Each February, ArtForms Artists Association of New Mexico brings For the Love of Art Month (FLOA) to the Mesilla Valley. This monthlong celebration of art in all its forms includes several exhibitions, four weekends of studio tours with 37 participating locations, and the opportunity to pick up some art skills at workshops. This year, ArtForms will also honor two people who support the arts in the community.
ArtForms has sponsored FLOA for more than a quarter century and encourages everyone to spend time in February creating and enjoying art of all kinds. A guide to all the FLOA activities is available in a print version and online on the ArtForms website, artformsnm.org.
Activities kicked off Saturday, February 1, with a soft opening of the juried ArtForms Member Show, Spirit of the Southwest, at Gallery 925, 925 N. Mesquite St., and Duende Gallery, 921 N. Mesquite St. The work of more than 40 artists will be displayed all month. ArtForms presented awards to winning artists during the soft opening. The opening reception will be held 4 – 8 p.m., Friday, February 7.
During the member show reception on February 7, Artforms will honor two people who actively support the local art community. Penny Peace is the ArtForms Member of the Year and Carolyn Bunch is the ArtForms Friend of the Arts.
There are many other exhibitions available to enjoy during For the Love of Art Month. The Southern Chapter of the New Mexico Watercolor Society exhibit, For the Love of Watercolor, will be shown at Frame and Art Center, 1100 S. Main St. # 108, Las Cruces. The ninth annual Erotica Show will happen at In Effect Gallery, 3390 Apple Cross Place in Mesilla Park, and The Border Artists will be exhibiting at Casa Otro, 2226 Calle de Guadalupe in Mesilla. Even more exhibits are listed in the guide.
Studio tours are always a popular part of FLOA. This year, 37 studios will be available to tour. The four weekends of studio tours provide the opportunity to see where artists work, talk to them about their artistic process, and make purchases directly from them. A few of the participating artists are Linda Gendall, Tauna Cole, Jean Wilkey, Candi Hogan, Rokoko, Noel Sandino, Nancy Frost Begin, and Dina D’argo.
Visitors can find studios using maps printed in the guide. In addition, a QR code in the guide links to an interactive map. Blue flags will help identify each studio location. Studio tour hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturdays, and noon – 4 p.m., Sundays. Some studios have different hours, which are listed in the guide, as well as the dates each will be open.
For those who would like to explore creating art, ArtForms will host several workshops in February. A free, all-ages mask-making class will be taught by Karen Conley at the Thomas Branigan Library 2 – 4 p.m. on February 2. A free charm-stamping workshop for adults will be held 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., February 7, at Metál Jewelry Studio. Register online at metaljewelrystudio.com. A live figure drawing workshop for adults will be facilitated by Tauna Cole at the NMSU University Art Museum 2 – 4 p.m. on February 22. The fee is $10 per person and registration is required by emailing artformsnm@gmail.com.
Because FLOA is about art in all its various forms, February events also include plays, like “Clue on Stage” at Las Cruces Community Theater, a poetry workshop, folk dancing, educational presentations, and much more. You can even play an art-focused game, My Masterpiece, at Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery where you have the chance to win a $250 prize.
"Collaborating with other art organizations and businesses is important to us," said ArtForms President Karen Conley. "We all want to promote the region as an art and cultural destination. ArtForms has a 26-year history of organizing art events for the community, and we are proud to continue doing so."
Plan your February art adventures with a copy of the FLOA guide, which is available at the Visit Las Cruces office, area art galleries, and art supply stores. You can also download a PDF version at artformsnm.org.
