Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery features artists Morden, Rimbach in October

Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Galley (MVFAG) will feature two local artists for the month of October: Mark Morden and Frank Rimbach.

Morden is a retired architect from the Pacific Northwest who moved to Las Cruces in 2018. He earned a BA from the University of Oregon in 1980. In addition to architecture, Morden studied pastels and drawing while at school. During his working career, Morden channeled his artistic pursuits into fine-art paper folding. He created original pieces and participated in exhibits around the Pacific Northwest. San Diego’s Mingei International Museum has one of Morden’s pieces, “United We Stand (1000 Cranes),” in its permanent collection.

Since moving to Las Cruces, Morden has been able to develop his talents in drawing and pastel painting.  Many of his painting subjects are of the built environment, but also portraits and figure studies. His works focus is on capturing light and shadow through form and structure.

Rimbach earned a master of fine arts degree from New Mexico State University. He has taught at Central Texas College and at El Paso Community College. Rimbach’s work can be found at MVFAG and in private collections.

MVFAG is located at 2470-A Calle de Guadalupe, across from the Fountain Theatre on the historic Mesilla Plaza.

The gallery will have an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23.

MVFAG features the work of 30 artists in various media, including oil, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, fused glass art jewelry, woodturnings, stained glass, photography, ceramics, mixed media, decorated gourds, handmade textile weavings, art tile, fiber art, natural gemstone jewelry, colored pencil, basket weavings, charcoal, pen and ink, prints, cards and miniature paintings.

MVFAG is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

First American Bank, 1553 Avenida de Mesilla, is well represented by gallery members who rotate their artwork monthly at the bank.

Call 575-522-2933. Visit www.mesillavalleyfinearts.com.