José Galvez to speak at Branigan Cultural Center

Las Cruces, NM – Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist José Galvez will speak at the Branigan Cultural Center on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 6 p.m. Galvez will speak about his commissioned work, Patriotismo-Patriotism, which is being installed in the new Federal Courthouse.
 
Galvez has been documenting Hispanic life across the United States for 40 years. His black and white documentary photographs focus on the everyday life of Hispanics here in the United States. Patriotismo-Patriotism was inspired in part by the outpouring of patriotism displayed by Latinos across the United States following 9/11.
 
The Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main Street, is located at the north end of the downtown mall in Las Cruces.  The program is free and open to the public.  Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  For more information about exhibits and programs, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s web site at las-cruces.org/museums.

Lots in store for this year’s White Sands International Film Festival
 
LAS CRUCES, NM – Tickets are now on sale for this year’s White Sands International Film Festival (WSIFF), and with a fundraiser featuring renowned Writer/Director Mark Medoff, this year’s WSIFF is sure to be chalked with exciting events and, most importantly, a variety of wonderful cinema.
 
Although the WSIFF is scheduled to run from April 15-18, 2010 the WSIFF will kick off the pre-event festivities with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Allen Theaters Cineport 10, located at 700 S. Telshor Blvd., on March 16 at 10 a.m. 
 
Also included in the pre-event festivities is a fundraiser entitled, “Taking Refuge in Las Cruces: 83 minutes of stories, scenes, amusing videos, surprise guests and technological glitches from the making of Refuge,” that will feature an appearance and talk by WSIFF Board Member Mark Medoff, as well as a variety of clips, scenes and stories about his latest movie, Refuge. The screening will be held at Allen Theaters Cineport 10 on April 3, 2010 from 7 to 11 p.m. The screening will be followed by a reception at Medoff’s home. Tickets are $50 per person or $75 per couple. All proceeds will benefit the WSIFF.
 
Opening day of the festival will feature a casting workshop by Writer/Director Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God, Refuge) and Casting Director Donn Finn (Avatar, Titanic, L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys) who are teaming up to give an intensive casting workshop. Participants will have a chance to work on a scene, then audition on camera while learning about the audition process and finding out what casting directors are looking for. The cost for the workshop is $75.
 
Opening night will feature the film “Ocean of Pearls,” a film about, “traditional (Sikh) values coming into conflict with life in 21st-century North America,” according to the internet movie database website. The film has received a number of awards including the Toronto ReelWorld Film Festival 2008 Audience Award, VC FilmFest – Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2008 Audience Award for Narrative Feature and Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. The screening will be presented by Actor Omid Abtahi, the film’s lead actor, who has also appeared in a number of ongoing television series’, as well as a variety of films including the 2009 film, “Brothers,” where he stars alongside, Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
 
After the screening a “VIP Opening Night Party,” hosted by the University of Texas at El Paso Alumni, will be held at the Preston Contemporary Art Center. Participants must have a VIP ticket to attend. 
 
The festival will finish up with an award ceremony on April 17 for Actor Wes Studi, who will receive Life Time Achievement Award and will also be inducted into the New Mexico Film Society. Along with the ceremony, there will be a special screening of, “The Only Good Indian.” After the ceremony and screening, a VIP after party, hosted by the New Mexico Wine Growers Association, will be held at the Alameda House, 526 S. Alameda Blvd.
 
The WSIFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to the creation of opportunities for artistic interaction and exchange among independent filmmakers, directors, producers, distributors, backers, and the film going community. It is their mission to not only exhibit the best films available, but also serve as a medium for new projects to get launched, financed and distributed. Networking opportunities at the WSIFF build lasting connections in the unique backdrop of New Mexico.
 
The White Sands International Film Festival began in Alamogordo, NM in 2005 with a group of art industry supporters who sought to bring a more pronounced film presence to southern New Mexico. The WSIFF staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to put together a small festival focusing on films made in New Mexico or made by Latino filmmakers. In 2009 the WSIFF expanded into Las Cruces, which  enabled the festival to retain its commitment to bring high quality festival programming while intensifying arts education in the region.
 
Along with the rich variety of films, the festival has brought a number of prominent guests to the region including: Director François Girard, (The Red Violin); Director Arturo Ripstein, (La Reina de la Noche); Director/Producer Alejandro Monteverde, (Bella); Screenwritier Paz Alicia Garciadiego, (Profundo Carmesi); Writer/Director Mark Medoff, (Children of A Lesser God); Actress Ali Landry, (Bella); Actor Jamison Jones, (He Was A Quiet Man, 24); Producer Elliott Lewitt, (At Close Range); Director Jordan Roberts, (Around the Bend); Actor/Producer Rick Shroeder, (Black Cloud), Producer/Writer Rocky Lang, (White Squall, How I Broke Into Hollywood) and Actor Wes Studi, (Last of the Mohicans.)
 
Passes for the WSIFF are $25 – $150 and can be purchased online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/90360. General Admission tickets for individual films are also available ten minutes before each screening for $8 per screening. Ticket sales are subject to availability.  For more information about the festival or events, visit www.wsiff.org or call: (877) 345-6973.
 

Local watercolor artist chosen as artist of the month for the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s visitors lobby gallery
 
LAS CRUCES, NM – During the month of March, a collection of Margaret Bernstein’s work will be on display and available for sale, in the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau lobby, located at 211 N. Water Street.
 
Inspired by many elements of the natural and cultural environment of the Southwest, Bernstein’s work often brings out the beauty of the natural Southwestern environment with a rich depth of color to and unique style all her own.
 
“Coming to the Southwest triggered an acute awareness of refreshing, yet fragile artifacts and natural environments,” said Bernstein in a statement on the New Mexico Water Color Society website.
 
As a fifth-generation female artist, Bernstein seems to hold a special connection to artists of generations past, noting that, “at the core of my love of painting is the awe and fascination I hold for the land and the creativity of its earliest inhabitants… they have contributed greatly to the artistic climate modern artists experience in the Southwest,” said Bernstein in a statement the Artists of the Southwest website.
 
Many of the paintings on display have vivid color schemes that depict the beauty of the natural Southwestern environment. As an added component to Bernstein’s work, two of the pieces on display also incorporate poetry by Rick Bernstein.
 
“March is an especially provocative time to consider the mountains so dear to Las Cruces,” said Bernstein while explaining the “renewed longing that arises for walking trails, hiking, and viewing wildflowers,” that often accompanies the seasonal transition into Spring.
 
Painting in a variety of mediums, from acrylic to watercolor, Bernstein’s work has been exhibited in a number of galleries throughout the Mesilla Valley.
 
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.

The 11th annual Cowboy Days has something for everyone
 
Dust off your boots and make plans to joins us March 13th -14th for Cowboy Days at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. This two day celebration is packed with horseshoes, gun fight re-enactments, Musical performances, horseback rides, demonstrations, and so much more. Cowboy Days takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at the museum, located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces.
 
On Saturday, March 13th from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., bring your appetite for an old cowboy favorite breakfast of biscuits and gravy, sausage and scrambled eggs. Tickets for this are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children under 4 years old are free. Tickets are on sale at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum through noon on Friday, May 12.
 
After breakfast, stay and enjoy music performances by Randy Granger, Eddy Harrison, and headlining artist, John Arthur Martinez. On Sunday, Randy Granger and Eddy Harrison will return for musical performances, along with James Michael and headliner The Deming Fusiliers.
 
The Wild West will be brought to life through on-going activities like horseback and stagecoach rides, blacksmithing, dowsing, weaving/ sewing, Back Country Horsemen, living history re-enactments, milking demonstrations, children’s activities and crafts, branding, leather stamping, and more. There will be something for everyone and every age!
 
A roping contest will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, and the finals and an award ceremony will take place on Sunday. There will be readings and cowboy stories, along with an author panel featuring Melody Groves, Mike Kearby, Leon Metz and John Duncklee of the Western Writers of America.
 
Cowboy Days is sponsored by the City of Las Cruces and the musical entertainment is sponsored by KGRT and KKBS Viva Vista. For more information, call Helping Hands Event Planning at 575-522-1232.

Branigan Cultural Center to host second walking tour in Mesquite Historic District
 
Las Cruces, NM –The Branigan Cultural Center will host a walking tour of the northern part of the Mesquite Street and Original Town Site Historic District on Saturday, March 13, 2010. The tour will start at 10 a.m. at the historic Phillips Chapel, 638 N. Tornillo Street.
 
Phillips Chapel is in the midst of a restoration project utilizing students from Doña Ana Community College. Ron Taylor, lead instructor in the Building and Construction Technology Program at DACC, and Pat Taylor, adobe preservation specialist, are supervising the students’ work.  The instructors will be on site during the tour to explain the process.
 
The tour will be led by Branigan Cultural Center staff, with architectural information provided by Greg Smith.  Representatives of Las Esparanzas Inc., the neighborhood preservation organization, will be on hand.  In addition to Phillips Chapel, the tour will include the Jardin de Mesquite, the Unsettled Gallery and numerous historic homes in the district.
 
The program is free and no registration is required. Participants should plan for a two-hour walk on city streets and wear sturdy walking shoes.
 
The Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main Street, is located at the north end of the Downtown Mall in Las Cruces.  All programs are free and open to the public.  Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  For more information contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s web site at las-cruces.org/museums
 

Rio Grande Theatre March 2010 Calendar of Events
 
Monday, March 1
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Considered one of the greatest bands of all time, the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently ever since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year under the direction of current musical director, trombonist Larry O’Brien. Over the years, the band has recorded a number of chart successes, including “Moonlight Serenade,” “In The Mood,” “Tuxedo Junction” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” In 2003, Miller was posthumously given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Doña Ana Arts Council and Rio Grande Theatre are proud to welcome the Glenn Miller Orchestra to Las Cruces as part of their 2009/2010 Cultural Series. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets are $40. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.
 
Wednesday, March 3
Screening: “Home Or Heaven”
The Las Cruces Public Information Office presents an inside look at the workings of the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley and a revealing examination of the area’s pet overpopulation problem, lack of pet owner responsibility and the sometimes sad, but necessary, means of reducing the ever-growing numbers of ownerless pets. Doors open at 6pm. Show starts at 6:30 pm. Admission is free to the public. Tickets available at City Hall, limit four per person while supply lasts. Go to www.CLCTV.com for more information. 
 
Thursday, March 4
ASNMSU presents Janis Ian
Singer/songwriter, columnist and science fiction fan-turned-author, Janis Ian has had a long and distinguished career, beginning in 1967 when her first release, “Society’s Child,” went to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. A Grammy Award for her song “At Seventeen” in 1975 cemented her place as an American Folk icon and she has continued recording well into the 21st century.  Janis Ian will appear at the Rio Grande Theatre as part of the ASNMSU Cultural Series. Showtime is 8pm. Tickets are $15 general admission; $10 students and seniors and are available through Ticketmaster or the Pan American Center on the NMSU Campus.
 
Saturday, March 6
Books Alive!
Literacy is celebrated in all its various forms in a morning and afternoon of events spotlighting the importance of books and art in our community. The highlight will be a special presentation of Magic Carpet Storytime, featuring a reading by James Warhola, the nephew of infamous pop artist Andy Warhol, of his children’s book Uncle Andy’s Cats. It will be directly followed by a lecture on the life and art of Andy Warhol, presented by the Las Cruces Museum of Art in conjunction with their on-going Warhol exhibit. Showtime begins at 10:30am, with a performance by the students of Alma de Arte School, followed at 11:30 by the Warhola reading and Noon by the Warhol lecture. Admission is free to the public.
 
Saturday, March 6
Guitars Not Guns presents Boulder Acoustic Society
As their name implies, this young quartet specializes in all things acoustic: fiddles, ukuleles, accordions, upright basses. What you might not glean from their name, however, is that these guys tackle the traditions with the gusto of a group of rabble-rousing punks. B.A.S.’s music is intense and exciting for listeners, with something new and interesting at every turn. The energy that B.A.S. brings to a stage can tip a festival into overdrive or mesmerize a club audience as they dance into the wee hours. Showtime is 7:30pm. Tickets are $15. For more information visit www.GuitarsNotGuns.org or www.BoulderAcousticSociety.net.
 
Friday, March 12
LoCura & Nuevo Sol
Direct from San Francisco’s vibrant music scene, en route to the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, the Doña Ana Arts Council welcomes Latin music and dance ensemble LoCura to the Rio Grande Theatre Stage. LoCura mixes grooves and melodies from Latin and North American influences to create an original blend of music that bridges cultures and transcends borders. Joining LoCura for an evening of spirited Latin-flavored beats are local-rising-stars, Nuevo Sol. Showtime is 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $15. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.
 
Saturday, March 13
LCCCA presents Rudolf Budginas
The Las Cruces Civic Concert Association continues their season with the musical prodigy who debuted with the Lithuanian National Symphony at age nine and rose to fame performing solo concerts. His true passion, however, is giving classical music a broader audience appeal, taking audiences from “Claire de Lune” to “Rhapsody In Blue” with contagious energy, humorous asides and endless surprises. Showtime is 3pm. Single ticket price is $20 at the door. Call (575) 521-4051 for more information.
 
Tuesday, March 23
The Vienna Boy’s Choir
The Doña Ana Arts Council will bring the internationally renowned choir to Las Cruces for two big shows on one night as part of their 2009/2010 Cultural Series. In existence since 1498, when Emperor Maximilian of Hapsberg decreed its establishment, the choir as it exists today is a private, not-for-profit organization which performs approximately 300 concerts each year, in front of over 500,000 people. Among the composers represented in the choir’s repertoire are Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig von Beethoven, Georg Friedrich Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and many more. Showtimes are 6pm and 8pm. Tickets are $40. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.RioGrandeTheatre.com.
 
Thursday, March 25
Guitars Not Guns presents Asylum Street Spankers
The magnificently indefinable Asylum Street Spankers began in 1994 during a booze and hallucinogen-fueled party at the Dabbs Hotel in Llano, Texas. Within a year they conquered Austin, playing three SRO weekly residencies, including the city’s first Gospel Brunch. In 1997 the band began venturing out into the wider world, where regular touring throughout Europe, Japan and the states has established the Asylum Street Spankers as an underground institution, widely considered one of the best live acts working today. The Jazz Review refers to the Asylum Street Spankers as “an audacious, genre-defying national treasure,” while Rolling Stone declares them “inspired, lunatic brilliance,” and The Washington Post calls them “Electrifying! A mind-altering experience!” Showtime is 7:30pm. Tickets are $15. For more information visit www.GuitarsNotGuns.org or www.AsylumStreetSpankers.com.
 
Every Other Tuesday at the Rio Grande Theatre
March 9 – NMSU Vocalists
March 23 – NO EOT!
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 Carolene de Mesilla Galleries
Abby Osborne
As one fiber art show comes to a close in February another takes it place for March, when the galleries of the Rio Grande Theatre present a brand new exhibition entitled Patched Wings by artist Abby Osborne. Osborne has been a lifelong artist. She creates using several mediums, including painting, drawing and fiber art. Her work combines multiple layers of patterns, symbolism and spirituality. Abby has earned a BFA in painting from Arizona State University, a BA in graphic design as well as an AAS in computer graphics and a Masters in Learning Technologies from New Mexico State University. Osborne is an Associate Professor in the Creative Media Technology Program at Doña Ana Community College. The exhibition will run through the entire month of  March, 2010, beginning with an artist reception on March 5, 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.

San Francisco’s LoCura With Las Cruces’ Own Nuevo Sol at the Rio Grande Theatre Friday, March 12, 2010
 
Direct from San Francisco’s vibrant music scene, en route to the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, the Doña Ana Arts Council welcomes Latin music and dance ensemble LoCura to the Rio Grande Theatre Stage. LoCura mixes grooves and melodies from Latin and North American influences to create an original blend of music that bridges cultures and transcends borders. Joining LoCura for an evening of spirited Latin-flavored beats are local-rising-stars, Nuevo Sol. Both will take the Rio Grande Theatre stage on March 12, 2010.
 
LoCura’s music draws from many genres, bringing them together into an original mix of Flamenco Rumba, Reggae, Cuban Son and North American Folk.  LoCura’s debut album Animas was released in March 2008 with sold out concerts at the Great American Music Hall and other venues throughout San Francisco, as well as a 2009 featured slot at the renowned SXSW music festival in Austin, TX. After touring music festivals throughout the West Coast, Canada, and Mexico, LoCura will make an appearance at the Rio Grande Theatre on their return to Austin for this year’s SXSW music festival.
 
Las Cruces natives Nuevo Sol–made up of members from such diverse local acts as Rio, Zia’s Soul, Del Rey, Live Bait and Liquid Cheese–takes the best of  Latin, Jazz, Reggae and Rock, then transforms them into a powerful, energetic performance with a style all their own. The result is a progressive, cutting-edge sound that reflects the rich cultural styles of the region and takes Southwestern music to all new levels. Making their musical debut in mid-2009, the band has since made a name for itself throughout the state as one of the best rising bands of the region.
 
The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. Doors open at 6:30pm and the performance begins at 7pm. Tickets are $15 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.

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum March 2010 Events Calendar
 
Harvest Cooking Class
March 2, 2-4 p.m.
Enjoy a variety of creative recipes in our very popular monthly cooking class. This month’s recipes feature strawberries and spinach. Carol Koenig is the chef. Pre-registration is required. $35.
 
Monthly Lecture/Film Series: The History of New Mexico Westerns
March 11, 7 p.m.
As a prelude to Cowboy Days, Las Cruces film enthusiast Jeff Berg will show excerpts from several Westerns filmed in New Mexico and talk about the industry’s long association with our state. Admission is a suggested $2 donation.
 
Spring Tree & Plant Sale
March 11-14
The museum’s Greenhouse will be the site of our second-annual Spring Plant & Tree Sale. The sale includes trees, shrubs, and a wide variety of bedding plants, as well as hanging plants and potted plants. Admission required during Cowboy Days (March 13-14).
 
11th Annual Cowboy Days
March 13-14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The museum’s largest event of the year features the Cowboy Breakfast (8-10 a.m. on March 13), as well as match team roping, Mexican-style rodeo demonstrations, horseback and stagecoach rides, cowboy music and poetry, a large arts and craft show, great food, children’s activities, gunfight re-enactments, cowboy demonstrations, and a trip back in time to witness an 1895 wedding. Admission is $4 per person. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets for the breakfast on Saturday are $10 in advance and $12 at the door (includes Cowboy Days admission).
 
Basic Dowsing Class
March 20, 1-3 p.m.
Learn the basics of dowing (questing, divining, water witching), how to use the four basic tools, and the benefits associated with dowsing. The cost is $15 and dowsing tools will be available. Pre-registration is required.
 
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
 

Fiber Artist Abby Osborne to exhibit in the Rio Grande Theatre Galleries
 
As one fiber art show comes to a close in February another takes it place for March, when the galleries of the Rio Grande Theatre present a brand new exhibition entitled Patched Wings by artist Abby Osborne. The exhibition will take place in both the El Paso Electric and Carolene de Mesilla Galleries. The show will run through the entire month of  March, 2010, beginning with an artist reception on March 5, from 5 to 7pm, as part of the Downtown Art Ramble.
 
Abby Osborne has been a lifelong artist. She creates using several mediums, including painting, drawing and fiber art. Her work combines multiple layers of patterns, symbolism and spirituality. Abby has earned a BFA in painting from Arizona State University, a BA in graphic design as well as an AAS in computer graphics and a Masters in Learning Technologies from New Mexico State University. Abby is an Associate Professor in the Creative Media Technology Program at Doña Ana Community College.
 
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.

Exhibit will have visitors saying ‘What in the World?’

LAS CRUCES — A new exhibit at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum takes visitors on a fun and informative journey through a fascinating array of unusual objects from the museum’s vast collections.
 
The exhibit, which opens on Feb. 11, is called “What in the World? Unusual Objects from the Museum Collections.”
 
The gadgets featured in the exhibit were used for a variety of tasks, and museum visitors are invited to answer the challenge to identify their uses in this interactive exhibit.
 
With the coming of the Industrial Revolution and the mass-production of goods beginning in the 1800s, all manner of machines and tools were developed to make life better. But today we sometimes fail to understand how people in the past got along without the indoor plumbing, electricity, automobiles, and other modern conveniences we take for granted.
 
In town and on the farm, many specialized tools were developed to perform particular tasks. These included not only the tractors and implements used to work the fields, but also everyday items used in the home. But the purpose of some of these items is not always obvious to modern eyes. Some have been bypassed by technology or fashion, such as vacuum-tube radios or Victorian-era collar crimpers. Other items (such as the chamber-pot) are rarely used today. But these common objects of the 19th and early 20th centuries remain as evidence of how people lived their daily lives.
 
As visitors view these selected items from the museum’s collection, they will have the opportunity to guess what they are, and to learn how they were originally used. Clues are given and each object is presented with a multiple choice or true-or-false question.
 
The exhibit will be in the museum’s Legacy Gallery through Nov. 28, 2010.
 
For more information, please call (575) 522-4100.