Las Cruces New Mexico

Business on the Border Forum - Las Cruces New Mexico

2008-06-24T10:46:00.001-06:00

The July meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

Christine Logan, Economic Development Administrator for the City of Las Cruces, will present an update on activities at the West Mesa Industrial Park and the new business registration office.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

On August 20-22, 2008, NMSU is hosting the Domenici Public Policy Conference on the NMSU campus. The Domenici Legacy Conference will focus on areas important to the senator during his time in Congress, including economic development, energy, mental health and budgetary and fiscal matters. Dignitaries and friends of Sen. Domenici will be invited to speak during the conference. The conference is meant to be a recurring event at the beginning of each fall semester at NMSU. For more information, please visit the Domenici Legacy website: http://domenici.nmsu.edu.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

The June meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum

2008-05-28T17:45:00.000-06:00

The June meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

This month’s program will feature the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Convention Sales Manager Kristina Martinez and Sports Sales Manager Ed Carnathan. They will discuss the growth of the tourism and convention industry in Las Cruces, showing examples of advertising and marketing and describe opportunities for future growth.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

2008 NAFTA Institute/Supplier Meet the Buyer Conference

2008-04-30T11:37:00.001-06:00

The New Mexico Economic Development’s Office of Mexican Affairs, the City of Juarez, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, the New Mexico Small Business Development Network, Western New Mexico University, and the International Business Accelerator have joined together to co-host the “2008 NAFTA Institute/Supplier Meet the Buyer Conference,” which will take place on June 26 and 27, 2008 at the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Detailed information on the agenda can be found at www.nmiba.com. For questions or specific information, please contact the International Business Accelerator at 505-589-2200 or info@nmiba.com.

MVEDA Regional Economic Development Forum - Friday, May 9, 2008

2008-04-29T17:29:00.000-06:00

As a reminder, the MVEDA Regional Economic Development Forum will be held on Friday, May 9 from 8:00am until 1:00pm at the Hotel Encanto. Registration is $25.00 per person and registration is required by Friday, May 2. You may register by phone (credit card payment) by calling the MVEDA office, 525-2852.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Business on the Border Forum - Tuesday, May 6, 2008

2008-04-29T17:27:00.000-06:00

The May meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 from 11:30am until 1:00pm at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

May’s program will feature representatives from the Physical Science Laboratory’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Technical Analysis and Applications Center (TAAC). TAAC regularly conducts UAV flight operations from the Las Cruces International Airport.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Wilderness Proposal Reception

2008-04-14T10:20:00.000-06:00

How important are wide, open spaces to you? A few years ago, country singer Dan Seals sang, "God must be a cowboy at heart. He made wide, open spaces from the start. ..."

I’ve always liked that song ... even more since I moved to Las Cruces.

You are undoubtedly aware of the Citizen’s Proposal for Wilderness which would protect thousands of acres of open space in Dona Ana County from development and destruction. For those ranchers who think it will deny them access, the Wilderness Act of 1964 actually protects their grazing rights.

To date there have been hundreds of businesses, government leaders, educators, and ranchers who have endorsed the Citizen’s Proposal. It has the support of the majority of residents of Dona Ana County. However, there is a small group of ultra-conservative ranchers who are vehemently opposed to the proposal.

Our opponent’s agenda is not about land – wilderness or otherwise. If it were, they’d be happy to sign on since their ranching rights are all but guaranteed.

Our opponent’s agenda is about control. While public lands belong to each and every one of us, this small group seems to think they alone have the right to these public lands and are doing everything they can to stop the Citizen’s Proposal. And they have some big money behind them – namely the ultra-conservative Paragon Foundation. If you have access to the Internet, take a look at the kind of propaganda Paragon is pushing. Take a look, also, at the Baxter Black column I’ve attached. It’s from the April 11 edition of The Las Cruces Bulletin. Notice how much of the information provided is slanted, inaccurate, devoid of facts. These are the same people opposing the Citizen’s Proposal.

Then ... if you favor wilderness areas surrounding Las Cruces, join me.

I am hosting a reception with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance at the Southwest Environmental Center at Main Street and Las Cruces Avenue, Wednesday, April 23. The reception will begin at 7 p.m. and last about an hour. While we’ll all have a chance to meet and talk with Alliance personnel, the key to this reception is a brief presentation on the status of the Citizen’s Proposal.

If you favor wilderness, you won’t want to miss this. I’ll be there. Please mark your calendar and join me – April 23, 7 p.m., Southwest Environmental Center.

Thanks ... Bud Russo

April meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum

2008-03-21T11:54:00.000-06:00

The April meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

Steven Landeene, Director of Spaceport America, will be April’s featured speaker. Landeene assumed the position in January. His experience in aerospace-related fields includes 20 years with Honeywell Aerospace and three years with Landmark Aviation.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Las Cruces Readying for 2008 Western Athletic Conference Tournament

2008-03-05T12:06:00.001-07:00

The City of Las Cruces continues its participation for the 2008 WAC Men and Women's Basketball Tournament set for Tuesday, March 11 through Saturday, March 15 at the Pan American Center.

The CVB and the City of Las Cruces have played vital roles in the tournament including seats on the tournament steering committee and the contribution of funds to assist with housing for players and officials. Additionally, the CVB has put together a community awareness public relations campaign to include banners and signs around town and a welcome billboard on I-10 just outside of Las Cruces. Estimates suggest the tournament could generate more than $4 million for Las Cruces, including nearly $200,000 in tax revenue. Tickets are available at the New Mexico State University Ticket Office at 646-1420 or on line at www.ticketmaster.com. and click here for more info about the WAC Fan Fiesta Activities and Entertainment!

Call for artists for Las Cruces CVB visitor center displays

2008-03-05T12:04:00.001-07:00

Due to recent renovations to the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau's (CVB) visitor center lobby, the bureau has made some changes to its monthly featured artist policy. As of February 11, 2008, all artists interested in exhibiting their work at the CVB will be required to abide by the following guidelines:

All submitted work must be of professional gallery quality and will be subject to review by a selection committee comprised of CVB and the City of Las Cruces Museum staff.

Three Digital or printed samples of artist work must be made available to the committee for review by submission deadline. Deadlines are as follows:

Artwork to be on display April thru September 2008 must be submitted by March 14, 2008.

Artwork to be on display October 2008 thru March 2009 must be submitted for review by September 1, 2008

All works must meet the space requirements for canvas art and space and weight requirements for 3dimensional works. Canvas art can be no larger than 24 inches wide or 45 inches tall. 3dimensional art can be no larger than 22 inches tall x 65 inches wide x 22 inches deep. Total weight of 3dimensional art, including all display materials, must be no more than 35 lbs.

Artists are only eligible to display once a year for a one month period and will receive use of four easels for display.

Placement is not guaranteed, decision of committee is final.

For more information, please contact the CVB at 541- 2150, or lccvb@lascrucescvb.org. To submit your samples, send to:
Chris Faivre 211 N. Water Street or by email at cfaivre@las-cruces.org

WAC fan fiesta begins March 12 at New Mexico State University

2008-02-27T17:10:00.001-07:00

LAS CRUCES, NM - Feb. 27, Basketball won't be the only entertainment at the 2008 WAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament. Beginning Wednesday, March 12 through Saturday, March 15 there will be a variety of activities and entertainment outside on the north side of the Pan American Center parking lot for fans to enjoy.

The following is a list of scheduled events and times:

Wednesday, March 12th - "Family Day" 4 to 6 p.m. Magician, face painting, balloon artist, jumping booth, Pistoleros, twister, fire trucks, National Guard basketball, poster making station, free popcorn and live radio remote

Thursday, March 13th - "Up, Up and Away" 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Tethered hot air balloon rides w/ photo ops, balloon glow in the evening, rocket launchers, piñatas, various food vendors, mariachi music, and ballet folklorico

Friday, March 14th - "The WAC Goes Back" 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m Antique car show, swing and other types of "oldies" music (live performances), dancing, various food vendors

Saturday, March 15th - "Wild, Wild, West" 12 to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, gun fight, dancing, Native American performances, live performance by Josh Grider, various food vendors

March 13th - 15th - "New Mexican Shopping Experience" Th. - F. 11am - 6pm & Sat. 3pm - 6pm Tents showcasing local vendors selling New Mexican products.

For more information contact Maria Roth, assistant athletics director of NMSU, at (575) 646-4126.

Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau
Chris Faivre
Media/Publications Manager
email: cfaivre@las-cruces.org
phone: (575) 541-2150

March meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum

2008-02-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

The March meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

This month, a panel of local commercial real estate brokers and developers will discuss the local commercial real estate market and opportunities in a changing market. Panel members will include: John L. Hummer, Owner/Broker with Steinborn TCN Commercial Real Estate; Randy McMillan, Owner/Broker with NAI 1st Valley Commercial Real Estate; Donnie Brainard, President/Qualifying Broker with Alameda Property Group; and Rick Stoes, Managing Director for Grubb & Ellis.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

All-session passes to 2008 WAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament on sale now

2008-02-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

LAS CRUCES, NM - Feb. 22, 2008 All-session passes for the 2008 WAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament are on sale now at the Pan Am Ticket office at New Mexico State University.

Student all-session passes both reserved and general admission for the tournament are $30 each, while all-session passes for the general public range from $60 to $450 for reserved seating and $35 for general admission. All-session passes include 16 games set-up in nine sessions.

Students from other WAC member institutions can also purchase their all-session pass for a separate reserved seating section.

Seating in the lower bowl for students is reserved seating, while seating in the upper bowl corners are general admission. Students must present a valid student I.D. to purchase student tickets and will be limited to two tickets per I.D.

Single game tickets will go on sale March 10.

For more information call the Pan Am Ticket Office at (575) 646-1420.

Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau

Chris Faivre

Media/Publications Manager

email: cfaivre@las-cruces.org

phone: (575) 541-2150

Doña Ana County Economic Development Plan Public Input Meetings

2008-02-21T17:55:00.001-07:00

New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center is assisting the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) in preparing an economic development plan for Doña Ana County. This plan will include community assessments and public input from a number of communities throughout Doña Ana County.

We invite you to be a public participant to provide feedback on a wide-ranging series of questions that will be incorporated into the final community assessments and the plan itself. Your opinions and observations are important and you are encouraged to attend.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
6:00pm
Hatch Community Center
837 W. Hall, Hatch

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
6:00pm
Doña Ana County Government Center
845 N. Motel Blvd, Las Cruces

Thursday, February 28, 2008
6:00pm
Doña Ana Community College Gadsden Center
1700 E. O’Hara Road, Anthony

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Preston Contemporary Art Center Galleries and Mesilla Digital Imaging Workshops Opening in Mesilla, NM Summer 2008

2008-02-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

Exhibition and sale of cutting-edge, high-quality contemporary art in all media by international professional artists will come to Mesilla, NM when the Preston Contemporary Art Center opens in the Mercado district in the summer of 2008. The 9,000 sq. ft. Art Center will also house the Mesilla Digital Imaging Workshops offering computer arts instruction in a series of weekend workshops.

Four galleries will show the works of international artists who are either mid-career artists who have established credentials over the past three decades or emerging artists with a strong body of sophisticated work. Artworks will include painting, drawing, textiles, mixed media, jewelry, glass, photography, printmaking and digital arts. An outdoor gallery will display large sculpture. The direction and level of the contemporary work is meant to be competitive with the highest end galleries in a six-state region.

The Gallery will be open Wednesday and Thursday 1 - 5 pm, Friday 1 – 7 pm, Saturday 9 am – 2 pm, Sunday 2 – 4 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday except by appointment. Opening receptions for seasonal exhibitions will be held on the second Friday of January, April, July, and October annually. Additional hours by appointment are easily arranged and encouraged to accommodate collectors, critics, groups and visiting artists.

The Mesilla Digital Imaging Workshops will use the gallery’s 20-station digital imaging lab and conference/classroom, offering 2 – 4 day workshops in all forms of digital imaging, as well as commercial and aesthetic shooting and composition workshops for photographers. Workshop instructors are nationally established teachers from the artistic educational community and industry. Mesilla Digital Workshops will also work closely with companies to provide corporate training sites.

In addition to on-site instruction in a variety of imaging systems and methods, the Workshops will offer field instruction at locations that include White Sands National Monument, Historic Old Mesilla, Lincoln National Forest, Gila National Forest and Cliff Dwellings, the Organ Mountains, a variety of Mission ruins and Petroglyph sites, as well as Chihuahuan desert landscapes and ghost towns located in the region.

Construction of Preston Contemporary Art Center is progressing rapidly at 1755 Avenida de Mercado in Mesilla, NM, a small historic community associated with the signing of the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, as well as Wild West legendary figures Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. The town is adjacent to the City of Las Cruces, second largest urban center in New Mexico. In addition to beautiful scenery in a multi-cultural setting, local amenities include hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, museums, shopping, and seasonal festivals and other entertainment.

Most air travel is through the El Paso International Airport, less than one hour south of Las Cruces. The City of Las Cruces is located at the intersection of Interstates 10 (east-west) and 25 (north-south) in southern New Mexico. Travel to the Town of Mesilla on highway 28, just minutes south of Las Cruces.

For more information about the Preston Contemporary Art galleries and workshops, contact Paul Schranz, Director, at 575-523-8713 or email pschanz@prestoncontemporaryart.com

Jakki Kouffman’s “Sandstone, Rivers and Sea” Landscape Painting Exhibition at the Las Cruces Museum of Art Opening March 7.

2008-02-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

Award-winning Santa Fe artist and teacher Jakki Kouffman will exhibit brightly colored, gestural landscape paintings in “Sandstone, Rivers and Sea” at the Las Cruces Museum of Art from Friday, March 7 – Saturday, April 5. An opening reception for the artist will be held on Friday, March 7 from 5 – 7 pm.

The exhibit features recent works in acrylic with imagery drawn from nature, memory and the imagination. Kouffman has shown her work across the country and won awards in many venues. Her painting, “Cholla Blossoms, River Below,” was recently installed at the Mesilla Community Center through New Mexico Arts, Art in Public Places.

Kouffman was elected a Master Pastellist with the Pastel Society of America in 1992. She has had solo exhibits at the Wichita Museum, the Hutchinson Museum and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. Her work appears in several books, including The Artist and the American Landscape by John Driscoll and Arnold Skolnick, Painting Alaska by Kes Woodward, and Messages from Alaska, published by the M.J. Murdock Foundation.

A native of Boston, Kouffman resides in Santa Fe. A graduate of Brandeis University, she was awarded a Sachar International Fellowship to study in Pietrasanta, Italy, and studied painting at the Art Students League of New York. Kouffman has taught workshops around the country for more than 20 years. She presently teaches at Santa Fe Community College Continuing Education.

The Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 501 N. Main St. in the downtown mall. It is accessible and free to the public. For more information about Museum exhibits, programs or Studio art classes, call 575-541-2137 or visit the website http://museums.las-cruces.org.

“From the Ground Up 2007” Exhibit at the Las Cruces Museum of Art Named One of Year’s “Most Notable” by Ceramics Monthly Magazine

2008-02-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Las Cruces Museum of Art announces that the “From the Ground Up 2007” exhibition is featured in the February 2008 issue of the United States’ premier ceramics magazine, Ceramics Monthly. The “Upfront” section of the magazine presents the annual summary of the “most notable exhibitions of 2007.” The regional juried exhibition was sponsored by the Las Cruces Potters’ Guild and the Museum of Art.

The article quotes juror Miranda Howe, visiting professor at New Mexico State University, and includes multiple mentions of the Museum of Art. Howe says that the exhibit provided “a lovely slice of the caliber of work taking place in both national and global levels in contemporary ceramics.” She continues, “Though the work greatly ranged in scale, firing and technique, ‘From the Ground Up’ demonstrated harmony through diversity, further revealing the expanding scope of the ceramic field.”

The article features an image of work by artist Marie Weichman, who is among the three ceramic artists opening in the “After China” exhibition Friday, Feb 1 running through Saturday, April 5. Work by Dryden Wells, another of the “After China” artists, is also highlighted in the issue.

“Employment Extravaganza 2008”

2008-02-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 – 9:00am – 3:00pm – Corbett Center Ballroom

Employment Extravaganza 2008 is a venture to unite the students of New Mexico State University with employers in the state of New Mexico and regionally. However, any employers still addressing staffing requirements in the area of Internships, Cooperative Education, temporary summer work, or Professional Employment are cordially invited to attend. This is the last general career fair of the academic year. For more information see the attached flyer of visit http://careerservices.nmsu.edu/EE/home.html. Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance

505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

Brown Bag Lecture “Railroads in New Mexico Agriculture and Rural Life”

2008-01-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, February 12 at the Las Cruces Railroad Museum

February’s Brown Bag Lecture will feature Cameron Saffell, who will speak on the railroad’s impact on the agriculture of Las Cruces and the region. The event will be held at the Las Cruces Railroad Museum at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Light refreshments will be provided. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Saffell has been Curator of History at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum since 1999. A native of Lubbock, TX, his personal research specialties include cotton agriculture in the American West, subject of his recent Ph.D. dissertation from Iowa State University, and the history of Texas and the American Southwest in the 19th & 20th centuries.

The Railroad Museum is accessible and located at the intersection of Las Cruces Avenue and N. Mesilla Street. For more information, call 575-647-4480 or visit the website http://museums.las-cruces.org//rrmuseum.shtm.

Feb 5 Business on the Border Luncheon

2008-01-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

The February meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

This month’s featured speaker will be Charles R. Garcia, President and CEO of NewTec. NewTec is a prime contractor at Whites Sands Missile Range.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com

“After China,” at the Las Cruces Museum of Art Feb 1 – April 5; American Ceramics Artists Exhibit Work Following Residency in China

2008-01-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

“After China,” showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art Friday, Feb. 1 through Saturday, April 5 features works of ceramic artists Marie Weichman, Ian Thomas and Dryden Wells produced during and after their two-month artists’ residency in Jingezhen, China. An opening reception for the artists will be held on Friday, Feb. 1 from 5 – 7 pm.

Mixed-media artworks in ceramic porcelain with additions of wood, fiber, and metal make up the “After China” exhibit. By working closely with craftsmen during a residency in China, the three American artists were able to create works that focus on the relationship between art and society. Their investigation into current cultural, social and artistic issues through the methodology of Process Art was a primary goal of the project, they explain.

Marie Weichman, a Houston, TX resident, received her MFA degree from Texas Tech University in 2000. Her ceramic work has been exhibited in numerous venues in Texas and in Lima, Peru; and was included in the 2007 “From the Ground Up” Regional juried exhibition at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. Her artwork is based in the social commentary of individual identity as part of a greater whole, a theme she says was able to pursue during her residency through visits with professional mold makers, casters and other Chinese craftsmen.

Ian Thomas of Butler, PA works in mediums of both drawing and ceramic sculpture. An Instructor of Ceramics at the Carnegie Museum of Fine Art, he holds an MFA degree from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; a BFA from Slippery Rock University, PA and participated in an international exchange program at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. In addition to this exhibit, Thomas’ work will be shown in two exhibitions this year in Pittsburgh, PA. Other recent venues include Kentucky, South Carolina and Nebraska. He explains that this body of work is a departure from previous work, choosing to focus on form and surface rather than heavy-handed drawing techniques. The high luster surface of the artworks will attract the viewer, as well as reflect their own image back as they interact and respond to the pieces.

Dryden Wells will complete his MFA degree at Texas Tech University this year. His works have been exhibited in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Using animal forms as a subject and vehicle, he addresses interior and exterior spaces literally and metaphorically. He says he began drawing on clay during the China residency. In this exhibit, Wells presents forms created through the use of multiples, segments of animals made with both hand-built and molded forms. Through fragmenting and stacking them, the initial subjects are obscured, making the work more provoking and engaging for the viewer.

Showing at the Museum concurrently with “After China” through Saturday, March 1 are “Art to Heart,” works by students from the Tresco Therapeutics art class held at the Museum; and “Love & Chocolate,” works by Dona Ana County, NM residents inspired by or created from chocolate, celebrating “For the Love of Art” 2008. All Museum of Art exhibits and receptions are accessible and free of charge. For information about exhibits, programs or Museum Studio classes, call 575-541-2137 or visit the website: museums.las-cruces.org.

“Heart to Art” Tresco Students Exhibit at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, Opening Feb 1

2008-01-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

"Heart to Art,” artworks by clients of the Tresco art class under the direction of Laurie Shade-Neff, will be on exhibit at the Las Cruces Museum of Art Friday, Feb 1 through Saturday, March 1. An opening reception for the artists will be held on Friday, Feb 1 from 5 – 7 p.m.

The exhibit features works by participants in a weekly class at the Museum of Art. The class provides experiences with a variety of projects in a wide choice of media. Participants also visit art museums and galleries. Tresco is a non-profit company organized, governed and staffed for the sole purpose of making a positive impact on the lives of children with learning delays and people with disabilities in our community. Shade-Neff explains, “In an inclusive creative atmosphere, individuals are encouraged to express themselves, communicate and find independent ways of enjoying the creative process. The emphasis is on the process more than the product. Shade-Neff, who grew up with a brother with Downs Syndrome, says she enjoys helping people with disabilities discover the wonderful world of art. For more information about this program, call 525-3225.

Exhibitions opening concurrently at the Museum of Art on Feb.1 are “After China,” works of American ceramics artists Marie Weichman, Dryden Wells and Ian Thomas created during and following their artists residency in Jingezhen, China; and the “Love & Chocolate” exhibit for 2008’s “Love of Art” month in Las Cruces, works by Dona Ana County, NM artists about chocolate or made of chocolate. All Museum of Art exhibits and receptions are accessible and free of charge. For information, call 575-541-2137 or visit the website: museums.las-cruces.org.

First Year Students at Dona Ana Community College Exhibit at Las Cruces Museum of Art Jan 18 – Feb 23

2007-12-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

Works by first year art students at Dona Ana Community College will be on display at the Las Cruces Museum of Art Friday, Jan 18 through Saturday, Feb 23.

Charcoal drawings, ink drawings and ceramic sculptures by 15 students in Drawing 1 and Ceramics 1 classes instructed by Glenn Schweiger make up the exhibition. The ceramics class meets at the Museum of Art Ceramics Studio.

The Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 501 N. Main St. in the downtown mall. The Gallery is accessible and free to the public. Museum hours are 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am – 1 pm on Saturday; closed Sunday. For information about Museum exhibits, programs and Museum Studio art classes, call 575-541-2137 or visit the website museums@las-cruces.org.

The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II” exhibit at Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces

2007-12-13T11:23:00.001-07:00

“OUR FATHERS, OUR GRANDFATHERS, OUR HEROES… The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II” exhibit at Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces

Exhibit Dates: Jan 4 – 26, 2008

Friday, Jan 4: Opening Reception: 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5: Lecture 10 a.m. by Zonnie Gorman “Growing Up With Heroes…The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II; A Daughter's Journey”

Saturday, Jan 19: Screening of documentary 10 a.m. True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers.

The largest, most comprehensive exhibition on the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II will be on display at the Branigan Cultural Center from January 4 - 26, 2008. Of all the untold stories from World War II that have recently come to light, none is more important nor more ironic than that of the Code Talkers -- some 400 Navajo youths, many hardly more than boys who were recruited by the U.S. government to devise an unbreakable code in the language they had been previously forbidden to speak.

An opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Friday, Jan 4 from 5 – 7 pm. Special guest Zonnie Gorman, daughter of Navajo Code Talker the late Dr. Carl Gorman, and youngest sister of renowned Navajo artist, the late R.C. Gorman, will be welcomed at the reception. On Saturday, Jan 5, Ms. Gorman will present a lecture entitled “Growing Up with Heroes...The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, A Daughter's Journey,” at 10 a.m. at Branigan Cultural Center, Shannon Gallery.

The exhibit traces the story of the famed United States Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers. A group of 29 volunteers developed and tested the original Navajo code in 1942. Proven fast and accurate, the Marine Corps recruited nearly 400 more Navajos who utilized the code, sending and receiving encrypted messages throughout the Pacific campaign. The ingenuity of the Navajo Code Talkers baffled Japanese cryptographers and contributed significantly in the effort to win the war in the Pacific.

This exhibit is a tribute to these men. Originally done as an oral history project by Wingate High School students in Gallup, NM, the exhibit speaks volumes of the pride young Navajos have for their heroes. The traveling exhibit displays more than 33 historic photographs with text; facsimiles of original, military WW II documents; a 1940 map of the Navajo Reservation; and the (now de-classified) Navajo Code itself. In addition, the full-length documentary, “Navajo Code Talkers” by the Arts & Entertainment/History Channel will be running throughout open gallery hours.“Our Fathers, Our Grandfathers, Our Heroes…The Navajo Code Talker of World War II” is made possible with grants from the New Mexico Humanities Council, and PNM, and APS corporations. This traveling exhibition is produced and circulated by the Circle of Light Navajo Educational Project, Gallup, NM.

On Saturday, Jan 19, the Branigan Cultural Center will screen the recently released PBS documentary, True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers, at 10 a.m. The thought-provoking documentary explores the complex story of the Code Talkers from the Navajo point of view and reveals the pivotal role they played in helping the U.S. forces win the Pacific Theater during World War II.

The Branigan Cultural Center is located at the north end of the downtown mall. Parking is accessible from the intersection of Water and Hadley streets. There is no charge, and the Cultural Center is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Cultural Center is fully accessible for all audiences. For more information about the exhibition, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at 541-2154 or visit the Center’s website at museums.las-cruces.org.

Register Now for Winter Museum Studio Classes at Las Cruces Museum of Art

2007-12-13T11:15:00.001-07:00

Registration is open for Museum Studio art classes for adults and young artists at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. Winter session classes will begin the week of Jan. 22 and extend through March 10. Register at the Museum or by mail. Registration materials are available online at the Museum of Art website: museums.las-cruces.org. For information, call 575-541-2137.

Adult classes for students at all levels include Ceramics Studio, Drawing Studio, Painting with Oils, Sculpture Studio, Weaving Studio, and a series of Digital Photography classes.

Classes for young artists include drawing & painting for students 6 – 12 years; ceramics for students 4-5, 6-8, and 9–12; and a special Spring Break Arts Experience for students 6 – 8 and 9 – 12 during the week of March 24 – 28.

The popular Saturday Studio for kids will continue every Saturday morning from 10 – 11:30 a.m. for students ages 5 – 12. The class is limited to 10 students; no pre-registration; sign up at the front desk at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $5 per student per session.

The Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 501 N. Main St. in the Las Cruces Downtown Mall.

Business on the Border Forum - Las Cruces New Mexico

2007-11-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

The December meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn Columbus Conference Center. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet followed by an update from MVEDA staff.

This month’s featured speaker will be Ken Hessing, the Site Manager for Volt/VMC’s new technical support facility. Volt/VMC announced last month that they selected Las Cruces for their newest facility that will provide technical support services for a major technology company.

Luncheon cost is $10.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
505 S. Main, Ste. 134 – PO Box 1299
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1299
Tel: (575) 525-2852 – Fax: (575) 523-5707
www.mveda.com