MUSEUMS
Current Exhibits
A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico
October 6 - December 23, 2023
The history, heritage, and traditions of Dia de los Muertos have deep roots in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, roots that are often lost in modern times. This photograph exhibition presents the heritage and traditions of the celebration in and around Oaxaca, Mexico. It focuses on the rituals within the family and home, the preparations for the festivities, and the community activities found in Day of the Dead celebrations. Images of ofrendas (offerings) to departed family members, traditional items sold at the central market, the making of hot chocolate, and finally the journey to the cemetery are all presented in this wonderful, comprehensive look at an ancient Oaxaca tradition.
This traveling exhibition was developed by the Field Museum in collaboration with Mars, Incorporated.
The Amadors: Family, Culture, and Identity in Early Las Cruces
October 20, 2023-January 13, 2024
The influence of the Martin and Refugio Amador family in the early development of Las Cruces is examined in this exhibit through Amador family papers, letters, photographs, and business records. It highlights the experiences of Mexican American families living in the Mesilla Valley during the late-19th and early-20th centuries. In many aspects, the Amador’s story exemplifies the transborder experience of Mexican families living along the U.S. side of the international boundary following the Mexican American War, as they adjusted to new social, economic, educational, and political systems of the United States while holding on to their Mexican identities and cultural values.
This exhibition was curated by the staff of the New Mexico State University Library, Archives, and Special Collections using documents from the Amador family papers.
Current Exhibit
Artistas de la Fronterizas – Artists of the Borderland
October 6–December 16, 2023
Artistas de la Fronterizas- Borderland Contemporary Artists features a diverse group of sixteen contemporary artists from local Borderland communities, including Las Cruces, El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The participating artists initially were selected from a 2021 call for art by the Las Cruces Museum of Art that was presented virtually over a period of 13 months on the Las Cruces Museums social media platforms. In this exhibit, the artists showcase their artwork-most of which are new creations-in the physical space of the museum’s gallery.
This exhibit specifically highlights works from minoritized communities, which in this case are artists with Hispanic and Latino origins. The Museum of Art chose to focus on upcoming and prominent Hispanic and Latino artists to celebrate and recognize their importance to the Borderland art world and its culture.