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- Farmer’s Market: A Las Cruces Tradition
- Devotional Art Now at Las Cruces Museum of Art
- July Events Calendar for the Rio Grande Theater
- Collecting Art: Europe and the United States; A Cross-Cultural Perspective
- Museum produces new edition of oral history catalog; Any state resident can recieve a free CD copy
- Delano and Gayle Lewis Share African Art Collection
- New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum July 2009 Calendar
- Mark and Stephanie Medoff Contribute to “Las Cruces Collects” Exhibition
- A Night Of Music In Memory Of David Diaz
- Missoula Children’s Theatre to present “Robinson Crusoe” at the Rio Grande Theatre!
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Farmer’s Market: A Las Cruces Tradition
Posted at 8:25 am | Filed Under Features
Farmer’s Market: A Las Cruces Tradition
By: Paul Dahlgren
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Whether it’s the scintillating aroma of fresh cooked kettle corn, or the enchanting strumming of an acoustic guitar, the lure of the 38-year-old tradition of the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market is bound to captivate your senses and capture your heart.
The bustling excitement surrounding the market is contagious, as droves of people flock to beautiful spreads of freshly harvested produce and delicate arrangements of handmade crafts from over 50 unique vendors.
“Good food, good people and good times… and with the economy the way it is, it’s [Farmer’s Market] a good social outlet” said Earla Kuhn, co-owner of Khun Farms, who has been a vendor at Farmer’s Market for several years now.
“After the salmonella scare, we really ought to know where are food is coming from,” said Khun and explained that although her produce is not certified organic, it is “local and natural, and that’s good enough for me.”
Along with a variety of food vendors, local products and crafts, there are a number of musicians that fill the market with lively songs that give passerby’s a real sense of nostalgia and a strong sense of the community that continues to thrive here in Las Cruces.
“The market has the best collection of unique items you’ll find anywhere,” said Gary Strein, a longtime vendor who sells unique silver jewelry at the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market.
The wide variety of crafts often yields insight into the culture of Las Cruces as items such as: paintings and photographs depicting the beautiful landscapes and wildlife of New Mexico, handmade jewelry with touches of local flare, such as precious stones from New Mexico, and even a number of hand painted retablos (traditional paintings of Catholic saints), populate the marketplace.
“It’s [Farmer's Market] constantly changing, with so many new people moving here and bringing in new products,” Strein said, and went on to say, “It’s a lot bigger than it used to be.”
First started in 1971, the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market has grown from just a handful of local farmers, to a lively marketplace filled with over 50 vendors, live music and ample food choices.
Aside from the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market in the Downtown Mall, there are also a number of Farmer’s Markets throughout Las Cruces.
The Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market is in the process of moving from the Downtown Mall to across the street, at the corner of Main Street and Las Cruces Avenue, starting September 5, 2009.
For more information of the Las Cruces Farmers and craft Market visit: http://lascrucesfarmersmarket.org/
Devotional Art Now at Las Cruces Museum of Art
Posted at 8:49 am | Filed Under Exhibit News
Who: “Las Cruces Collects Exhibit”
What: New Deviotional Art Addition
When: July 2009
Where: The Las Cruces Museum of Art
Contact: (575) 541-2137
Devotional Art Now at Las Cruces Museum of Art
The “Las Cruces Collects” exhibition, now showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, offers a rare look into the private art collections of area residents, with a wide variety of objects to see. The collection of Richard and Toby White, for example, focuses on Ethiopian Coptic art, but also includes devotional art from Lithuania and the Southwest. Come learn the colorful tales behind these religious artifacts, on display through Saturday, August 22nd.
The origin of the White’s interest in artistic objects goes back to their college years, when they lived near the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. After college, the Whites were fortunate to have the opportunity to work, live, and travel in many different countries. While living in Ethiopia, their collecting habits began to change and become more refined. They were fascinated with the country and its people and started spending hours in markets and out of the way shops looking for things to collect.
Now, their collection spans much more than Ethiopian culture and is highly personal in nature. The collection reminds them of important parts of the story of their lives. Mr. White states that, “we are doing our best to tame the collections ability to keep growing. But as with most good intentions, this one is much more easily stated in words than put into practice.”
Highlights from the collection include two retablos from northern Mexico and an array of crosses from Ethiopia and Lithuania, with dating from the 14th to 20th century. A historical map of Africa from the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius (the first true atlas, printed in England in 1606) is also on display. Abraham Ortelius is regarded as one of the finest cartographers from antiquity and certainly the most prominent of the 16th century. His concern for accuracy and attention to detail make his beautiful maps both intriguing and aesthetically pleasing.
Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 10AM - 4PM, and Saturday, 9AM - 1PM. Admission is free. Funded by the City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 491 North Main Street, at the north end of the Downtown Mall. Call 541-2137, or visit http://museums.las-cruces.org, for more information on museum exhibitions and Studio Program art classes.
July Events Calendar for the Rio Grande Theater
Posted at 9:47 am | Filed Under Event News
Who: Rio Grande Theater
What: July Events
When: July 2009
Where: Rio Grande Theater
Contact: (575) 541-2322
RIO GRANDE THEATRE - CALENDAR OF EVENTS - JULY 2009
Saturday, July 18
Missoula Children’s Theatre presents “Robinson Crusoe”
Hula-dancing Chameleons and other wacky characters from Friday’s Seaside Resort will take center stage as Missoula Children’s Theatre brings their annual production to Las Cruces, starring local children ranging in age from 5 to 18. Showtimes for Robinson Crusoe are 3pm and 7pm. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.
Thursday, July 16
Benefit Screening “The Sharp End”
Early in June of this year, the rock climbing community was rocked by news that three American climbers had been lost in an avalanche in an isolated part of Southwest China. After several days of search and rescue, two bodies were recovered, while the third remains unfound. To help fund the continuing search, as well as the memorial services for the three climbers, NMSU Outdoor Recreation will screen Sender Film’s “The Sharp End,” an adrenaline-soaked journey up the world’s most challenging walls. Showtime is 7pm. Tickets are $10. For more information call 575-646-4746 or visit www.AdventureFilm.org
Friday, July 24
Las Cruces High School Theatre Arts presents “The Odd Couple”
In Neil Simon’s Broadway masterpiece, fastidious neat freak Felix and habitual slob Oscar find themselves unexpectedly sharing an apartment together, leading to inevitable conflicts and good-natured laughs. A one-night-only performance for the entire family. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.
Every Other Tuesday at the Rio Grande Theatre
July 14 – Doug Randle: Guitar & Vocals
July 28 – La Cella Bella: Women’s Cello Quartet
Please note: Every Other Tuesday performances always begin at 5:30pm and are free to the public.
On Exhibit in the El Paso Electric and Caroline de Mesilla Galleries
Marie Siegrist (Watercolors) and Joe Dominick (Photography)
The works of two very different artists will fill the El Paso Electric and the Caroline de Mesilla galleries, beginning with a reception for the artists to coincide with the First Friday Downtown Arts Ramble, on July 3, 2009, beginning at 5pm. Siegrist’s paintings encompass a wide variety of subjects, including up-close nature studies, floral themes, landscapes, doorways, windows and candid moments of life. Dominick works in the black and white silver print medium, using a 4×5 large format camera. His works have been seen as far afield as Chicago, Houston and Santa Fe. The exhibit will run through July 31, 2009.
Collecting Art: Europe and the United States; A Cross-Cultural Perspective
Posted at 8:00 am | Filed Under Event News
Who: Collecting Art: Europe and the United States; A Cross-Cultural Perspective
What: Guest Lecture
When: Saturday June 20, 2009 at 12:30pm
Where: Rio Grande Theater
Contact: (575) 541-2322
Collecting Art: Europe and the United States; A Cross-Cultural Perspective
On Saturday, June 20th Debbie Rindge and Mireille Dohmen will present their joint lecture “Collecting Art: Europe and the United States, a Cross-Cultural Perspective” at the Rio Grande Theatre, beginning at 12:30 pm. Presented in conjunction with the “Las Cruces Collects” exhibit currently on display at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, the lecture will discuss the similarities and differences between European and American collecting sensibilities. A short history of collecting (on both sides of the Atlantic), images of collectible works of art, stories about well-known collectors and the legacies they left behind will be included.
Debbie Rindge is an art historian and the owner of Mirari Fine Art Consulting in Las Cruces. She received her Ph.D. in American Art History from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her publications include catalogues of the collections of American art in the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Mireille Dohmen worked as a kindergarten teacher for over 20 years. After marrying surrealist Leo Dohmen (1929-1999), she managed the Gallery Den Tijd and organized exhibitions of contemporary art. For the past ten years, she has been working on a retrospective of her late husband’s work for the Museum of Photography in Charleroi, Belgium.
Museum produces new edition of oral history catalog; Any state resident can recieve a free CD copy
Posted at 7:36 am | Filed Under Event News
Who: New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
What: New Oral History Catalog Edition
When: Available Now
Where: New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
Contact: (575) 522-4100
Museum produces new edition of oral history catalog; Any state resident can recieve a free CD copy
The treasured voices of our ancestors are an important resource when it comes to New Mexico history, and the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum has completed a year-long project that will make discovering those voices easier.
The Oral History Program at the museum in Las Cruces announces the publication of the third edition of the Oral History Collections Catalog for New Mexico. The 264-page publication lists all of the particulars for close to 10,000 archived interviews from around the state. Each entry lists the name of the person interviewed, the location the oral history is stored, description of the interview, the geographical coverage, the date range, the name of the interviewer, the format (cassette, reel-to-reel, video, etc.), availability, and research aids.
Through a grant from the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board, the museum is able to provide each library, museum and historical society in the state with a digital copy of the catalog. Also, any New Mexico resident who would like a free copy of the CD version should contact the museum at (575) 522-4100.
“It is our hope that the Oral History Collections Catalog will prompt the additional use of existing interviews or the undertaking of new oral history projects as we approach the centennial of New Mexico statehood in 2012,” said Cameron Saffell, the museum’s curator of history and oral history program director.
The catalog, first published by the New Mexico Heritage Center at NMSU, was last updated in 1994 and included only 96 pages. The new edition expands the institutional descriptions to now include specific collections at each institution. Also included in this edition is a name index featuring more than 6,100, and the inclusion of several collections of New Mexico-related oral histories from repositories outside the state.
The publication of the catalog coincides with the roll-out of the museum’s new Oral History Program website at http://oralhistory.frhm.org. The website includes information on all of the museum’s interviews as well as links to interview questionnaires and materials on how the program is operated. The catalog also is available through the website.
Delano and Gayle Lewis Share African Art Collection
Posted at 7:24 am | Filed Under Exhibit News
Who: The African Art Collection of Delano and Gayle Lewis
What: Now showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, as part of the exhibition “Las Cruces Collects,”
When: June 9th - August 22nd
Where: The Las Cruces Museum of Art
Contact: (575) 541-2137
Delano and Gayle Lewis Share African Art Collection
The “Las Cruces Collects” exhibition, now showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, offers a rare look into the private art collections of area residents. One of the seven collections represented belongs to Gayle and Delano Lewis of Mesilla, NM. In 1966, the young Lewis couple joined the Peace Corps, where Delano served as Peace Corps staff in Nigeria and Uganda and embarked on a life-long career of public service. These travel and living experiences enhanced their passion for art and gave them the opportunity to learn about African art and to add to their eclectic collection of art and artifacts. Come and hear the colorful tales behind these objects, on display through Saturday, August 22nd.
In 1994, Delano Lewis was named President and CEO of National Public Radio in Washington, DC. In June 1999, President Clinton nominated Mr. Lewis as US Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa. Now retired from a remarkable career, Mr. Lewis is currently a Senior Fellow at New Mexico State University. Gayle Lewis recently published Dear Family: Letters from Nigeria, her memoirs detailing the hardship, danger, and adventure of caring for her family while living abroad. The Lewis’ have four adult sons and eleven grandchildren.
“The Coachman,” a signed print by famed Harlem Renaissance artist Jacob Lawrence, is featured in the collection, along with works by other noted artists including Fred Eboka and Barbara Tyrrell. Objects in the exhibition include African beadwork, embroidery, wood carvings, and ceramics. Often created by teams of artisans, these artworks are bold in color and full of life.
Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 10AM – 4PM, and Saturday, 9AM – 1PM. Admission is free. Funded by the City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 491 North Main Street, at the north end of the Downtown Mall. Call 541-2137, or visit http://museums.las-cruces.org, for more information on museum exhibits and Studio Program art classes.
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum July 2009 Calendar
Posted at 7:19 am | Filed Under Event News
Who: New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
What: Events in July
When: July 2009
Where: New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
Contact: (575) 522-4100.
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum July 2009 Calendar
Harvest Cooking Class
July 7, 2-4 p.m.
This month’s cooking class features recipes that include peaches, squash and pinto beans. Carol Koenig is the chef and pre-registration is required. $35.
Lecture Series
“Corazon Vaquero: The Heart of the Cowboy”
July 9, 7 p.m.
The 65-minute documentary film, “Corazon Vaquero: The Heart of the Cowboy,” will be shown in the Museum’s theater. The film is a high-definition cinematic journey into the mountains of Baja California, Mexico. Filmmaker Cody McClintock takes us to a place where people are living the way they have for 300 years. These direct descendants of the Spanish missionary soldiers still live the lifestyle of the California vaquero. Las Cruces film buff Jeff Berg will be the host. Admission is a suggested donation of $2.
Ice Cream Sunday
July 26, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Everyone’s favorite summer treat is the star of this annual event. Enjoy homemade ice cream samples and see how ice cream is made. The event also includes the popular ice cream sandwich eating contest for all different age groups. Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and $2 for children 5 to 17.
Adult Felting Class
July 30, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Learn the basics of both wet felting and needle felting by completing a small felted pin, cuff and felted beads. Instruction will include basic techniques of both methods and how to manipulate wool into artfully crafted garments. Participants will be given wool, needles, and assorted jewelry findings to complete the projects in class. $35 per person.
Summer Fun for Kids
July 7-8 (Tuesday and Wednesday): Greenhouse and Gardening Camp
Grades K-6th; 10 a.m.-2p.m.; Class Limit: 20
Discover the science of soil and plant growth through hands-on lessons in the Museum’s new greenhouse. Decorate your very own gourd. Learn about native plants of the Chihuahuan Desert and how they survive. Take home plants and seeds to start you own garden. Children should dress in clothing that can get dirty and please bring lunch each day. Pre-registration required. $40
July 22-24 (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday): Pottery and Archaeology Camp
Grades 3rd-6th; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Class Limit: 20
Shape and mold clay into creative objects in this introduction to pottery making. Students will also learn the methods and importance of archaeology as they excavate their own dig site. Children should dress in clothing that can get dirty. Please bring hats, sunscreen and sturdy shoes as we will be outside for part of the class.
Please bring lunch each day. Pre-registration is required. $60
July 28 (Tuesday): Traditional New Mexico Music, Games and Stories
Grades K-2; 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Class Limit: 15
Love music and dancing? Want to play games from two-hundred years ago? Enjoy a good story? Then this is the class for you!
Pre-registration required. $20
For more information, or to sign up or register for a class, please call (575) 522-4100.
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
4100 Dripping Springs Road
Las Cruces, NM 88011
Mark and Stephanie Medoff Contribute to “Las Cruces Collects” Exhibition
Posted at 12:34 pm | Filed Under Exhibit News
Who: The art collection of Mark and Stephanie Medoff
What: Now showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, as part of the exhibition “Las Cruces Collects,”
When: June 9th - August 22nd
Where: The Las Cruces Museum of Art
Contact: (575) 541-2137
Mark and Stephanie Medoff Contribute to “Las Cruces Collects” Exhibition
The art collection of Mark and Stephanie Medoff adds a distinctly Southwestern flare to the new exhibition “Las Cruces Collects,” now showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. One of seven local collections on display until Saturday, August 22nd, artwork on loan from the Medoff family expresses both their passion for the theater and their personal connection to New Mexico.
With an array of horses and cowboys, the Medoff collection is certainly theatrical. Rugged landscapes serve as the backdrop to a cast of wild characters, with works on display such as “Good Guy Bad Guy” by graphic artist Norris Hall and “Rabbit Hunt” by illustrator Barbara Lathem. Notably, the Medoffs are no longer active collectors because their walls cannot hold any more artwork.
Mark Medoff, recognized for such theatrical works as “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” and “Children of a Lesser God,” is now serving as Creative Director for the Creative Media Institute. Mark Medoff and his wife Stephanie are currently co-chairs spearheading a campaign to raise funds for a new $75 million Center for the Arts at NMSU.
Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 10AM – 4PM, and Saturday, 9AM – 1PM. Admission is free. Funded by the City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 491 North Main Street, at the north end of the Downtown Mall. Call 541-2137, or visit http://museums.las-cruces.org, for more information on museum exhibits and Studio Program art classes.
“Good Guy Bad Guy” by Norris Hall; Acrylic; circa 1990
A Night Of Music In Memory Of David Diaz
Posted at 8:19 am | Filed Under Event News
Who: Nosotros & Regardless
What: Concert: A Night of Music In Memory of David Diaz
When: June 19, 2009
Where: The Rio Grande Theater
Contact: (575) 523-6403
A Night Of Music In Memory Of David Diaz
The memory of one of Las Cruces brightest stars will be celebrated through A Night Of Music Celebrating David Diaz at the Rio Grande Theatre, June 19, 2009. Scheduled to perform on the night of the event are Diaz’ former band Nosotros, along with a Jazz Tribute and the youth band founded by Diaz in his final days, Regardless.
A native of Las Cruces, Diaz was a skilled musician and teacher who gained fame as a founding member of the award-winning Latin-influenced band, Nosotros. At the time of his passing, on April 9, 2009, he was a member of Felonious Groove Foundation and Fantastic Planet, as well as a music instructor at the Dimensions School of Dance and Music in Albuquerque. Conceived and hosted by family, friends, students, former instructors and bandmates of Diaz, the benefit will celebrate both the late musician’s memory and the legacy he created for later generations.
The event will begin at 6pm and run approximately four hours with a light dinner and dessert being served between sets. All proceeds will go to the David Diaz Music From The Heart Endowment, created to provide musical instruction and scholarships to underprivileged children and managed by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling (575) 571-7170. For more information, contact the Doña Ana Arts Council at (575) 523-6403 or visit the website at www.RioGrandeTheatre.com
Missoula Children’s Theatre to present “Robinson Crusoe” at the Rio Grande Theatre!
Posted at 8:14 am | Filed Under Event News
Who: Missoula Children’s Theater
What: “Robinson Crusoe”
When: July 13th-18th
Where: The Rio Grande Theater
Contact: (575) 523-6403
Missoula Children’s Theatre to present “Robinson Crusoe” at the Rio Grande Theatre
Hula-dancing Chameleons and other wacky characters from Friday’s Seaside Resort will take center stage at the Rio Grande Theatre from July 13 – 18 as the Missoula Children’s Theatre brings their annual production to Las Cruces. Auditions for Robinson Crusoe will be held Monday, July 13 in the lobby of the Rio Grande Theatre, beginning at 10am and will run about two hours. Some of the cast members will be asked to stay for rehearsal immediately following the audition.
Approximately 50 roles are available for local students and the week-long rehearsal/workshop process will culminate with two public performances on the Rio Grande Theatre stage, Saturday, July 18, at 3pm and 7pm. Children ranging in age from 5 to 18 are encouraged to audition. Five-year-olds must have completed kindergarten. No advance preparation is necessary. Most students rehearse approximately 4 ½ hours each day, Monday through Friday. Two theatre professionals will conduct the auditions, direct the show and supply costumes, make-up and supervise the actual performances. Non-acting assistant directors and technicians are also needed.
Conceived and written by Jim Caron, with music by Greg Boris and lyrics by Jim Caron, Robinson Crusoe departs drastically from Daniel Dafoe’s novel to envision a time, years after the shipwreck that stranded Crusoe on his island. He and his sole companion, a goat named Wilson, have turned the island into a tourist destination centered around a lovable singing leopard, a tribe of natives known for their colorful coifs, Friday’s Seaside Resort and, of course, the legend of Robinson Crusoe, himself. Told through flashback, the story comes to life, with the entire population of the island, including a herd of goats, an all-animal band and the inevitable hula-dancing chameleons, coming together to discover that differences need not stand in the way of friendship.
A fee of $40 for the first child and $20 for each additional child will be charged if they are cast. Scholarships are available. The Missoula Children’s Theatre is brought to the community by the Doña Ana Arts Council. For more information contact the DAAC office at 523-6403.