The city of Las Cruces has unveiled two new exhibitions curated by The Las Cruces Museums, which delve into the intricate relationship between artists and the natural environment. "Connection : : Conjunto" is set to debut at the Branigan Cultural Center, while "The Desert Was Red and Red the Dust Was Raised" will be showcased at the Museum of Art.
According to a press release by the city of Las Cruces, these exhibitions will open on January 5 and run through March 23, 2024. They explore the profound connections that artists share with nature and the desert landscape. "Connection : : Conjunto," displayed at the Branigan Cultural Center, features 32 diverse artworks by local artists from The Border Artists. These works explore the complex relationships between artists, their communities, and the natural environment. The mediums used range from painting and photography to ceramics and mixed media, as artists ponder how space and place influence their visual language.
The Museum of Art is hosting "The Desert Was Red and Red the Dust Was Raised." This exhibition features five female artists—Sharbani Das Gupta, Zoe Spiliotis, Isadora Stowe, Laura Turón, and Amy Vensel—who live and work in Las Cruces and El Paso. Drawing inspiration from abstraction and literal desert landscapes, this exhibition explores how the desert serves as a language that unifies these artists. This information was also disclosed in a press release by Las Cruces.
According to information available on its webpage provided by Las Cruces city, The Las Cruces Museum System curates diverse exhibitions on local, national, and global themes with an aim to educate and inspire visitors. The Branigan Cultural Center focuses on engaging visitors in Southwest's rich heritage from its location within a historic Pueblo Revival-style building. Meanwhile, renowned artists' juried and invitational exhibitions are displayed at the Museum of Art which also offers professional art instruction through its Studio Program for both youth and adults in various artistic media.