The village of Magdalena continues to be recognized as one of the best small towns for art in the United States, being home to a number of artists and artisans, and to showcase the talent found in the village, Warehouse 1-10 and the Village Press Print Studio have joined forces to put together the Art Magdalena Gallery and Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8.

The tour will feature Magdalena area artists working in a broad range of media from fiber arts, jewelry and silverwork, pottery, paint, photography, printmaking, metalwork, sculpture, poetry and writing.

“We did this eight or nine years in a row, and then, of course, COVID stopped it for the last couple of years,” Catherine DeMaria of Warehouse 1-10 said. “So, we decided to go for it this year, and we were really surprised that we have 18 different venues and 40 artists participating.”

Several artists have opened their studios and will be working on projects throughout the day, while others have grouped together in galleries and open spaces throughout the town and will be available to discuss their work with visitors.

“Besides being a growing artist community, Magdalena provides a truly inspirational backdrop for artists of different disciplines,” DeMaria once said. “We’ve had a lot of artists from as far away as New York spending time here to work while on sabbatical or vacations.”

The tour features 18 locations throughout the village and over 40 participating artists and Artisans working in a broad range of media. The afternoon will include demonstrations in printmaking, letterpress, bookbinding, watercolor painting, weaving, blacksmithing, music, food, and an outdoor artisan market.

The tour will take you as far as the end of the Trailhead on Hop Canyon Road for Letterpress demonstrations at The Village Press, along Highway 60, along North and South Main Street and some of the side streets for artist’s studios, and a chance to see and hear about their creative process.

Judy Richardson in her gallery/studio, one of the 18 venues for the ART Magdalena Gallery and Studio Tour.
Submitted photos

Many of the locations are within walking distance and most are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Blue Canyon Gallery on Highway 60 features paintings, pottery and jewelry
  • Village Press Print Studio, 456 Hop Canyon Road, with printmaking, letterpress, and book arts, as well as monotype and letterpress printing demos
  • CWB Gallery featuring Cheryl Walsh Bellville photo portraits and weaving demos by Wini Labrecque
  • Kim Henkel’s KHStudio with handmade sterling silver and stone jewelry at CWB Gallery
  • Old S’Cool House Gallery features Howl and Purr Boutique and Pat McCombs art. Look for the driveway west side of Fifth and South Main
  • Evett’s Cafe and Gallery with Louis De Mayo (1920 – 2016) original signed paintings, lithographs and serigraphs, and color photography by Willie Mozley
  • Judy Richardson Studio at 104 North Main St. with her sculptures and drawings
  • Kind of a small array at 106 North Main St. features Kat O’Connor: Bits
  • The Market Place at 105 North Main features art, stained glass, vintage clothing and antiques
  • The Art Box, 603 First Street, where Nicole White has art cards and mixed media and bookbinding demo
  • Atelier Studio 605, 605 First Street, with fine art prints by DOrkyART.us and photos by glennoznapz. Espresso drinks by ES•PRESS•O
  • 802 Artworks, 802 First Street, features unique artworks and gifts, jewelry, leathers, rugs, weavings, artwork and “GardenArt”
  • La Posada Art Gallery, 902 First Street, has Louis De Mayo (1920 – 2016) original signed paintings, lithographs and serigraphs
  • ZW Farnsworth Blacksmithing and Metal Art, 908 First Street, features blacksmithing demos
  • Artisan Market at Tumbleweeds Diner, 1408 First Street
  • Warehouse 1-10, 110 North Main Street will feature a Spring Group Exhibition of contemporary artworks by local artists and artists from around the state.

Other highlights include an interactive exhibition by the Kids’ Science Café in the Charles Ilfeld warehouse at 200 North Main called Civilizations where youth can bring toy animals, cars, and trains to participate in the event.

Also, the Magdalena Public Library will feature Wonder on Wheels Mobile Museum’s Musica Buena Celebration with live music by Tuesday@2 and will host a cowboy cookout with free food. The annual community event is coordinated by Warehouse 1-10 and the Village Press Print Studio and funded in part by the artists, the Village of Magdalena lodgers tax and the Magdalena Chamber of Commerce.

For a downloadable list of studios, galleries and events as well as a map go to http://www.artmagdalenanm.com

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain