Now through March 28^th, 2010

The Preston Contemporary Art Center in Mesilla will be hosting the 2010 Winter Exhibition featuring the works of Peter Zelle, Alan Weinstein, Malaika Charbonneau and others.  [INFO:  523-8713]

On-Going Theater and Cultural  Events

(These events occur on the date or dates listed in bold)

Now through February 26^th

The Friends of the Branigan Library and the City of Las Cruces are accepting submissions into the young adult video competition through February 26^th.  Individuals in grades 6 through 12 can enter a 3 to 5 minute video reviewing a favorite book, movie or television show. All Entries must be received by February 26^th at the Branigan Library. Prizes will be awarded for 1^st and 2^nd place.  [INFO:  528-4000]

Friday, February 19^th through Sunday, March 7^th

The American Southwest Theatre Company at New Mexico State University Theatre Arts present the premier of THE EURYDICE (your-a-dee-say) PROJECT by local playwright Tom Smith, Friday, February 19 through Sunday, March 7^th at the Hershel Zohn Theatre on the NMSU campus. Performances are Thursdays at 7pm, Friday and Saturday performances at 8p, and Sunday matinees at 2p. [INFO: 646-4515 or 1-800-646-ASTC]

Tuesday, February 23^rd through Thursday, February 25^th

Las Cruces High School presents Dracula Tuesday, February 23^rd through Thursday, February 25^th at the Rio Grande theater on the Downtown Mall.  Showtime is 8pm.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO: $10 general admission, $5 students. For more information call (575) 496-4805]

Now through the end of April

Creative Writing Workshops will be offered by Women Roadwriters on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month thru April at the NMSU Corbett Center, information desk on the 2nd floor. Workshop times are

5:45 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and are free of charge and open to all women writers of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction.  Kate Salazar, LeeAnn Meadows, and Maria Torres will facilitate the workshops.   [INFO: 915-383-0964]

Short-Term Events

(These events occur on the date or dates listed in bold)

General message for “The Love of Art” Month (February).  (second week)

Throughout the month of February, area galleries, theaters, homes, studios and other locations will be celebrating For the Love of Art Month with demonstrations, exhibits, performances and shows.  This week, The Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery in Mesilla will be holding an opening reception for the “My Masterpiece” exhibit featuring 30 artists, the New Horizons Symphony orchestra will be performing on Thursday (see below), The Mesilla Valley Fractal Artists will have an opening on Saturday at the funky Karma Incense and Tea Shop, Love Letters will be performed at the Black Box Theater on the Downtown Mall and several private studios will be hosting open houses on Saturday.   More information on all the events of For the Love of Art month can be found by going to their website artformsnm.org. 

Monday, February 8^th
The Maryvale Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of James Yancey, will perform at the Atkinson Recital hall at 7:30 p.m. Yancey, who earned his masters at NMSU, founded the ensemble, which is based in Arizona but travels widely.  The concert is free. [INFO: 646-2067]

Thursday, February 11^th

In celebration of For the Love of Art Month, the New Horizons Symphony Orchestra will perform a free Pops Concert on Thursday, February 11, at 7:30 p.m. at NMSU’s Atkinson Recital Hall.  The group will perform popular songs such as “Star Wars Medley”, “The Syncopated Clock” and “Night on Bald Mountain” Guest artists La Cella Bella will perform several arrangements of popular music.  [INFO: l 575-523-9101]

Thursday, February 11^th through Saturday, February 13^th

The 2010 production of the Vagina Monologues will take place Thursday, February 11^th through Saturday, February 13^th at Alma de Arte charter school in Las Cruces.  Proceeds will benefit the women of Casa Amiga, the rape crisis shelter of Ciudad Juarez. The performance will be at 7:00pm every night.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door. [INFO: 575-635-6430]

Saturday, February 13^th

The Mimbres Region Arts Council presents the annual Chocolate Fantasia event on Saturday, February 13^th from 12-4 p.m. at various locations in Downtown Silver City.  From 6:30-9 p.m., the event “X’ocotal: an evening of xtreme chocolate” will be held at the Gila House, 400 W. Market St. Tickets for both events are available in advance or at the door. [INFO: $15 members; $20 non-members.  t www.mimbresarts.org or by calling 538-2505]

Saturday, February 13^th and Sunday, February 14th
Steve Smith and Chris Sanders will perform songs from their new CD, "Signs Along the Road, at the Pinch & Swallow Art Gallery in Truth or Consequences at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13. On Valentine's Day, they'll be singing at the White Sands Golf Course Annual Valentine Tourney with special guest Anne Luna. [INFO: 575-894-5040 for TorC event; 575-678-1759 for WSMR event] [INFO:575-894-5040]

Saturday, February 13

The Rio Grande Theater presents the La Catrina String Quartet in concert on Saturday, February 13^th at the theater.  Showtime is 7:30pm. Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO: Tickets are $10. For more information, contact the Las Cruces Friends Of Chamber Music at (575) 523-7714 or visit the official website at www.LaCatrinaQuartet.com]

Saturday, February 13^th
Award-winning Country & Pop singer/songwriter Lee Greenwood performs a special Valentine's Eve concert at the Spencer Theater in Alto, NM at 8 p.m.[INFO: www.spencertheater.com.

Saturday, February 13^th

The NMSU Symphonic Winds, Ken Van Winkle conducting, will perform a concert featuring clarinet soloist John Tegmeyer at 7:30 p.m. at the Atkinson Recital Hall.

Saturday, February 13^th

Azucar will provide music for dancing at the seventh annual “Valentine Ball” to be held on Saturday, February 13th, from 7:00 PM till Midnight in the Signature Showroom of the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. The admission price includes a buffet dinner served from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Proceeds from this event benefit the El Paso Friends of Jazz Society’s Mary & Eddie Davis Scholarship Fund. [INFO: (915) 592-1357]

Saturday, February 13^th

"La Cella Bella cello quartet will be playing at St. Clair Bistro on Saturday, February 13 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.  [INFO: 649-5135]

Sunday, February 14^th

The Sunday Afternoon Big Band Tea Dances featuring Bob Burns and The Mike Caranda Orchestra are moving to the El Paso Country Club beginning Sunday, February 14^th.  The Band will be playing tangos, cumbias, chachas, waltzes, West Coast Swing, sambas, mambos, fox trots and more. Tickets are available in advance or at the door.   [INFO: (575)525-9333 or (915)799-5684]

Sunday, February 14^th 

The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra presents a special Chamber Orchestra Concert featuring guest artist Bracha (Brock-ah) Malkin on violin performing music of Mendelssohn and Mozart.   Showtime is 3pm. Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO:  Tickets are $15 general admission and $5 for students with ID. For more information, contact the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra at (575) 646-3709]

Sunday, February 14^th

A Hymn Festival Concert will feature guest organist, choir director and composer Michael Burkhardt, the NMSU University Singers, the Doña Ana Youth Choir and an expanded adult choir. The concert will be at 4:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, on Boutz Road in Las Cruces. The public is invited. [Info: 575-532-9239]

Thursday, February 18^th

The Mimbres Region Arts Council presents an evening with the Artist Lecture featuring printmaker Hui (wee) Chu Ying at 6:30pm at Parotti Hall on the Western New Mexico Campus.  The event is free and open to the public.   [INFO: www.mimbresarts.org or by calling 538-2505]

Friday, February 19th and Saturday, February 20^th  

The New Mexico State University Dance program seniors will present “iDance,” a student choreography showcase, on Friday, February 19^th and Saturday, February 20^th at 7:00pm. Performances will be held at the Performing Arts Center at Oñate High School. Performers will include members of NMSU’s Contemporary Dance Theater, the Aggie DanceSport Club, and guest dancers from El Paso.  Dance styles represented in the program will include jazz, contemporary, bollywood, paso doble and tango.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO: (575) 646-207o]

Friday, February 19^th

Chuck Pyle, the Zen Cowboy, will be performing in Silver City at a house concert Friday, Feb. 19^th, 7 p.m. [INFO: For details and reservations call 575-640-7952]

Friday, February 19^th

La Cella Bella cello quartet will be performing at the St. Clair Bistro on Friday, February 19 in Mesilla from 6:30 to 9:30pm.   [INFO: 649-5135]

Saturday, February 20^th

The Las Cruces Museum of Art features “Warholed:  Poetry and Pop Culture” is a poetry reading about Andy Warhol, Warhol’s iconic images and more generally, popular culture. The event on Saturday, February 20^th from 11am to 12:30pm, features local and area poets Peter Brooks, Wayne Crawford, Billy Garrett, Camillo Roldan, Michael Mandel, Gwendolyn-Joyce Mintz, John Pate, Dick Thomas, Lawrence Welsh, Robbie Wendeborn, Joshua Wheeler and Ellen Roberts Young. It is free and open to the public. [INFO:

Saturday, February 20^th 2010

The Dona Ana Arts Council presents Pianist Teresa Walters in concert as part of their 2009-2010 Cultural Series, Saturday, February 20^th at 7:30pm at the Rio Grande Theater.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO:  RioGrandeTheater.com or 575 523 6403]

Sunday, February 21^st 

The Silver City-Western New Mexico University International Film Society will be showing their next film “Disengagement” on Sunday, February 21^st at the Real West Cinema in Silver City.  Show time is 4pm.  [INFO: scfilmsoc@zianet.co]

Sunday, February 21^st 

Saxophonist Daniel Marcos Gomez will be giving his Graduate Degree Recital at 7:30 PM, Sunday, February 21^st in the NMSU Atkinson Recital Hall. Works presented will include compositions by Alfred Desenclos, Karel Husa, Jacob TV, Philip Glass, and Astor Piazzolla.  The recital is free and open to the public.  [INFO: 806-535-7500 dmgomez1@nmsu.edu]

Sunday, February 21^st 

The Mesilla Valley concert Band presents a new Ken Neidig (NY-dig) setting of a Mozart Horn Concerto on Sunday, February 21^st at 3pm at the Atkinson Recital Hall.  [INFO:  646-24-21]

Sunday, February 21^st 

The Mesilla Valley Jazz & Blues Society presents: MACK GOLDSBURY with the New Impressions Trio ob Sunday, February 21^st at 7:00 PM with social time at 6:30 PM.  The performance will be held at First Christian church on El Paseo in Las Cruces.  [INFO: Fees are $1 students, $5 members, and $8 non-members. Contact Bob Burns at 575-525-9333 for information]

Wednesday, February 24^th

The Mimbres Region Arts Council presents a special evening with Greg Brown on Wednesday, February 24^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Silco Theater, at 311 North Bullard street.   [INFO: ($20 members; $25 non-members.  www.mimbresarts.org or by calling 538-2505]

Friday, February 26^th

KRWG radio personalities and popular local musicians Bob Burns and Benjy Rivas will take the Rio Grande Theatre stage for a special concert to benefit the KRWG Radio.  Showtime is 7pm. Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO: KRWG offices in Milton Hall at (575) 646-2222]

Saturday, February 27^th

As part of ArtForm’s “Love of Art” month, a reprise of last year’s “For the Love of Lit” will take place at the Branigan Cultural Center on Saturday, February 27^th from 11am to 1pm.  The reading is hosted by poet Wayne Crawford, and features local poets and writers. Among those participating are Sheila Black, Peter Brooks, Floydd Elliott, Billy Garrett, John Pate, Bob Sanchez, Ann Sellemi, Bud Russo, Joe Somoza, Joe Speer, Tim Staley, Larry Stocker, Joanne Townsend, Dick Thomas, Diane Walker, and Ellen Roberts Young. Each will read for approximately five minutes.  It is free and open to the public.  [INFO: (575) 541-8073  artformsnm.org]

Sunday, February  28

The Las Cruces Civic Concert Association continues their season with the El Paso Brass in concert on Sunday, February 28^th at the Rio Grande Theater.  The El Paso Brass will be performing the program “From Bach to the Beatles” featuring selections from their repertoire, covering the total spectrum of brass quintet literature. Showtime is 3pm.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO: (575) 521-4051]

 Monday, March 1^st 2010

The Dona Ana Arts Council presents The Glenn Miller Orchestra in concert as part of their 2009-2010 Cultural Series, Monday, March 1^st at 7pm at the Rio Grande Theater.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO:  RioGrandeTheater.com or 575 523 6403]

Tuesday, March 23^rd 2010

The Dona Ana Arts Council presents The Vienna Boys Choir in concert as part of their 2009-2010 Cultural Series, Tuesday, March 23^rd at 6pm and 8pm at the Rio Grande Theater.  Tickets are available in advance or at the door.  [INFO:  RioGrandeTheater.com or 575 523 6403]