Archive for December, 2009

Who: The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
What: Monthly Events
When: January 2010 
Where: The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
Contact: (575) 522-4100

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum January 2010 Events Calendar

Harvest Cooking Class
Jan. 5, 2-4 p.m.
This month’s cooking class with Chef Carol Koenig features recipes that include walnuts, winter greens and “whatever.” Pre-registration is required. $35.

Lecture Series: The Career of John R. McFie
Jan. 14, 7 p.m.
Dr. Jo Tice Bloom will profile New Mexico territorial statesman John R. McFie (1849-1930), who helped found NMSU before moving to Santa Fe to serve on the Territorial Supreme Court. He also helped to found the present Presbyterian Health Care System, and the Museum of New Mexico. Admission is a suggested donation of $2.

Colcha Embroidery Workshop
Jan. 16, 1-4 p.m.
Come and discover this traditional Spanish Colonial craft. Participants will learn the basics of Colcha embroidery stitching and complete a small in-class project. The history of Colcha will be presented, with an informational tour of the new exhibit, Colcha: Embroidered Connections. Participants will need to bring a 6-inch embroidery hoop and scissors. Pre-registration is required and the instructor is Rita Hartley. The cost is $25 ($20 for museum volunteers and members).

Exhibit Opening:

What in the World?
Jan. 29
Enjoy a fun and informative journey through a fascinating array of unusual objects from the museum’s collections. These peculiar-looking gadgets were used for a variety of tasks and museum visitors are invited to answer the challenge to identify their uses in this interactive exhibit.

For more information, or to register for a class, please call (575) 522-4100, or visit www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org

Rio Grande Vineyards & Winery
By: Paul Dahlgren
Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau

“Red or Green?,” seems to be a fairly standard question around dinnertime here in Las Cruces, but with the abundance of area wineries in the country’s oldest wine producing state, people might also find themselves asking, “Red or White?”

Whether it’s a robust red or a whimsical white, Rio Grande Vineyards & Winery, just south of the Historic Mesilla Plaza, has a variety of tasty and unique wines for every palette.

“My father taught me how to make wine when I was 13…I’ve made wines all my life,” said Gordon Steel, owner of Rio Grande Vineyards & Winery, who started his winery about five years ago when he retired, after 34 years of service in the  U. S. Air Force.

The wide assortment of wines throughout the winery have a unique blend of flavors and influences, which Steel attributed to his travels through Europe, “that showed me [Steel] the diversity of wine.” The most popular wines at the winery include the Spanish inspired wines such as the Cherry Sangria or Tempranillo.

With wines that all run under $20 Rio Grande Vineyards & Winery offers a good variety of wine without breaking the bank, and for those looking to try out all winery’s tasty varieties of wine, the winery offers tastings for $5 per person and if you decide to buy a bottle of wine, the tasting is free.

“You can make wines that are very similar, but every winemaker is going to take a different approach to finishing the wine,” said Steel, while mentioning that each winemaker has a unique style that can produce a virtually endless number of wine variations.

Steel went on to mention that along with producing an array of wonderful wines, grapes are also a very sustainable crop for the Mesilla valley, only using a small fraction of the water it takes to develop crops such as pecans. “It’s a crop we should be looking at,” said Steel while mentioning that the Las Cruces area also has ideal weather conditions for growing grapes.

“The biggest change next year will be in the signage and development of our wine trail system,” said Steel as he explained an ongoing cooperative effort by both wineries and government agencies to further expand and develop the Las Cruces wine trail.

There are about half-a-dozen different wineries located in and around the Las Cruces area, not including the numerous wineries slated to open within the next few years. “We all make wine totally different…but we work as a team…we all support each other,” said Steel and explained the strong sense of unity between area wineries that works to develop the area’s wine trail.

New Mexico began producing wines in 1629, making it the oldest wine producing state in the country.

Rio Grande Vineyards & Winery is located just four miles south of the Mesilla Plaza on Highway 28. The winery is open Friday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tours of the winery are available most Fridays or by appointment. For more information call (575) 524-3985

Who: The Los Artesanos Galeria
What: New “Spotlight Artists” and High School Artists Programs
When: December 2009 & Jan 2010
Where: The Los Artesanos Galeria
Contact: (575) 526-1144

Local Gallery Develops Programs to Highlight Local and High school artists once a month

LAS CRUCES, NM –The Los Artesanos Galeria, located at 1910 Calle de Parian, will kick off it’s new “Spotlight Artists” series with an exhibition of Colleen Villanova’s ceramic work on December 19 and 20.

The “Spotlight Artists” series will feature a number of guest artists, “who, for one reason or another, are not showing their work on a regular basis,” as a way for underrepresented community artists to gain more exposure.

Villanova, an astronomer and physicist by day, is an accomplished ceramic artist. Her functional ceramic pieces feature unique crystalline glazes filled with a plethora of small crystals that form during the firing process.

Along with the “Spotlight Artists” series, the gallery, working in conjunction with the Las Cruces School District, plans to highlight the work of a local high school artist beginning in January 2010. The gallery plans to exhibit the work of students, “selected initially by the [High School] art instructors and then chosen by Los Artesanos jury.”

Opened in August of 2009, the gallery started as a way for the owners to “offer their [the artists’] unique, hand-crafted art work directly to the public.” The Gallery features primarily the artwork of owners, Greta Burger, glass artist; Latana Bernier, fine gourd artist; Rudy Lucero, fine potter; and, Ramon Escalante, painter and stone and metal sculptor, but also feature the artwork of various guest artists.

The Gallery is located at 1910 Calle de Parian and is open Thursday through Sunday from 11a.m. to 5p.m. For more information on the series or the gallery call 575-526-1144 or e-mail: losartesanoslc@aol.com.

Who: The Preston Contemporary Art Center
What: 2010 Winter Exhibition 
When: January 15, 2010
Where: The Preston Contemporary Art Center
Contact: (575) 523-8713

2010 Winter Exhibition Opening Friday, Jan 15 at Preston Contemporary Art Center, Mesilla

Preston Contemporary Art Center will showcase five artists of various mediums in the gallery’s 2010 Exhibition opening on Friday, Jan 15 with a reception for the artists from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.  The show, which has a definite international flavor, will run through Sunday, March 28.

The exhibition includes works by Malaika Zbesheski Charbonneau, mixed media on canvas; Dan Davidson, painting and drawing; Amy M. Lam Wai Man, mixed media; Alan Weinstein, painting; and Peter Zelle, glass sculpture.

People and places visited have become an inspiration for the abstract mixed media paintings of Malaika Zbesheski Charbonneau, who will exhibit works from two series, “Cities” and “Conversations.”  Both are directly influenced by empirical knowledge, but what she paints cannot be strictly measured.  Charbonneau says that she paints memories of cities in which she has lived or found as destinations of travel. Frequently employing physical maps as an underpainting, she embellishes, pronouncing and accentuating the areas that to her are most influential, and thereby romanticizing the dynamics of the environment.  Born in El Paso, TX, Charbonneau now resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
 
The structure of the I Ching, the Chinese “Classic Book of Change,” encompasses both the positive energy of “yang” and the negative energy of “yin.” Since 2004, Dan Davidson has used the ancient oracle as both the content of his artwork and a guide to “a better approach to painting, without theory or isms.” Working with graphite, ink, chalk and watercolor on paper, Davidson presents works that fit into three groups, depending on their functions related to the I Ching’s 64 hexagrams.  Some pieces visualize the hexagrams and their geometric components; a second group of paintings associates pictorial symbols to the hexagrams or their combinations.  In the third group, Davidson’s imagery reflects the history of art to offer a fresh perspective of current trends.  A world traveler, he currently resides in Las Cruces, NM.

The human body, encompassing the mind and its relationship with its physical entity, is the point of inquiry for Amy M. Lam Wai Man’s mixed media works.  Man’s artworks communicate the human experience as a reflection of her own extensive experiential base. Some pieces pay tribute to her heritage as a Chinese American, born in Hong Kong, raised in Los Angeles and residing in Las Cruces, NM since 1996.  She suggests that her use of human images, text and format present her “very Westernized comprehension” of her own place in the world.  An accomplished writer, poet, and performance artist, Man also brings literary components to her creative process. Her wall pieces and hanging banners present conceptual views of the human body, both inner and outer selves, and reflect another strong influence, the medical establishment, both as friend and adversary.

Alan Weinstein’s landscape pieces in the Preston exhibition are among his most recent paintings, continuing a body of work initiated a decade ago.  He explains the manner in which these landscapes have expanded for him.  “Works grew by joining canvases. The calligraphic vocabulary began to embrace the figures of my drawings and earlier paintings. I explored frieze-like ideas with their lateral movement and absence of central focus. Then, for a time, my obsession shifted to the expansion of the image itself, the awareness of peripheral vision, the balance between complexity of sight and the clarity of color.” His new works find impact by integrating cut-canvas elements into simplified saturated fields. Their vibrant colors draw viewers into bright abstract landscapes of fields and forests. Born in Toronto, Canada, Weinstein works and resides in both Iowa City, IA and on woodland acreage outside of Toronto.

Minneapolis, MN sculptor Peter Zelle has worked with glass, clay and steel for 30 years.  He approaches his work intuitively, responding to the way materials react with each other in space. Recently, Zelle has combined glass and steel to create a series of small houses. He says, “As I moved around the pieces, I was intrigued by the shadows created by the steel and the depth and reflections within the glass.” Other new works are life-size abstract figures of welded steel and cast glass, partially inspired by a board game he plays with his kids, in which various characters move across a landscape. Each character has a unique profile, specifying his individual powers and possible moves. What interests Zelle is this notion of uniqueness and the individual way each piece activates space. As he adds and removes materials, he encounters the fine line between sculpture and ornamentation, defining the abstract as opposed to the decorative.

Artists’ Dialogue Saturday, Jan 16

An Artists’ Dialogue presentation featuring Maiaika Zbesheski Charbonneau, Alan Weinstein and Peter Zelle will be held at the gallery on Saturday, Jan 16 beginning a 1 pm.  The free event invites audience members to join the artists in conversation about their works in the 2010 Winter Exhibition.

The Preston Contemporary Art Center is located at 1755 Avenida de Mercado (at the end of Calle de Mercado), Mesilla, NM.  Visit the website www.prestoncontemporaryart.com <http://www.prestoncontemporaryart.com> or call 575-523-8713.  Hours of operation are Wednesday – Sunday, 1 – 5pm; galleries are closed on Monday and Tuesday, except by appointment.

Who: The Rio Grande Theatre
What: Friendship Painters Exhibition 
When: January 2010
Where: The Rio Grande Theatre Galleries
Contact: (575) 523-6403

Las Cruces’ Own Friendship Painters Return to The Rio Grande Theatre Galleries

Before you express your love of art in February, explore your love of color in January, as the galleries of the Rio Grande Theatre present a brand new exhibition entitled For The Love Of Color by Las Cruces’ Friendship Painters. The exhibition  will take place in both the El Paso Electric and Carolene de Mesilla Galleries, running through the entire month of January, 2010, beginning with an artist reception on January 8th, from 5 to 7pm, as part of the Downtown Art Ramble. Please note that the Downtown Ramble, normally held the first Friday of the month, will be held one week later in January, so as not to interfere with New Year’s celebrations on the 1st.

The Friendship Painters consist of friends who have painted together for the past few years and in the process, have nurtured and developed a special camaraderie.  The members of this group have grown as painters and have greatly benefited from the tutelage of several different local instructors including: Sally Quillin, Laurel Weathersbee, Nancy Frost Begin and Marie Siegrist.  Members of the group include Mary Beagle, Pat Bonneau-White, Ann Dyer, Kaye Faircloth, Judy Franzak, Joyce Key, Linda Miller, Regina Nelson, Alexandra Nunez, Janet Parks, Joyce Yearly and Bob Zeissel.

The Rio Grande Theatre galleries, located in the lobby of the historic Rio Grande Theatre at 211 N. Main in Las Cruces, are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.  For more information, contact the DAAC office at (575) 523-6403.

Who: The Rio Grande Theatre
What: Performance by Johnny Rawls
When: December 19, 2009
Where: The Rio Grande Theatre
Contact: (575) 523-6403

The Dona Ana Arts Council Welcomes Soul Man Johnny Rawls to The Rio Grande Theatre Saturday, December 19, 2009

One of the premiere soul and blues artists active today, Johnny Rawls will bring his down home deep soul sound to the Rio Grande Theatre, Saturday, December 19, 2009. After reaching #1 on the blues radio charts and winning the Living Blues Magazine Critics’ Poll for Best Southern Soul Album for his last release, Red Cadillac, Johnny has come roaring back with a firecracker of a new album, Ace Of Spades, which is already under consideration for the prestigious Blues Music Award. Just one more notch in the musical belt of a performer who exhibits “the earthiness of B.B. King and the Memphis Soul of Al Green,” according to the London Times.

A proud exponent of soul-blues, that special subgenre occupied by such notables as Mighty Sam McClain, Little Milton and Bobby Bland, Johnny was born in Mississippi, a grandson of blind guitarist John Paul Newson. In the mid-70s, after cutting his teeth by backing up Deep South chitlin’ circuit stars like Joe Tex, Z.Z. Hill and living legend O.V. Wright, he became the guitarist and musical director for Wright, until the bluesman’s untimely death in 1979. After years of solo work, Johnny hooked up with Texas music veteran Bob Trenchard and launched his own Deep South Soul label in 2005. Since that time, critics have hailed him a “world-class talent,” and several awards have been lavished upon his last three releases.

The new release is proving no different. Throughout Ace Of Spades, Johnny communicates with shadings of honest emotion, delving into hurt and loss, joy and satisfaction and everything in-between, with spirit and self-confidence. “His gritty, seasoned vocals,” wrote Blues Revue, follow in the grand tradition of Southern soul giants such as Otis Redding, James Carr and Rawls’ former employer O.V. Wright.” It was Johnny, himself, who, in an early-1990s Living Blues cover story, supplied the definitive description of his musical wizardry, when he said, “my style is somewhere between gospel, blues and good hard soul music.”

The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. Doors open at 7:30pm and the performance begins at 8pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased via the website at www.RioGrandeTheatre.com. For more information contact Rio Grande Theatre Manager, David Salcido, at (575) 523-6403.

Who: The Los Artesanos Galeria
What: Grand Opening Celebration
When: December, 11 2009
Where: The Los Artesanos Galeria
Contact: (575) 526-1144

New Mesilla Art Gallery to Host Grand Opening Celebration on Dec. 11

LAS CRUCES, NM –The Los Artesanos Galeria, located at 1910 Calle de Parian, will host it’s grand opening celebration on Dec. 11 from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. including a “Meet the Artists” reception from 5p.m. to 7p.m.

Opened in August of 2009, the gallery started as a way for the owners to “offer their [the artists’] unique, hand-crafted art work directly to the public.” The Gallery features primarily the artwork of owners, Greta Burger, glass artist; Latana Bernier, fine gourd artist; Rudy Lucero, fine potter; and, Ramon Escalante, painter and stone and metal sculptor, but also feature the artwork of various guest artists.

As part of the celebration, the owners and artists will be present to speak with guests at the “Meet the Artists” reception and Bernier will demonstrate the pyroengraving techniques she uses in the production of her gourd artwork. The grand opening will also feature a number of new art pieces done by the artists that have not been previously shown or offered.

The grand opening celebration is free and open to the public. The Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 11a.m. to 5p.m. For more information on the event or the gallery call 575-526-1144 or e-mail: losartesanoslc@aol.com.

Who: Town of Mesilla
What: Christmas Carols and Luminarias on the Plaza
When: December 24, 2009
Where: Mesilla Plaza 
Contact: (575) 524-3262 ext. 116

Mesilla Plaza will feature Christmas Carols and Luminarias on Christmas Eve

Mesilla, N.M. – The Town of Mesilla will host the annual Luminarias and Christmas Carols on the Plaza Thursday, Dec. 24.  Music will be provided by the “Mesilla Singers.” The choir will lead in singing Christmas carols from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The Town of Mesilla, Los Leones de Mesilla (the Lions Club of Mesilla) and the Las Cruces High School band, in cooperation with the Mesilla merchants, will light luminarias in the plaza and around town beginning at dusk. Anyone interested in helping light the luminarias should call the Town of Mesilla at (575) 524-3262 ext. 116. Approximately 6,000 luminarias will be displayed around the town.

As part of the Christmas Eve event on the plaza, the Friends of the Mesilla Fire Department will hold a candlelight service for public safety and military personnel. The candlelight service will begin at 6 p.m. The service is for on- and off-duty personnel, their families and friends, as well as for those serving in the armed forces.

For more information, call the Town of Mesilla at (575) 524-3262 ext. 116.

Who: Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau
What: Collection of Janey Walch’s artwork on display
When: December 2009
Where: Convention & Visitors Bureau’s visitors lobby gallery
Contact: (575) 541-2150

Local watercolorist chosen as artist of the month for the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s visitors lobby gallery

LAS CRUCES, NM – During the month of December, an eight piece collection of Janey Walch’s work will be on display and available for sale, in the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau lobby, located at 211 N. Water Street.

With a variety of whimsical watercolor works, Walch continues to paint a wide variety of subjects while expressing her creativity which she describes as a soul-deep tickle that she relieves through painting.

Walch’s paintings often convey a rich appreciation of everyday items and situations, which Walch attributes to a variety of career paths and years of travel that gave her a better appreciation of everyday things.

Walch’s paintings have been displayed in a variety of juried and non-juried shows throughout New Mexico and Wisconsin.  Walch is currently working towards attaining a Signature Member status in the New Mexico Watercolor Society.

Each month the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau features artwork from a local artist in the visitors lobby gallery. The Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau is located at 211 N. Water Street in Las Cruces, NM. For more information contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at (575) 541-2150.