ARTNM! in Rio Rancho

ART NM! An Arts and Culture Day is occurring in six communities across the state. 2023 marks the second year of this event which reflects Creative New Mexico’s mission: to connect, promote, and advocate for creative individuals, organizations, industries, and communities statewide. Thematically, our 2023 events are focused on “tiny art” and “the arts are springing up all over New Mexico.”

Funding for ART NM! comes, in part, from a grant through New Mexico Arts, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, and through local donations and other grant support. Thanks to our sponsors!

Artesia has two projects taking place. From April 1-30, the Artesia Public Library will host a “Tiny Art Show.” The Artesia Arts Council will hold a “Creative Vinyl Therapy” workshop on April 6 from 5:30-7:00 pm where participants will make coasters, bookends, wine racks and more. Check out www.artesiaartscouncil.com for more information.

ART NM! in Farmington is facilitated by Northwest New Mexico Arts Council (www.nwnmac.org). Events include the Totah Theater Navajo/English Poetry Bilingual Poetry Reading with Navajo poets Venaya Yazzie and Tina Deschenie, scheduled for April 3 from 6:00-8:00 pm. An Art Walk/Dia de Los Niños Literacy Celebration takes place in downtown Farmington in conjunction with Farmington’s MainStreet. This multi-faceted event includes a Navajo Code Talkers Poster Session; 75 Art Walk artists; musical performances; free bilingual books; and Art in the Alley Tours that will launch in Breezeway Park Plaza.

gallupARTS (www.galluparts.org) is partnering with Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District and the City of Gallup to create six “tiny art” installations in downtown Gallup, adding an exciting twist to the city’s robust public art scene. These projects demonstrate that even a small dose of the arts brings people together and strengthens communities, and that art can heal aspects of our broken infrastructure. In addition to Creative New Mexico’s support, these public art projects are sponsored by Gallup Mayor Louis Bonaguidi and City Councilor Fran Palochak.

Projects are diverse and include:

1. Found glass mosaic to repair broken tiles at El Morro Theater by Katie Benally.
2. Miniature steel sculpture on an abandoned lamp post base by Casey Tom.
3. Pressed flower resin inserts in parking meter stubs by Sheila Nez.
4. Painted planters at Gallup Cultural Center incorporating Zuni, Acoma, Hopi, and Navajo pottery designs by Raven Chacon.
5. Whimsical mushroom mosaic at Courthouse Square by youth artist MB.
6. Miniature figurative concrete sculpture replacing missing finial on a post by Rachel Brown.

These artworks will be unveiled on Saturday, April 8 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm during the downtown ArtsCrawl event. The public is invited to participate in a Tiny Art Scavenger Hunt – complete the hunt and be awarded a prize!

Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads (www.rr-cc.org) is using the “Art is Springing Up” theme on April 8 at Star Heights Recreation Center from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm for a community celebration that will feature over 27 arts and crafts vendors. Co-sponsored by Rio Rancho Arts Association, this event “gives visitors a chance to learn about the diverse creative resources that are available in our community,” remarked Mary Lyle, Rio Rancho resident and Creative New Mexico Board member. Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads represents the Rio Rancho Youth Chorus, Children’s Chorus of Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho Players Community Theater, and the Squeaky Shoe Project, part of an art gives back program GenerARTistry.

The event in Roswell coincides with the Roswell Museum’s (www.roswell-nm.gov)

ARTNM! in Roswell

Second Saturday event on April 8, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, and includes interactive artmaking and programming with partners such as the Roswell Museum Foundation, Robert Goddard Planetarium, Pecos Valley Iris Society, Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico, Roswell Symphony Orchestra, Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, Bone Springs Art Space, The Liberty, Inc., Roswell Fine Arts League, Miniatures and Curious Collections Museum, and Eastern New Mexico State Fair Arts and Crafts Department. As in Rio Rancho, this is an event to showcase the diversity of the local creative community. Mayor Tim Jennings will issue a proclamation celebrating Roswell’s rich creative resources.

Taos will also host a showcase of arts and culture organizations with a tabling event to engage the public in the magnitude of creative offerings in a city that was one of America’s first art colonies. On April 29, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House and Gardens, (www.taosartmuseum.org). ART NM! Taos will involve community members in “mini” arts advocacy efforts, promote the power of the arts in building strong communities, and feature cultural assets that contribute to the local economy and quality of life.

Thanks to those that are facilitating these events: Nancy Dunn (Artesia); Flo Trujillo (Farmington); Rose Eason (Gallup); Mary Lyle and Neal Shotwell (Rio Rancho);

Caroline Brooks, Jessica Parham, and Laurie Rufe (Roswell); and Jessica Stern (Taos).

If you would like to bring an ART NM! event or activity to your community in 2024, contact Laurie Rufe at purplejackalope@yahoo.com.