Flamenco: From Spain to New Mexico opens Friday, June 22, and continues through Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Branigan Cultural Center, 501 North Main Street. Here is the information provided by the city:
The exhibit from the Museum of International Folk Art, traces flamenco to its arrival in the U.S. and its rise as an international art form now enjoyed by millions. It includes historic and contemporary costumes, musical instruments, costume and set design sketches, playbills, sheet music, posters, and more. These objects chronicle flamenco’s evolution from rural, folkloric tradition to elaborate staged productions incorporating extravagantly costumed dancers accompanied by virtuoso guitarists.
Handed down from generation to generation, between family and community members living at society’s edges, flamenco incorporates historic dance and music traditions from Roman times to the Arabic period. Flamenco expresses a way of life shaped by a multitude of cultural and regional influences such as the Gitanos (Romany people) of Spain and Andalusian regional customs. In 2010,UNESCO declared flamenco a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This exhibition also examines flamenco’s integration into New Mexico’s culture, making it the first ever to show history and development of flamenco’s role within the culture of New Mexico.
Flamenco: From Spain to New Mexico has been organized by the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe and is touring through GuestCurator Traveling Exhibitions, with generous support by Heritage Hotels and Resorts and New Mexico Multi-Cultural Foundation.
Admission is free to the Branigan Cultural Center. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy special summer hours when the museum is open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays June through August. For additional information, visit the website atmuseums.las-cruces.org or call 575/541-2154.