Art and science meet at ARTMagdalena

Magdalena artists and artisans are banding together to present ARTMagdalena, a village-wide art show, Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7.

Visitors can meet the artists as they exhibit their works in their studios and galleries located in many of the historic buildings in Magdalena. Art, art-making and performance will be happening throughout the day and into the evening, including gallery exhibitions, open studios, an artisan market, and demonstrations in printmaking, bookbinding, watercolor painting, weaving and blacksmithing.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both days. All daytime events are free and the art is for sale.

This event, sponsored by the Magdalena Chamber of Commerce, will feature 16 gallery and studio locations around town and over 50 participating artists and Artisans working in a broad range of media.

The Chamber’s Catherine DeMaria says this is all part of their efforts to create smart tourism in the area through the arts and science.

“The arts have always been known as a way to bring culture and revitalization to communities,” DeMaria said.

According to DeMaria, Magdalena is going through a post-COVID art revival, with artists moving in and opening up spaces along Main Street and Highway 60.

“This is our tenth year of doing ARTMagdalena. We used to call it just the Gallery and Studio Tour, but we renamed it ArtMagdalena a little bit ago,” she said. “I think we have a really thriving art community here with people who have lived here a long time and also other folks who have moved in recently from urban areas.”

The weekend kicks off Saturday with a fundraising pancake breakfast sponsored by the Magdalena Chamber of Commerce from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Throughout both days, the various studios and galleries will stay open until 5 p.m.

“What makes ARTMagdalena unique is that when you’re entering one of our local galleries, you’re still walking into an artists’ studio,” she said. “Because all of our galleries are run by artists.”

 

Venues along Highway 60:

Evett’s Cafe and Gallery – Photography, paintings

The Art Box – Gelli plate demonstration and art exhibition

C & S Morningstar – Navajo art and jewelry

La Posada Art Gallery – Fine art, Navajo rugs and jewelry

ZW Farnsworth – Blacksmithing

Tumbleweeds Diner – Art show, local museum

 

Venues on North Main:

Warehouse 1-10 – Art and photography

Public Library and Boxcar Museum – Children’s art workshop

Charles Ilfield Building – Artisan Market, Fiber Arts quilts, various artists and vendors

kind of a small array – Art, paintings

The Marketplace – Local art, antiques, gifts

Judy Richardson Studio – Sculpture, drawings

Venues on South Main:

CWB Gallery – Photography, Jewelry

Old Magdalena General Hospital – Sigrid McKay sculptures, wall sculpture installation

Samayra Sinclaire & John Keller Studio – Jewelry, woodworking

Old S’coolhouse Gallery – Art exhibition

The Schoolhouse, Tierra Soul, Te Amo Bakery – Photography, sculpture, letterpress

“Our exhibitions and events get people from around the state,” DeMaria said. “We have a good following from Albuquerque and Santa Fe, as well as people from southern New Mexico. The caliber of work that you will find at La Posada, for example, is comparable to anything you’ll see in Santa Fe.”

This is also the case at Warehouse 1-10, where the focus is “where art meets science.”

“We’re doing something a little bit different this year because we are working on a project called Dark Sky Land,” DeMaria said. “The exhibition shows the collaboration between art and science. Dark Sky Land is the title of a night sky environmental movement in New Mexico that includes a documentary film directed by Marisela La Grave and a series of community-based exhibitions, installations, and site-specific events.”

She said the documentary tells the story of a community’s effort to protect a 100-mile astronomical corridor from the catastrophic effects of light pollution on astronomy, human health, wildlife and the environment.

“Highway 60’s astronomical corridor begins at the Magdalena Ridge Observatory through to the VLA and westward toward other astronomical sites under one of the darkest skies in the northern hemisphere,” DeMaria said. “This area is now home to over a dozen privately owned observatories that perform research, live science, astrophotography, advanced imaging, and data collection. We’re excited about being able to show the natural artistry and magnificence of our night sky, in the hopes of preserving it and protecting it from light pollution.”

She said visitors can expect to see a collection of astrophotography, space-era artifacts, historical texts, sky atlases, and media-related content from the Highway 60 Astronomical Corridor.

Warehouse 1-10 also presents an evening concert by renowned jazz guitarist and composer James Emery. Emery has been active on the international jazz and contemporary music scene since 1975, has recorded 26 CDs as a leader or co-leader, and has performed his work in over 25 countries worldwide. Tickets are $15, and seating is limited, so reservations are recommended for the 7 p.m. show. Call 575-517-0669 for reservations. A Night Sky Observation will follow the performance.

“I would say we are rebounding from out of COVID, and we would expect to see more people coming to this art walk this year,” DeMaria said.