The Museum of Art in Las Cruces is set to unveil a new exhibition titled "Into the Hourglass: Paño Arte from the Rudy Padilla Collection." This exhibition will showcase paño art and other forms of artwork from the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m., with NHCC Head Curator Jadira Gurulé leading a gallery walk-through at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit will be open to the public until January 3, 2026.
Paño art originates from Southwestern U.S. prisons where many Hispanic or Chicano inmates reside. The term "paño" translates to "cloth" in Spanish and refers to handkerchiefs used by artists as canvases for their creations. These artworks are often made using ballpoint pens or colored pencils and depict personal images and cultural symbols. In addition to paños, the exhibit will include small sculptures crafted from recycled materials like cigarette packs and chip bags, as well as artwork drawn on envelopes.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center holds the largest public collection of paños in the United States. Rudy Padilla collected these pieces across the Southwest before they were acquired by the NHCC Art Museum in 2019. After debuting at NHCC in 2023, this traveling exhibit has now reached its second venue at the Las Cruces Museum of Art.
A series of events will accompany the exhibition's run. Two screenings of "Paño Arte: Voices from the Inside" are planned; one on Saturday, October 25, and another on Friday, December 5, both in 2025. Additionally, a Zoom presentation with film director Evangeline Griego is scheduled for December 5 at 1 p.m., while Sara NcNie Flores will discuss her role as an art coordinator at a youth detention facility on November 22.
For more information about upcoming events or general inquiries, visitors can check Las Cruces Museums’ social media platforms or contact Bryan Lee via email at blee@lascruces.gov. The museum is located at 491 N. Main St., with free admission during operating hours from Tuesday through Saturday.
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