Archive for the ‘Event News’ Category

The 9th annual “5000 Flowers” exhibit commemorating the tragic events of 9/11 will open Friday, September 3 at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces.

Harvest Cooking Class
September 7, 2-4 p.m. Enjoy a variety of creative recipes in our popular monthly cooking class. This month’s recipes feature tomatoes, cucumbers, and figs or peaches. Carol Koenig is the chef. Pre-registration is required. $35.
 
Monthly Lecture Series: A Stitch in Time
September 9, 7 p.m. This lecture by Nancy Benson is an illustrated biography of the colcha embroidery tradition in New Mexico — a tradition born in the arid frontier province and nourished by loving hands for several centuries. The flowing needlework executed in long couching stitches reached maturity, suffered a near-fatal decline, and was nursed back to health by women of determination, passion, and creativity. Benson is an award-winning writer and author of “New Mexico Colcha Club,” which was named a Southwest Book of the Year (2009) by the Arizona Historical Society and the Pima County Public Library. Admission is a suggested donation of $2.
 
Coming Soon: Ghosts of the Past
October 22-23 Visitors may take indoor or outdoor tours where they will encounter and interact with fascinating characters from New Mexico’s past. Refreshments also are part of this fun, family event. Stay tuned for more details about the museum’s most popular fall event.
 
For more information, or to register for a class, please call (575) 522-4100.
 
The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road. www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org

Saturday, September 11, Michael Martin Murphey in concert
As part of a full weekend of events surrounding the Color Las Cruces Plein Air Festival, competition winners will be announced at the VIP Artist Reception, where attendees can meet the artists, sample food from the best restaurants in town, enjoy wine from local wineries and take in a live performance by Western Music Hall of Fame recipient, Michael Martin Murphey. Murphey is today’s number one selling Singing Cowboy Poet and is a six-time Cowboy Hall of Fame Award winner. His Top 10 hit “Wildfire” is still one of the most played songs on classic radio formats and his Cowboy Songs album was the first Gold Album in the Cowboy Music genre since Marty Robbins. Tickets are $40 for singles, $70 for couples and $34 for military, which includes food and beverage samples. Showtime is 7:30pm, doors open at 6pm for reception. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.  

Wednesday, September 15, Cracker in concert
Normally seen flying high above the Rio Grande Theatre stage, local aerialist dance troupe, Project IN Motion, will don their promotional hats to host Alt Rock icons Cracker, live in concert as a benefit fundraiser for the troupe and the J. Paul Taylor Center in Las Cruces. Best known for their top Indie hits “Low” and “Teen Angst,” Cracker’s 13th album Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey has been receiving rave reviews ever since its release in May of last year.  They will be joined on-stage by opening band, The Liars and Project IN Motion Aerialists. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of show. Showtime is 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm. For more information visit www.ProjectINMotion.com, or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.

Friday, September 17, NMSU Outdoor Rec presents Reel Rock Tour
NMSU Outdoor Rec’s Adventure Arts Series continues with an all new season, showcasing documentaries and guest lecturers on topics ranging from pressing environmental issues to extreme outdoor sports. This year, Reel Rock turns five and co-founders Sender Films and Big Up Productions are celebrating by taking you on a global ride like never before. From death-defying speed link-ups of the wildest faces in the Alps, to Olympian displays of strength and tenacity on the hardest boulders ever climbed, Reel Rock 2010 features a breathtaking journey through the vertical realm with the heroes of rock and snow. For more information, visit www.reelrocktour.com. Showtime is 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $8 in advance; $10 at the door day of show. For more information call (575)646-4746.  

 Sunday, September 19, Mesilla Valley Musical Arts Benefit
NMSU’s Lisa Van Winkle, along with several friends, will present an Inaugural Concert to help us launch our organization. Wonderful music by outstanding musicians, running the gamut from much-loved classical repertoire to some wild and wacky selections! Complimentary champagne reception following the concert. Proceeds will benefit Mesilla Valley Musical Arts.  Tickets are $15. Showtime is 3pm, doors open at 2:30pm. For more information or to make reservations, call (575) 523-6403.  

Thursday, September 23, Deolinda in concert
Rooted in the traditional musical styles of the Portugese motherland and its overseas territories, from fado and morna to their Brazilian echoes, Deolinda offers a vignette of the Lisbon streets, through the eyes of a young woman of the same name. It is her acoustic songs that are voiced by expressive Ana Bacalhau, assisted by three masters of double bass and classical guitar. Intimate songs with as much flair as saudade and sparklingly brought to life on-stage. Showtime is 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 NMSU students, faculty & staff, seniors and children. Available at the Pan Am Center ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations.

Sunday, September 26, RGT 5th Anniversary Celebration
It has been five years since the Rio Grande Theatre reopened its doors as a live entertainment venue and the Dona Ana Arts Council is celebrating with an Anniversary Party! Master of Ceremonies Dr. Jim Shearer will host musical group Oldies But Goodies, nine talented musicians who, according to group founder Frank Cachia, “bring back the memories of the past by singing oldies as close as we can to the original records.” A suggested donation of $10 will go toward continued renovations of the Rio Grande Theatre. Showtime is 5pm, doors open at 4 pm. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.

Thursday, September 30, LCCCA presents Daniel Narducci
Classic American baritone, Daniel Narducci, performs songs of legendary heroes and villains from Broadway to Hollywood, including Don Quixote, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and the Phantom Of The Opera. Since his debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, he has appeared with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. One the operatic stage, his recent appearances include Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and Escamillo in Carmen. An increasingly active recording artist, he sang the role of Captain Hook on the world premiere recording of Leonard Bernstein’s Peter Pan.  Tickets are $20. Showtime is 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (575)521-4051.  

Every Other Tuesday at the Rio Grande Theatre
September 7 – LC Symphony String Quartet
September 21 – Natalie Masters
Please note: Every Other Tuesday performances always begin at 5:30 pm and are free to the public.  For more information contact DAAC at 575-523-6403. 

Exhibits in the El Paso Electric and Carolene de Mesilla Galleries

The Plein Air Painters of El Paso
To help celebrate Color Las Cruces–Las Cruces first ever Plein Air Competition and Festival– the Doña Ana Arts Council has invited The Plein Air Painters of El Paso to exhibit at the Rio Grande Theatre for the month of September. Officially formed in 1997, The Plein Air Painters of El Paso started off as a small group of Plein Air enthusiasts, but grew steadily until they were exhibiting at such locales as The International Museum of Art and The Chamizal National Memorial, as well as the Department of Interior Museum in Washington, D.C. Thirteen artists will exhibit their works, all created in locations throughout the area.  Most of the scenes are in the El Paso area, but some were done in the Mesilla Valley.

Artists in the show will be Corinne Abeyta-Spinnler, Bob Adams, Louise Bagg, Cheryl Bower, Melinda Etzold, Winfrey Hearst, Candy Mayer, Ann Mitchell, Dee Olga MinYoung-Phillips, Krystyna Robbins, Rami Scully, Kathleen Squires and A. Stein. Some of the members, including Candy Mayer will be participating in the Plein Air competition on September 11th. The show will run through the month of September, 2010, in both the El Paso Electric and Carolene de Mesilla Galleries, beginning with an artist reception on August 6, from 5 to 7pm, as part of the Downtown Art Ramble.

 The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Main, in Las Cruces, NM. For clarification, photos or additional information, please visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or contact the Rio Grande Theatre Manager, David Salcido, at 575-523-6403.

The Town of Mesilla and Mesilla businesses are teaming up to host the first-ever Shop & Dine Mesilla Day Saturday, Sept. 11. The day has been designated to celebrate all shops, restaurants and businesses near the Mesilla Plaza, at the Mercado area off of Avenida de Mesilla and Calle de Mercado, the Old Tortilla Factory at Calle de Parian and Avenida de Mesilla, Caballero Plaza off Avenida de Mesilla and other places of business in Mesilla.

Booths will be set up on the plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. No pets, alcohol or smoking allowed on the plaza. For more information call 524-3262 ext. 116.

Works by Rigoberto A. Gonzalez are currently on display at the Las Cruces Museum of Art through August 21, 2010.

“Barroco en la Frontera: Baroque on the Border” is inspired by “life along the border – the brutality associated with drug cartels, tales from folklore, and everyday moments of domestic tranquility.” These epic paintings depict anger, fear, and despair through the use of dramatic lighting, strong shadows and vibrant color in 17th century Baroque style.

Mr. Gonzalez received his MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art in 2004. He is a native of Reynosa, Mexico and was raised in San Juan, Texas. Mr. Gonzalez recently completed a two-year Artist Residency program in Roswell, NM.

New gallery hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The Museum will be closed Sundays and Mondays. For more information, call (575) 541-2137 or visit the website www.las-cruces.org/museums.

Funded by the City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 491 N. Main Street at the north end of the downtown mall.

Magic Impossible, the brainchild of local magician Chris Mitchell, returns to the Rio Grande Theatre this Fall with an interactive show featuring illusions, classic magic and a tailor-made journey through his world of controlled lunacy. This year, Mitchell will showcase live theatre in Las Cruces, not only by performing in the historic Rio Grande Theatre, but by also teaming up with American Southwest Theatre Company to promote their upcoming season at NMSU. Magic Impossible makes the magical possible at the Rio Grande Theatre, Saturday, August 21, 2010.

Mitchell started his own magical journey at the age of 8 and has been fine tuning his act ever since throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. He was a featured performer for the 1993 NCAA Final Four in New Orleans for Coca Cola, and has performed for the Commodore Cruise Lines aboard the Enchanted Isle. He worked as the Magic Consultant for the USA Networks television series “The Big Easy” and was an honorary Grand Marshall for a Mardi Gras parade. Here in Las Cruces he has performed for several corporate and charitable events. Chris teaches magic classes to young kids and icebreakers to executives, and looks forward to sharing the gift magic with all.

The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show begins at 7pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under and can be purchased via the website at www.RioGrandeTheatre.com. For more information, call (575) 523-6403.

A final call is going out to artists wishing to be part of the first Color Las Cruces Plein Air Competition and Community Arts Festival, September 11 & 12, 2010. During the event weekend, juried artists will compete for cash and merchandise prizes in one of two Plein Air categories. In addition, on Thursday, September 9 and Friday, September 10, Denver artist Kevin Weckbach will give a two-day Plein Air workshop, which is open to artists of all levels. The deadline to get applications in for both the Plein Air competitions and the two-day workshop is August 13, 2010.

Color Las Cruces is sponsored in part by the City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, The New Mexico Tourism Department, the Frame and Art Center, Jack Richeson & Co. Inc., Larson Juhl and Reuel’s Art & Frame. The premiere event will be two full days of ongoing activities in Downtown Las Cruces, featuring an artist workshop, a “Quickdraw” competition, two Plein Air competitions, a VIP Artist Reception and a Citywide gallery hop. For artist entry applications, workshop enrollment and/or any general information, call (575) 523-6403 or visit www.Las-Cruces-Arts.org.

“Jam Session in Las Cruces,” a two-month long series of events that focus on the art and culture of jazz, will take place at various city locations between December 10, 2010 and February 3, 2011. The project will feature multi-media exhibits, concerts, films, public gallery talks, and educational outreach to students of all ages. Sponsored by the Branigan Cultural Center, the Dona Ana Arts Council, the New Mexico State University Department of Music, the Center for the Arts/NMSU Foundation, the ASNMSU Cultural Series, the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau, and KRWG, this citywide event is the product of over eighteen months of planning and preparation.

The centerpiece of the project is an exhibit on loan from the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. titled “Jam Session:  America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World.” Consisting mainly of photographs and other important historical documents, the exhibit tells the story of American cultural diplomacy as the U.S. Department of State sent jazz musicians—including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Dave Brubeck, among many others—around the world beginning in the mid-1950s. In Las Cruces, the exhibit will be housed at the Branigan Cultural Center and will be open for public viewing Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm each day. Additionally, during all special film and concert events at the Rio Grande Theatre, the Branigan exhibit will stay open late so patrons can take in the exhibit before the evening shows.

Other associated events include four major concerts by internationally renowned touring artists. These concerts begin with a tribute to Louis Armstrong featuring trumpet player and vocalist Byron Stripling with the NMSU Jazz Ensemble on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 7:30 pm at the Rio Grande Theatre. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band, best known for their acclaimed public radio show “Live From The Landing,” will play a concert at the Atkinson Recital Hall on the NMSU campus on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 7:00 pm. Jazz and classical pianist Willis Delony will perform inside the exhibit space at the Branigan Cultural Center on Wednesday, January 26 at 7:30 pm, and the series will conclude with New York jazz piano legend Junior Mance and his quintet at the Rio Grande Theatre on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 8:00 pm.

The Rio Grande Theatre will host a film and local concert series throughout the entire “Jam Session in Las Cruces” project. Building on the theatre’s already successful “Every Other Tuesday” concert series, during this special two-month project there will be live concerts every Tuesday at 5:30 pm, followed by a jazz-oriented film at 7:00 pm. The entire film series and all Every Other Tuesday concerts are free and open to the public. Films will include “High Society,” “Round Midnight,” “The Benny Goodman Story,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Satchmo: The Genius of Louis Armstrong,” and a special holiday double feature of “Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas.”  Local performing artists will include the New Horizons Band, the MST Jazz Trio, Roman Chip, Allan Kaplan, the Creole Jazz Band, and Ken Neidig with the Jazz Unlimited Big Band.

The Rio Grande Theatre will also have two galleries filled with local and Southwest jazz memorabilia. One gallery will deal specifically with the history of jazz in the Las Cruces/El Paso area, and the other will be devoted to the jazz photography of noted Albuquerque artist Jim Gale.

NMSU Music Professor Dr. James Shearer, along with Bob Burns, Ken Neidig, and Dr. Bill Thompson, will offer a series of gallery talks every Saturday at the Branigan Cultural Center beginning at 11:00 am (with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day). These talks are free and open to the public. Dr. Shearer will also be on site throughout the exhibit giving tours to student groups of all ages. Specialized tours are available to any interested group.

To schedule a guided tour or for more information about any of these events, please contact the Branigan Cultural Center at 575-541-2155 or visit the “Jam Session in Las Cruces” website at:  www.lcjazz.org.

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is located at 200 E. Picacho Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001.

The Rio Grande Theater is located at 211 N. Downtown Mall Las Cruces, NM 88001.

Harvest Cooking Class

Aug. 3, 2-4 p.m.

Enjoy a variety of creative recipes in our monthly cooking class. This month’s recipes feature corn, watermelon and onions. Carol Koenig is the chef. Pre-registration is required. $35.

Monthly Lecture Series: Made in New Mexico Westerns

Aug. 12, 7 p.m.

This is the second compilation of clips from 22 different Western movies of the over 150 that have been made, at least in part, in New Mexico, since 1898. Presented in chronological order with live narration by local film historian and reviewer, Jeff Berg, this set of films ranges from 1930 to 2004, and includes rare scenes from Westerns shot around Las Cruces, and elsewhere in the state. This 95-minute presentation is guaranteed to have something for everyone, whether or not you love Westerns. Admission is a suggested donation of $2.

Exhibit Opening: Skylines & Byways

Aug. 19, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This fine art exhibit features works from local artists who are members of the The City of Artists Promotional Association (CAPA). “Skyways & Byways” will be on display in the Museum’s Arts Corridor and features many paintings, along with some photography pieces, sculptures and collages. The exhibit includes 46 pieces in all. The artists will be on hand for the reception on Aug. 19, which is free to the public and includes refreshments. The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 5, 2010.

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

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum

4100 Dripping Springs Road 

Las Cruces, NM 88011 

www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org

America’s favorite summer treat — ice cream — is the star of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum’s most popular event of the summer.

The seventh-annual Ice Cream Sunday is set for 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 18. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children 17 and under.

The annual ice cream sandwich eating contest and race is scheduled to start at 2 p.m., with registration beginning at 12 p.m. There were will be several different age categories, and the contestants this year must move from table to table, eating one sandwich at each table.

There will be an ongoing living history performance, with a rural family creating and enjoying homemade ice cream. Museum visitors may make their own ice cream by rolling tin cans. Also, there will be green chile ice cream for sale, made from a tractor-engine-powered ice cream maker.

The event’s first 600 paid visitors will receive a coupon for a free 5-ounce cup of Caliche’s Frozen Custard, which will be served at the museum throughout the afternoon. They will have a choice of two toppings only – strawberry or mango.

Aside from Caliche’s Frozen Custard, the Southwest Dairy Farmers and Price’s Creameries also are sponsoring events and providing treats.

For more information, please call (575) 522-4100.