Ecclesiastical exhibition opens at NMSU

The University Art Museum (UAM), 1308 East University Avenue, Las Cruces, has announced the opening of its next exhibition “Trinities of Heaven and Earth,” which explores two central themes in Catholic iconography and Mexican culture: the Holy Family and the Holy Trinity. The exhibition will open at 5:30 p.m. on March 21 in the Margie and Bobby Rankin Retablo Gallery, and will be open until March 7.

Drawing from the UAM’s extensive collection of over 2,200 Mexican retablos, “Trinities of Heaven and Earth” explores the spiritual and cultural importance of these sacred images. Retablos, small devotional paintings traditionally displayed in Mexican homes, served as vital expressions of Catholic faith and values within the household. The imagery of the Holy Family conveys blessings related to family life, while depictions of the Holy Trinity invoke divine guidance. Together, these themes explore the connection between sacred devotion and earthly life, bridging the divine and the domestic.

Curated by Olivia Juedeman, UAM Collections Assistant, this exhibit follows the successful completion of a large-scale digitization project funded by a 2023 seed grant awarded by NMSU’s Office of Research, Creativity, and Economic Development. Juedeman, funded as a Graduate Assistant on this project, helped complete a comprehensive inventory of the collection, digitized physical documentation, including provenance and conservation records, and integrated these materials into the UAM’s online database.

This project was completed under the supervision of Courtney Uldrich, UAM Collections Curator, with the support of Yasmine Jahangiri, a graduate of the NMSU Museum Conservation program, who recently took the position of Museum Technician and Conservator at the Taylor-Mesilla and Fort Selden Historic Sites in Mesilla.

This digitization project has significantly increased accessibility to the NMSU retablo collection, fostering research, scholarly inquiry, and public engagement. During the duration of this exhibition, a tablet will be displayed in the Margie and Bobby Rankin Retablo Gallery, allowing visitors to explore the full collection online.

 Juedeman, a 2023 NMSU graduate with a BFA and a minor in Museum Conservation, returned to NMSU in 2024 to complete a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies. She is currently pursuing an MA in Museum Studies at the University of Oklahoma, with an anticipated graduation date of Summer 2025. She has previously curated Selections from the NMSU Permanent Art Collection: 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition in Devasthali Hall.

The NMSU collection of Mexican Retablos is made possible through generous donations from Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Babey, Pamela Babey, Dr. Reginald Fisher, Gloria F. Giffords & Family, the Estate of Augusta Sonnichsen Hemphill, Dr. and Mrs. Ezra K. Neidich, Elizabeth Ann Nordeen, Mr. C. Andrew Sutherland, Mr. Fran E. Tolland, Ms. Helen McClure, and Mr. Victor E. Clarence.

The opening reception for “Trinities of Heaven and Earth” takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21. The UAM is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Details on UAM exhibitions and programming can be found online at www.uam.nmsu.edu.