Mesquite Historical District near the corner of Mesquite and Spruce streets. Info: gallery925nm.com.

• A photo exhibit captures the world of hummingbirds at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. “Grace in Motion” which features photography by Nirmal Khandan. The exhibit features 36 portraits of hummingbird species common to the region interacting with local flora. The show is free but regular museum admission is required to see the rest of the museum. The show will be on display through July 30 in the Arts Corridor at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces. Info:

www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org.

• Agave Gallery artist of the May is Paul Maxwell. He crafts his fine art paintings in his Southern New Mexico studios in Las Cruces and Alto. He focuses on landscapes and local subjects of the southwest. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 13, Maxwell offers a painting demonstration of pet portraits at Agave Artist Gallery. He will demonstrate his technique using water-soluble oils on a small 11 x 14” canvas. Attendees can watch, ask questions or try making a portrait of their own. To participate, bring supplies: canvas, easel, paints, brushes, etc. View his work at the gallery, 2250 Calle De San Albino, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Monday. The gallery is at 2250 Calle De San Albino. Info: 575-339-9870.

• The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery, 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, across from the historic Fountain Theatre hosts the My Masterpiece game. On Saturday, May 27, the gallery will be holding its Spring Event, which includes a free drawing class for adults given by Frank Rimbach, one of the resident artists and an art professor at El Paso Community College. Art supplies and light refreshments will be provided. My Masterpiece, a popular game for the past 20 years will be held during May. Each of more than 20 Gallery members has created a piece of art inspired by a famous artist. Each of their art pieces is associated with a clue. Match the clue and the artwork to the famous artist. The gallery also features two local artists for the month of May: John Glass and Rich Spellenberg. Glass is a watercolorist and Spellenberg works with wood. 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.

• New Mexico State University Art Museum has the "Ad Infinitum: Artists Against War and Imperialism,"running through May 20. The show features war-era posters and artworks from the NMSU Permanent Art Collection in the Bunny Conlon Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery. The artwork highlights twentieth-century imperialism and its effects such as militarization, the nuclear arms race, the destruction of human lives and damage to the natural environment. The UAM is at 1390 E. University Avenue. Art museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.