The Roswell Museum collaborates with Creative New Mexico and local organizations on the annual free event
The Fourth Annual Art NM! Culture Day takes place on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the Roswell Public Library, 301 N. Pennsylvania Ave., as part of the Roswell Museum’s Second Saturday event site during the flood recovery. The family-friendly free event is expected to attract 150-200 attendees and is part of a statewide initiative organized by New Mexico’s arts advocacy organization Creative New Mexico. The nonprofit organization connects, promotes and advocates for creative individuals, organizations, industries and communities statewide. The Art NM! event is meant to communicate the value of arts and culture in economic development, community renewal and prosperity.
This year’s themes are “Art Unites” and “Resilience and Recovery” to illustrate the importance of arts and culture in communities to unite all people in the power of creativity, particularly in the aftermath of October’s flood that devastated the Roswell Museum building, collections and exhibits. People at all participating locations can donate to the recovery of the Roswell Museum.
“We partner with Creative New Mexico and then invite local cultural organizations to come and represent themselves, to share about upcoming projects or initiatives, events that they may have and promote their mission, and what they offer the community,” said Caroline Brooks, Roswell Museum executive director. “And so, this year, we’re going to have around 12 groups join us at the library. The library is going to be a part of it this year as well. … They’ve been doing a program for a little bit of time now. It’s called a Charlie Cart, and it’s a way that they can teach about cuisine and food making at the library for kids to learn how to cook.”
The Charlie Cart is a portable kitchen. The concept of the Charlie Cart is to teach math, science and culture through food.
The Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico (HSSNM) has been a part of Art NM! Culture Day from the beginning, said Amy McVay Tellez, HSSNM executive director. “There are more groups this year than last year’s, it seems like,” she said. “I feel like it grows every year … . First, when we were contacted by Laurie Rufe, I appreciate her spirit heading this up and creating an opportunity for us to just all come together. … We can’t get enough of this, because to me, we’re all family, and we love to partner with one another and celebrate one another. Because I think one of my favorite things about the event is we all allow ourselves the opportunity to go to all the booths … . To me, it’s a tourism component too. It’s a reminder of all the amazing things that all of these organizations do. We’re all often so busy at our own site; (this is) the opportunity to celebrate what everybody else is doing, and we really get excited for each other. I wish we could do more. … You know, even with them going through what they’re going through (the flood), we can partner with the Roswell Museum. It just is a reminder that we’re all family, and we want to gather together. And I’m very thankful for the Roswell Public Library,” McVay Tellez said.
Brooks said that the Iris Society will be attending the event and participating in the hands-on activities with fresh flowers. At their booth, attendees can learn how to arrange them.
Asked about the best age group for the events, she said, “We have some hands-on activities which are not just limited to kids, because adults can do the hands-on activities as well. … Some things might be more geared towards adults, and some things more for kids. So I would say it’s really for all ages.”
Asked about updates on the museum, Brooks said, “The city has been very supportive and positive about the return of the museum. There (are) just a lot of unknowns right now as we work through the process. But something that they keep saying, too, is we’re going to be … bringing back the pottery studio. Don’t you worry. We have to have a place for our students to go.”
Meanwhile, some of the classes have been moved to Bone Springs Art Space, she said.
Many of the local arts and culture organizations that contribute to citizens’ well-being in Roswell will be present at this year’s Art NM! event to showcase their programs and offer hands-on activities for children and adults. Local partners include Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, Bone Springs Art Space, Creative New Mexico, HSSNM, Miniatures and Curious Collections Museum, Pecos Valley Iris Society, Pecos Valley Quilters, Phillips Second Street Studio, Roswell Fine Arts League and Peggy Krantz Art, Roswell Jazz Festival, Roswell Museum, Roswell Public Library and the Roswell Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to Roswell, the communities participating in this year’s event are Silver City, Farmington, Gallup, Rio Rancho and Carlsbad.
Funding for ART NM! comes, in part, from a grant through New Mexico Arts, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. The Roswell Women’s Club and the Roswell Museum and Art Center Foundation are providing additional support for the Roswell-based event and the Roswell Museum’s Second Saturday. To learn more about Creative New Mexico and its activities or to join its network of creative advocates, visit the website at creativenewmexico.org. For more information about Roswell’s Art NM! event, visit roswell-nm.gov/342/events or call 575-624-6744.