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The ArtForms Artists Association of New Mexico announced that its 25th annual “For the Love of Art” celebration will open on Feb. 2 and run through the month.
The events include studio tours and art shows and promotion of community art events. The nonprofit’s mission, per its website, is “to ensure that our creative community is regarded as a revenue-generation industry. We work towards the recognition of the greater Las Cruces area as an international art and cultural destination.”
Rebecca Courtney, a member and artist active with the organization, stated in a news release, “Art provides income to families, attracts tourists, builds community pride and establishes our identity as a community. This annual endeavor is truly for the love of art and for the pride we have in the Mesilla Valley.”
The opening formal event will be the ArtForms Members' exhibition opening reception in two galleries in the Mesquite Historic District, Gallery 925 and Duende Gallery, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 2. There will be live music by Blues 101 and refreshments, the association said.
There are 39 studio tours reportedly scheduled during which patrons may talk to the artists and see their creative spaces. Some artists will be working or doing demonstrations. The studio listing, Q-Code, and specific dates for each will be listed in the Artforms’ guide and on their web page, ArtFormsNM.org.
The Q-Code links to an interactive Google map with all locations and directions. Each studio location will have a blue flag placed out front to make it easier to find, the association said.
"This year, the studio tour is spread out across the valley. The organization is healthy, with 80 members and much support from the community," Artforms President Karen Conley stated in the news release.
This year, instead of recognizing a single artist for elevating the status of the art community, the organization said it will recognize five individuals who were active in the arts and recently passed away: Ruth Drayer, Les Fairchild, Linda Lundeen, John Northcutt and Jan Thune. They will be included in the event guide and recognized at the reception.
On exhibit from Feb. 2 through Feb. 29 will be the Southern Chapter of the New Mexico Watercolor Society at the Frame and Art Center at 1100 S. Main Street.
Dennis Lujan will be kicking off his 8th annual EROTICA Show located at 3390 Apple Cross Place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m on Feb. 9. The show will also run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10 and 11.
The New Mexico State University Art Museum will offer a tour of the current exhibits and a behind-the-scenes peak into the museum's collection at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10. Please email egflynn@nmsu.edu to register for the tour or for any inquiries.
Other events are listed in the event guide and on the organization's website. More information is available via Karen Conley at 314-704-9445 or artformsnm@gmail.com.
