The New Mexico State University Museum

MUSEUM  2007 CALENDAR
EXHIBITS, EVENTS, LECTURES AND SATURDAY FAMILY WORKSHOPS

The New Mexico State University Museum announces the publication of A Place as Wild as The West Ever Was: Mesilla, New Mexico 1848-1872 by Mary Daniels Taylor.  

This long-awaited history of early Mesilla is now available to bookstores, libraries and the general public through the NMSU Museum.  This is a significant milestone, both for Mary and for the Museum, reflecting our hard work and dedication to supporting the work of local scholars. 

Mesilla is the best-known and most visited historical community in Southern New Mexico.  Mesilla has had a prominent influence on the historical and cultural life of the Southwest. Mary Daniels Taylor makes this history come alive in A Place As Wild As The West Ever Was: Mesilla, New Mexico 1848-1872.  Taylor’s engaging chronicle of her community represents the current movement among historians to focus on the common and routine rhythms of daily life. She provides an expansive panorama into the village past of Mesilla along with an intriguing collection of historical photographs. This book is a delight to read and the result of years of dedication, perseverance, and skilled archival research. It is also, quite simply and not insignificantly, a good read.

The retail price for the book is $27.95 (plus $3.50 shipping and handling if ordered by mail through the Museum.  Mail your check, payable to "Friends of the University Museum and send to the Museum at NMSU Museum, PO Box 30001, MSC 3564 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001). The price for Friends of the Museum, however, is $22.95, nearly a 20% discount. If you want the Member’s discount you must purchase the book directly from the Museum.  Otherwise, you can purchase it from the Museum, from the University Bookstore (located in Corbett Center on campus), from COAS My Bookstore (located in the downtown mall), or from Bowlin’s Mesilla Book Center (located on the plaza in Mesilla).  

Exhibit:  “The Pasternack Collection of African Art”
February 8 through June 23, 2007
This unique exhibit shows selected art pieces collected by the late Steve Pasternack, who taught at NMSU for twenty-one years in the Journalism and Mass Communications Department, serving as head of the department from 1994 to 2002.  The pieces were collected by Steve during numerous travels to Rwanda and elsewhere trying to help African universities establish good journalistic practices.  The pieces include masks, sculptures, baskets and various other representations of African peoples’ life and culture. A reception with refreshments will be held in the Museum lobby Thursday evening, February 8 at 6:00 pm, followed by a talk celebrating Steve Pasternack’s passion for Africa.

Exhibit:  “Africa: From Eritrea with Love”
February 8 through June 23, 2007

This exciting exhibit is a collection of 13 paintings by Betty LaDuke, an Ashland, Oregon author and artist who traveled to East Africa numerous times capturing the essence of traditional aspects of African lives in modern times.  Betty’s vibrant and colorful paintings are based on sketches made during eight journeys to Eritrea, a small nation on the Horn of Africa, from 1994 to 1998.  The rhythms of life and cultural diversity of the proud, dynamic people of Eritrea, one of Africa's newest nations, inspired this series of painting.  Throughout her career, LaDuke has traveled extensively and experiences with cultural diversity form the basis of her art work.

Permanent Exhibit
“Pottery from the Americas”
The NMSU Museum is now  home to a unique and comprehensive collection of both prehistoric and historical pottery.  This collection includes almost 600 pottery vessels that reflect the vibrant artistry and beauty of Southwestern and Mesoamerican ceramics.  The NMSU Museum proudly invites you to view this important and historic cultural collection.

For more information on any of the above exhibits, please go to Exhibits 

For more information on the exhibits related to any of the above public lectures, please go to Exhibits
 

Saturday Family Workshops  are held Saturday afternoons 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.  Families are invited to spend Saturday afternoons at the Museum participating in arts and crafts activities that relate to Museum exhibits. The Family Workshops. As always, workshops are FREE and no sign up is necessary. Weather permitting, workshops are held outside in the Museum courtyard.  Please call (505)646-5161 or 646-3739  for further information.

Spring 2007 Saturday Family Workshop Schedule
Jan 20:  Khamsa (African Good Luck Hand)
Jan 27:  African-inspired Clay Figures 

Feb 03:  African Drums
Feb 10:  “Stained Glass” Valentine
Feb 17:  Monkey Seek  

Feb 24:  Make a Mancala Game

Mar 03:  African Animal Hand Puppets
Mar 10:  African-style Jewelry
Mar 17:  Pot of Gold Mobile
Mar 24:  NO WORKSHOP – SPRING BREAK
Mar 31:  Hand-woven Baskets
Apr 07:  Egg Ornaments

Apr 14:  African-inspired Dance Masks
Apr 21:  Earth Day Pendants 
Apr 28:  Shekeres (Traditional Beaded Shaker)
May 05: Tinwork Wall Decoration

May 12: Mother’s Day Flowers in Hand

 

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