The work of several New Mexico and Texas artists will be highlighted during the fall exhibitions at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, September 3 through November 20, 2010.

Artists from New Mexico and Texas have come together through the Ghost Town Arts Collective and will be exhibiting “Down Every Side Street: New Directions in Southwestern Art.” The exhibition will include works in a variety of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, and ceramics.
 
An artist of 40 years, Merry ArtToones uses her knowledge of painting and assemblage to create ceramic sculptures that communicate about serious subject matter through humor. Her latest works are influenced by sources including Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”

Abraham Gelbart’s “Shreddings” includes paintings, prints, and sculpture and is “based on the premise that identity theft is all around”. The series began as sculptures, but soon evolved and includes works representing “data” that can easily be stolen.  
 
Joel Smith’s dynamic abstract paintings have been featured in international exhibitions from New York to Japan. He creates paintings that have their own “persona” and uses vivid colors and spontaneous brush strokes. His “oil paintings do not represent emotion, they transcend it.”  
 
An artists’ reception will be held September 3, 5-7pm.   
 
As of June 1, new gallery hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday.  The Museum of Art is closed Sunday and Monday.

The Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 491 N. Main Street at the end of the downtown mall. For more information, call (575) 541-2137 or visit the website www.las-cruces.org/museums