New Mexico’s artistic past, present and future converge during 2017 as the New Mexico Museum of Art celebrates its 100th birthday! As part of this historic reopening, the Museum of Art also unveils three new exhibitions.
On November 25, 2017, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that historic first day, as well as the century since, the Museum will host a free, all ages, day-long birthday event from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Museum, on the surrounding streets, as well as on the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Points of interest during the party include:
First 100 visitors who come in 1917-1920s costumes win a prize courtesy of the NM Museum of Art Shop.
Meet costumed interpreters dressed as artists from the past who will be roaming the galleries and talking about artwork on view. Characters will include Georgia O’Keeffe, Laura Gilpin, Will Schuster, and a few surprise guests.
Photo booth with costumes and props in the lobby of Museum from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Visitors can participate in art making activities including the making of an Artrageous birthday hat, birthday card or decorate paper 100-year eyewear. Conversations with Curators: Hear about works of art, recent acquisitions and new installations on tours with Museum curators. Meet the museum curators for a brief introduction to each exhibition.
11:30 Horizons:People & Place in 20th Century New Mexican Art - Christian Waguespack, Curator of 20th Century Art. Drawn primarily from the New Mexico Museum of Art’s extensive collection, Horizonsshows the wide and dynamic range of styles, personalities, cultures, and forms that visual creative expression took here in the 20th century.
12:30 Contact: Local to Global - Merry Scully, Head of Curatorial and Curator of Contemporary Art. Contact: Local to Global highlights the engagement of artists with New Mexico, the New Mexico Museum of Art with artists and collectors, and New Mexico’s engagement with the national and international arts community. Featuring the work of artists who have lived and worked in the region, works made in New Mexico and significant works with a connection to art in New Mexico, as well as artworks which address the broader issues of land, location and environment, the exhibition includes art by Bruce Nauman, Agnes Martin, Frederick Hammersley, Susan York, Postcommodity, Ati Maier and Yorgo Alexopoulos, among others.
1:30 Shifting Light: Photographic Perspectives - Katherine Ware, Curator of Photography. Shifting Light offers a twenty-first century perspective on the museum’s long-term engagement with the popular medium of photography. Using portraits and oral histories, the show introduces some of the personalities in New Mexico’s twentieth-century photography scene, including Laura Gilpin, Ansel Adams, Thomas Barrow, Anne Noggle and Joyce Neimanas, among many.
Get an earful of music and an eye full of art beginning at 11:00 am with the Shiners Club Band performing a Tableau Vivant and playing early 20th century jazz.
Mariachi Sonidos del Monte from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.
Theatrical and dance performances on the stage of St. Francis Auditorium
11:00 am New Mexico School of The Arts
Noon The Pueblo of Pojoaque Youth Hoop Dancers
1:00 pm National Institute of Flamenco Niños Flamencos with live musical accompaniment
by Teeños, vocalist Eva Encinias and guitarist Eloy Gonzales
Wonder on Wheels Mobile Museum – featuring a Dinosaur exhibit from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History will be parked on the Plaza.
Santa Claus makes a special appearance in a Lowrider.
On the streets around the Museum, check out vintage cars, lowriders and AXLE Contemporary with artist and TAROT Reader Lisa De St. Croix.
At 3:00 pm, local dignitaries will give a tribute the Museum of Art and wish us a Happy 100th birthday and Jorge Espino will lead the crowd in a birthday song.
Cake will be served outside of the Museum beginning at 3:30 p.m.
FREE parking available at the PERA parking lot 1120 Paseo de Peralta with free shuttles to the Museum from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and FREE parking available at the Santa Fe Convention Center.
From the presentation of the museum’s collection to once-in-a-lifetime events—there is something for everyone during the Museum of Art’s centennial year. And because birthdays are all about surprises, a few of those are planned too.
Additionally, the Museum has engaged the services of a video crew to document people’s stories about how the Museum of Art has impacted their lives.
The museum and the Department of Cultural Affairs are grateful to the city for its contributions to the celebration and we look forward to working together on this historic occasion.