Bulletin report
The New Mexico Watercolor Society (NMWS) Fall 2023 Juried Exhibition is being held at the Doña Ana Arts Council Gallery from December 1-28. The exhibit, entitled “A Happy Place” includes 59 recent works from 46 talented New Mexico watercolor artists from throughout the state.
Sponsored by the Southern Chapter of NMWS, the selected pieces include a wide range of subject matter including landscapes, portraits, florals, and still life in styles both realistic and abstract which depict some aspect of the artists’ own personal “Happy Place.”
These paintings can be viewed at the Doña Ana Arts Council Gallery, open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 230 S. Water St. A free artist’s reception will be noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
The Gallery will also have extended hours during this exhibit until 8 p.m. for the First Friday Ramble Dec. 1 and on two Saturdays: Dec. 2 and 16 from 1-3 p.m. The gallery will be closed for the Christmas holidays Dec. 21-26.
Each year the Southern Chapter of NMWS puts out a call to members statewide to enter water media paintings in a juried show.
“Many visitors to the gallery will recognize works by local artists as well as NMWS members from northern New Mexico,” chapter president Karen Steinberg said. “They may also discover new favorites among the many talented artists included in this show.”
The judge assigning awards to individual paintings in this exhibit is Sally Kohl, a Las Cruces artist and a member of the Artists of Picacho Hills. Her work is exhibited and sold in numerous venues in Las Cruces. Awards for the exhibition will be revealed on the evening of Dec. 1.
The New Mexico Watercolor Society was founded in 1969 and has more than 300 members statewide. The Southern Chapter of the NMWS, founded in 2001, provides many services to its members and the local community. Meetings are held September through May, the second Sunday of the month, at 2 p.m. in the Good Samaritan Village activity room. Meetings provide an opportunity to network with fellow artists, view watercolor demonstrations and visit with guest artists. The meetings are free and open to the public. The Southern Chapter serves southern counties of New Mexico and the El Paso area. Learn more about the NMWS and the Southern Chapter at nmwatercolorsociety.org.
