By Elva K. Österreich
OPPORTUNITY
Each year Friends of Bosque del Apache hosts an art contest as part of Festival of the Cranes. The winning piece is featured as one of the faces of our event and will be released on apparel, notecards and much more. Original artwork can be any medium, including: painting, digital, printmaking, mixed media, two or three-dimensional art, photography, as well as any other. Photographs can be unaltered originals or edited. The winning artist receives a free Expo booth or table during Festival of the Cranes, where they can sell their work, from postcards to originals. They will also have the exclusive privilege of being the only artist present in the Expo Room.Submissions are due June 30. Click on the festival link at friendsofbosquedelapache.org to register.
Applications are open for the 53rd Annual Renaissance Arts Faire, set to take place on Nov. 2-3 at Young Park in Las Cruces. This event is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, artists, food vendors and non-profit organizations to showcase their talents. Interested artist applicants can visit zapplication.org to complete the online application form. The deadline for submission is Aug. 16. Early applications are encouraged and a payment plan is available. Interested food/non-profit applicants can apply at the Doña Ana Arts Council office or request an application to the email admin@daarts.org. For organizations interested in sponsoring the Renaissance Arts Faire and for more information on how to get involved and support this ongoing event visit the council office at 230 S. Water St. Las Cruces, NM. Volunteers are also needed. For information contact event coordinator Nikayla Rios at 575-523-6403.
The third Plaza Classic Film Festival Screenwriting Competition is accepting entries through July 3. It will award a $500 first prize, a $250 second prize, and Final Draft 13 screenwriting software to the top two finishers. The first prize winner also receives a consultation with El Paso writer-director Lucky McKee and a table read of their screenplay. The contest is open to anyone 18 and older. Entries must be feature-length scripts of no more than 120 pages. There are no genre restrictions. Go to plazaclassic.com/screenwriting or Film Freeway to enter. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. July 3. Cost is $30 through June 14, $40 from June 15 through July 3. An entrant may receive written feedback, or coverage, for an additional $15. Screenplays must be uploaded in PDF format only, must be anonymous and include a cover sheet with only the screenplay’s title (name and contact details are on the entry form), a logline, and payment. Entries will be graded on a point system, with a 50-point maximum. Scripts will be awarded up to 10 points each for premise, plot, characters, dialogue, and the script’s prospects. The top two finishers will be announced before the 17th annual Plaza Classic Film Festival, which is July 18-28. Details: 915-533-4020, local@plazaclassic.com.
The City of Las Cruces Public Art program seeks an artist, or artist team, to create a site-specific outdoor art piece to beautify the soon-to-be-open East Mesa Public Recreation Complex. The art piece will be installed at the EMPRC’s 10-acre park located off Sonoma Springs Avenue in City Council District 6. The Organ Mountains provide a backdrop to the park that is surrounded by undeveloped desert landscape that is home to a variety of indigenous wildlife. Archeological evidence of the property shows it was once covered by prehistoric waters that provided a habitat for amphibious animals, such as giant jellyfish. The commission is open to all artists and artist teams. Artists are not required to have previous experience in public art but should demonstrate a level of expertise and professionalism that is commensurate with the project scope and budget. All submissions will be reviewed by jury process. The winning design will be presented to the City Art Board and the Las Cruces City Council. The selected artist or art team must collaborate with the City of Las Cruces Public Works Department and the LCPA program coordinator in the specifications and completion of this project. Artists must apply via callforentry.org. Info: Ceci Vasconcellos, public art coordinator, at 575-541-2780 or email cvasconcellos@lascruces.gov.
SILVER CITY
- a)s p..."A"© e Studio•Art•Gallery presents “Dream Devas,” paintings by Ann Lowe. Lowe said she set an intention and opened a space to merge forms with the canvasses she prepares with wrinkles. “When I start painting I look into the wrinkles and that’s when the Deva shapes emerge,” she said. “I never know what will appear.” The gallery is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, 110 West 7th St., in Silver City. Info: aspace.studiogallery@gmail.com, 575-538-3333.
- The Silver City Art Association Studio Group is hosting a pop-up art exhibit and art sale June 7 and 8, at the Seedboat Center for the Arts, 214 W. Yankie St. The SCAA Studio Group is known for their studio tour held annually on Labor Day Weekend. This is a preview for the studio tour. The reception is from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, June 7 and the exhibit continues 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Info: 607-398-8110.
- Light Art Space, 209 W. Broadway in Silver City, features the work of clay artist, Zoe Wolfe until June 29. Wolfe’s large clay pieces can be found in the outdoor sculpture garden at the gallery. Commemorating the Gila Wilderness 100 anniversary, Light art Space features “Four Artists Celebrating Wilderness,” an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Jane Seavers, Fred Barraza, Gay Scheibl and Paul Hotvedt. These four Silver City artists interpret the wilderness in their work. Curated by Paul Hotvedt. “Inspirations From the Wild”is an exhibition of photography and clay works by Karen Hymer and Zoe Wolfe. The reception for both exhibitions is scheduled for 5-7 p.m., Friday, April 5. The gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; and by appointment. Info: lightartspace.com.
ALAMOGORDO
- Otero Arts shares the Veteran Arts Showcase Exhibit which features 22 artists for the Month of June. The show honors veterans, active duty personnel and their families with a month of activities dedicated to and featuring artwork by our military-related community. The exhibition opens with a reception 5-8 p.m. on June 7. The gallery is open 1-4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday every week. Info: oteroarts.org.
CLOUDCROFT
- The Cloudcroft Art Society features original art works by members including paintings in several media, photography and photographic art, pottery, basketry, greeting cards and more. CAS holds meetings from March through November the first Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. in the historic “Red Brick Schoolhouse” in the heart of the Village of Cloudcroft. CAS also has a Gallery in the building and hosts shows there from June through December. Info: ccartsociety@gmail.com.
DEMING
*• In June, the Deming Art Center presents an exhibit featuring “Landscapes of New Mexico.” New Mexico’s scenic wonders are beautiful, varied and diverse. The exhibit represents as many as possible in as many mediums as possible. The show will be up from June 2-28, 2024. There will be a time to meet the artists on Sunday, May 5 from 1-3 p.m. The 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
- RioBravoFineArt, 110 North Broadway in Truth or Consequences, presents “The Quest, The Struggle, The Journey,” a retrospective of work by Dave Barnett will be up through July 21. There will be a reception at the gallery 6-9 p.m. on June 8. Barnett is one of New Mexico’s most talented and original painters, and this much anticipated show will fill all three of the main-level gallery spaces. Barnett creates bold images of Southwestern flora and fauna, bosque and mountain landscapes, small town street scenes, and geologic formations, both large and small. His images always give a fresh perspective and unique view of both the natural and man-made worlds. Rio Bravo Fine Arts Gallery is at 110 N. Broadway in Truth or Consequences. Info: www.riobravofineartgallery.com.
LAS CRUCES
- At the Las Cruces Museum of Art, “Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Art” spotlights the works of nine contemporary Japanese artists who explore the artistic potential of handmade washi by pushing its boundaries in terms of texture, dimension, and scale. The exhibit is on view through Aug. 10. The exhibit focuses on washi (Japanese handmade paper) as a medium for contemporary art and spotlights the works of nine diverse, contemporary Japanese artists who are exploring the artistic potential of this traditional material. There will be an exhibit opening reception from 5 - 7 p.m. on Friday, June 7 featuring a drumming performance by Torii Taiko, that uses traditional Japanese drums and other Japanese instruments. Then from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 there will be an educational program featuring Torii Taiko where they discuss the drums, tools, and oral traditional associated with Japanese drumming. The museum is located at 491 N. Main St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Info: www.lascruces.gov/museums or 575-541-2137.
- For the month of June, Gallery 925 combines two shows. “The Chair Show” features a group of local artists invited to interpret the CHAIR in an assortment of mediums. Featured artists are Diane Alire, Nancy Frost Begin, Christina Campbell, Zach Carpenter, Linda Gendall, Chris Kemler, Vickie Morrow, Noel Sandino, Penny Scribner and Diane Sperling. Happening at the same time, “The Papaya Collective” is a new local artists group having their inaugural show at the gallery. Papayas include Shaunna Foster, recycle artist/painter; Lauren Goldstein, metalsmith; Coy Lowther, painter/illustrator; Mary Prentice, painter; Julia Serrano, multimedia; and Natasha Zella, pottery and embroidery. The opening reception is 4-8 p.m., Friday, June 7. Gallery hours are 1-5 Fridays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Gallery 925 is located in the Mesquite Historical District near the corner of Spruce St. Info: gallery925nm.com; Gallery925LCNM on Facebook and Gallery925LC on Instagram.
- “Making as Knowing · When I was Here, Thinking of There” will run through July 20 in New Mexico State University’s Devasthali Hall and features work from MFA candidates Karly Jean Kainz and Blanca Martinez as they explore ideas of home and personal ritual. From 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13, “Loteria Game Nights” will close out the summer activities. Martinez invites the community to join her in playing Loteria, a tradition and game that has inspired some of her work in the exhibition. Curated in response to the exhibition and its events, UAM Collections Curator Courtney Uldrich and graduate assistant Olivia Juedeman are presenting a selection of works from NMSU’s Permanent Art Collection. “Selections from the NMSU Permanent Art Collection: 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition” which will open alongside the MFA exhibition and run until July 20. Visit uam.nmsu.edu for more information on the artists and the exhibition. The UAM is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday at 1308 E. University Ave. in Las Cruces.
- Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main St., features a new exhibit titled “Tlazoh Amoxochitl: Florecimiento del Conocimiento Precioso: Flowering of Precious Knowledge.” The exhibit features artwork that investigates pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultural traditions painted by kindergarten to fifth grade students at the Raices del Saber Xinachtli Community School in Las Cruces. The runs through Saturday, June 22. Branigan Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission charge. Info: www.lascruces.gov/museums or 575-541-2154.
- The Tombaugh Gallery presents the “2024 Fire and Fiber Show” with 16 artisans and more than 30 artworks. Works vary from elaborate pottery and macrame hangings, fine figurative sculpture with a bit of fiber, Ravens, tortoise, and an ancient cliff dwelling to a warrior goddess with a tile and fiber crown. With a Friday Opening from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 7 with awards presented at 6 p.m. Complimentary wine and light refreshments will be served. The show continues through June 30. The Tombaugh Gallery is at the Uniterian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, 2000 S. Solano in Las Cruces. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Info: 575-522-7281.
- 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 June: Patricia Black and Jan Severson. Black is a gourd designer and Severson is a weaver. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Info: 575-522-2933, www.mesillavalleyfinearts.com.
