Two New Mexico State University students, Karly Jean Kainz and Blanca Martinez, will be showcasing their work at the Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition titled “Making as Knowing · When I was Here, Thinking of There” in Devasthali Hall from May 9 to July 20. Renowned independent curator and writer Leslie Moody Castro described the exhibition as a reflection of the present moment through the past, incorporating juxtapositions and dichotomies of time and place.
The exhibition will kick off with an opening reception on May 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the University Art Museum. Throughout the duration of the exhibition, various events and programs will be held in Devasthali Hall, all of which will be free and open to the public. An artist walkthrough with Kainz and Martinez is scheduled for May 25, offering insight into their work and guiding audiences through the exhibition.
Additionally, a two-day workshop led by the artists will take place on June 1 and June 8, where participants can decorate handmade planters, repot them with houseplants, and make macrame hangers. Registration for the workshop will be available on the UAM’s website two weeks prior to the event. On July 13, the exhibition will conclude with “Loteria Game Nights,” an event where the community is invited to join Martinez in playing the traditional game that inspired some of her work in the exhibition.
In conjunction with the MFA exhibition, a selection of works from NMSU’s Permanent Art Collection will be displayed at the University Art Museum until July 20. This collection, curated by UAM Collections Curator Courtney Uldrich and graduate assistant Olivia Juedeman, is a response to the exhibition and its events. Juedeman conducted studio visits with Kainz and Martinez to curate pieces that aligned with the concepts explored in the MFA exhibition.
Martinez, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from NMSU, shared her experience of using craft materials and textiles to delve into personal relationships and identity. She expressed, “My identity comes from the shaping of what has been passed down to me and as I reconnect with my history, I transform the materials that I have learned from my grandparents into a reimagined truth.”
On the other hand, Kainz, originally from Wisconsin, focuses on the concept of place in her work, drawing inspiration from everyday objects and the connections they hold. She highlighted the natural synergy between her and Martinez’s work for the exhibition, stating, “When we started working on things, we were set on having the pieces intermingled with each other, allowing a deeper conversation between our works.”
For more information on the exhibition and a detailed calendar of associated programs, visit the University Art Museum's website. The museum, located at 1308 E. University Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Interested individuals can reach out to the team at uam.nmsu.edu or by calling 575-646-8036.
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CUTLINE: “An Ode to the Ordinary” by Karly Jean Kainz and “Ito” by Blanca Martinez will be featured at the Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition hosted by NMSU’s Art Museum.