Exhibitions
Here are exhibitions planned throughout 2012 that support the theme of Remarkable Women. Click on the sponsoring institution's link to learn more about each exhibit. New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts is planning complementary programming throughout New Mexico, including specific Taos events.
Harwood Museum of Art
Agnes Martin: Before the Grid
February 25-June 17
The year 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Agnes Martin (born on March 22, 1912). To commemorate this occasion, and to celebrate Martin’s significant connection to Taos and to the Harwood Museum of Art, the museum will present an exhibition of a little known body of Martin’s paintings dating from the late 1940s and 1950s. Agnes Martin: Before the Grid will trace the entire span of Martin’s early work, beginning with early portraits, a still life, and landscapes. The direction towards abstraction will be evident in several biomorphic works and early geometric paintings. If sufficient funding is secured, the museum will host a symposium on March 23 and 24. This exhibition is an Official Project of the New Mexico Centennial.
Beatrice Mandelman: Centennial
July 7-October 14
An exhibition celebrating the centennial of the birth of Taos Modernist Beatrice Mandelman. The exhibition will draw from the Harwood’s permanent collection, which includes a significant gift of work by Beatrice Mandelman from the Mandelman-Ribak Foundation.
Suspension of Disbelief: Six Women Artists
July 7 - October 14
The fantasy worlds of Helen Greene Blumenschien, Barbara Harmon, Frieda Lawrence, Gisella Leoffler, Ila McAfee and Millicent Rogers. This exhibition presents the work of six talented female artists who lived in Taos, New Mexico and created works inspired by fantasy and the aesthetic legacy of Art Nouveau and the Symbolists.
Millicent Rogers Museum
Millicent Rogers: The Power to Create, Collect, and Inspire
Beginning January, ongoing through 2012 (Gallery 1)
The introductory Gallery will be transformed into the legacy of Millicent Rogers. Throughout the year of the woman, Gallery 1 will feature different aspects of what made Millicent the woman that she is today. The first phase of the show will share the “behind the scenes” Millicent. On view will be the jewelry fabricated by Millicent, which has never been on public display before. Jewelry made of gold and silver, creations reminiscent of tribal designs and astrological signs embellished with moonstones, opals, and citrine stones. From the archives of the museum, there will be correspondence from Millicent to her sons, sketches of jewelry designs and pages from Millicent’s original Navajo rug inventories. The second phase which will rotate in will focus on “Millicent in the Limelight.” Velvet skirts and blouses from the collection will show off Navajo and Pueblo jewelry collected by Millicent. Images of her modeling career as well as images as the fashion icon who brought Native style into fashion. Throughout the exhibit, inspirational quotes by Millicent and stories of her life in Taos will be on view, including the famous letter to her son, “Darling Paulie, Did I ever tell you about the feeling I had a little while ago? Suddenly passing Taos Mountain I felt that I was part of the Earth… “
Maria Martinez: Matriarch of San Ildefonso
January through December
Galleries 3 & 4
One of the museum’s gems is the largest Martinez family collection on public display. In addition to the exhibition of Maria Martinez and her pottery, her life as a matriarch of her community will be shared with the public. Her ability to raise a family, continue her involvement in Pueblo life, all while perfecting the art of black on black pottery. Learn about her influence on potters in her village, as well as Native women throughout the southwest.
The Art of the Dress: Four Conceptual Fittings
March 18 - April 15
Feature four Taos artists: Michelle Cooke, mixed media; Nancy Delpero, painter; Deborah Rael-Buckley, sculptor; and Zoe Zimmerman, photographer.
Definition: dress. a one- piece garment for women or girls. Taos has long been known for its “Taos Style” when it comes to clothing and fashion, and in the greater fashion world, dresses have changed dramatically. At the beginning of the 20th century, dresses were weighty and full, making movement slow and cumbersome, reflecting the slow progress of women into mainstream society. As the century unfolded and women gained more rights, their clothing matched their evolving freedoms. As the century progressed, and as women’s roles in society expanded, the dress mirrored this increased mobility. Today, in the early part of the 21st century, just about anything goes when it comes to attire.
How we are dressed tells a lot about us. Dresses indicate our gender, age and stage of life. They offer information about our professions and social status. Wearing a certain style or quality of dress can tell what part of the world we are from and whether we live in a warm or cool climate. The wearing, or not wearing, of a specific style or length of dress can identify our religion, tribe, independence, or point to gender indifference. Garments can suggest stereotypes and sexual objectification, morality and virtue. This exhibition intends toexpand our notion of what a dress is and can be. This exhibition challenges the notion of what a dress is and explores ways in which dresses can reveal us to ourselves, be objects of nostalgia, and offer metaphorical meaning in the early 21st century.
Millicent Rogers & Her Circle
May 12 – September 2
Gallery 10
Taos continues to attract interesting and powerful women. Their social circles and friendships are the things stories are made of. Objects from the collection will tell stories of Millicent Rogers, Dorothy Brett, Rebecca James and Martha Reed. Learn the stories of the buying and trading of collections between Millicent and Mabel Dodge Lujan. The portrait of Millicent Rogers by Dorothy Brett will express the affection of their friendship. The embroidery by Rebecca James which was the result of her infatuation with New Mexican colchas, and the velvet designs by Martha of Taos originally used by MRM Docents in the 70’s.
Unknown Was A Woman
April – December
Throughout Galleries
All too often, important women in the art world go un-noticed. This exhibition will feature pottery, baskets, and weavings by women artists whose work crossed boundaries from creating utilitarian objects, to works of art. These works by unknown artists will inspire all. Also on view will be work by important artists such as Margaret Tafoya, Lucy Lewis, Sophie and Frances Varos Graves, Zoriada Ortega, and Lydia Garcia.
E.L. Blumenschein Home
Out of the Background – The Women Artists of Early Taos
February 10 – May 18
The women artists of early Taos were often the wives, sisters, or daughters of their more prominent male counterparts. Many of these women put their artistic endeavors after their husband’s work and their families. This exhibit brings their art to the forefront. Featured artists: Margaret Brandenburg Baerreis, Helen Greene
Blumenschein, Mary Shepard Greene Blumenschein, Dorothy Schmalhorst Benrimo, Edith Evelyn Higgins Cheetham, Lucille Blazo Wrenn Couse Virginia Walker Couse, Elizabeth Case Harwood, Rebecca Salsbury James, Dora Kaminsky, Barbara Latham, Helen Campbell Martin, Ila McAfee, and Mary Monrad Frederiksen Ufer.
Barbara Sayre Harmon – Magic and Mystery
September 23 – February 3, 2013
Barbara’s métier is fantasy. Inspired at an early age by Arthur Rackham’s watercolor illustrations in The Wind in the Willows, Barbara explored the art of classical fantasy English watercolor. In her mystical, dreamlike images, she tries to bring about a sense of peace and contemplation in the viewer.
Hacienda de los Martinez
Cultural Threads – Nellie Dunton and the Colcha Revival in New Mexico
June 15 – January 6, 2013
Featured will be colchas from the THM’s permanent collections and the hand-colored plates of colcha designs from Nellie Dunton’s the Spanish Colonial Ornament. In the 1930s the Federal Art Project encouraged colcha (a form of embroidery) work in Northern New Mexico. During this time, Nellie Dunton, the former wife of Taos Society of Artists W. Herbert ‘Buck’ Dunton undertook the study of design patterns found on Spanish Colonial colchas. Her published portfolio of hand-colored plates was instrumental in the revival of this art form.
Mabel Dodge Luhan House
Meetings With Remarkable Women
June 1 – 3, 2012
Drawing from the lives of the remarkable women of Taos, both historic and contemporary, this workshop uses Taos as a focusing point to explore a number of questions. Who are the remarkable women of Taos? Why Taos? What about Taos attracts and sustains strong, independent-minded women? What cultivates remarkability? What characteristics in your community help and hinder women's growth? Guided by Lois Rudnick, Mabel's biographer, and featuring special guests, participants will discuss these topics, meet a variety of women whose lives have contributed to the community, write about influences on our own lives, and have "Breakfast with Mabel". Seriousness will be moderated with laughter, storytelling and gourmet meals. For registration, please visit www.mabeldodgeluhan.com.
Taos Town Hall
Remarkable Women Artists of Taos Exhibition
March 6 - September 15, 2012
Over 50 paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, and prints created by women working in Taos in 2012
Part of the "Art in Town Hall" series of public exhibits, open weekdays, 8:00 to 5:00
Curated by Paula Valentine
Parks Gallery and the Encore Gallery of TCA
Melissa Zink Remembered, Paintings & Sculpture, 1975 – 2009
March 24 - April 23
Force of Nature; Three Contemporary Taos Women Artists at the Encore Gallery
October 5 - November 30
An Exhibition of Three Contemporary Artists: Gretchen Ewert, Pat Pollard and Ginger Mongiello
Marx Contemporary Gallery in Peñasco
Ten Remarkable Women Artists
July 14 - October 14
This exhibition highlights the work of 10 exceptional contemporary women artists, all of whom have lived in Taos for over 25 years and continue to be part of Taos’ robust and ever-changing art colony – yesterday and today. Come view this show, talk Taos art, and then have a wonderful lunch across the street at the famous Penasco Sugar Nymphs Bistro Info: 575-779-7097, nickimarx@gmail.com. Exhibiting artists: Kathleen Brennan, Gretchen Ewert, Pozzi Franchetti, Claire Haye, Jennifer Lynch, Ginger Mongiello, Nicki Marx, Carol Savid, Sandra Lerner, and Maye Torres.
Taos Institute of Glass Arts
The Remarkable Women of Glass exhibition
Sept 15 - October 7
Please feel free to add your own exhibits, activities and events to those noted above. For more information and to be included in our visitor outreach, please contact Joanie Griffin at jgriffin@griffinassoc.com or call (505) 261-4444.
We invite you to join us in building and sharing your interpretation of the 2012 creative community theme with visitors from around the world.
2012 kicks off the Remarkable Women of Taos and Northern New Mexico campaign in conjunction with the State of New Mexico’s Centennial Celebration. If you have a profile, thematic show, exhibit, commentary, lectures, classes, tours or any related media you’d like to add, click here for a PDF summary of how to participate.
