It’s February and we’re in love! In love with art that is, because February is For the Love of Art month.
The month officially kicked off with the Lunar New Year celebration at the Branigan Cultural Center, where we painted rocks with attendees to build a rock snake in the center courtyard. Nearly 100 rocks were painted by children and adults. The rock snake slithers under the tree closest to the entrance of the center and will be on display until well – like forever.
Pick up a For the Love of Art event guide at any of the city museums compliments of ARTFORMS, a local arts organization that organizes artists exhibits, studio tours and many other activities to showcase our robust artist community. Take the time to see the current exhibits showing at the museums or visit an animal or two. They enjoy the love too.
We will be showing our love for newly acquired artworks, which we recently purchased from the “Art In Public Places” program and are now installed in City Hall. An open house is scheduled for early February to “unveil” the five art pieces, but you are invited to see the art anytime you are in City Hall during regular business hours. Artwork by various New Mexico artists include “Evening with Sunset Clouds” by Frank Watson, “Hollyhocks” by Vera Neel, “Worry” by Zoe Zimmerman, “Protected” Shana Levenson, and “Desert Forms” by Thomas Tomlinson. We love them!
February also marks the installation of the 2025 Art Stop Bus Shelter Exhibit. The 2024 pilot program was successful, and the rotating art exhibit will continue with the next cycle of artwork placed at six bus shelters throughout Las Cruces. The new exhibit features art by Coy Lowther (Water St. across from Zeffiro’s Pizzeria downtown), Yalet Yanar (University Ave. catty-corner to the bookstore), Keena Wolff (Walnut St. and Lohman Ave.), Citlali Delgado (N. Valley Dr. near Hadley Ave.), Jose Saldivar (Del Rey Blvd. and Mars Ave. near Veterans Admin. Clinic), and Josh Grant (Lohman Ave. near Mountain View). Each art poster includes a QR code which will take you to the Art Stop artist webpage for more information.
For the Love of Art month is a love letter to the community from artists of every medium. To quote Vincent Van Gogh, “What is done in love is done well.” Perfect time to embrace it.
