OutsmART: Pinch Pot Workshop
Saturday, March 23, 2024; 1-2:30 pm
Ceramics Studio, room 122 in Devasthali Hall

Taking inspiration from the Mata Ortiz pottery in the museum’s collection, participants will learn from Maggie Day, NMSU professor and ceramic artist, to learn introductory techniques and create their own pinch pots with clay. Pottery will be fired for participants to pick up in Devasthali Hall at a later date, when participants can then take home their finished glazed ceramic pieces.

Maggie Day is a ceramic based multimedia installation artist from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Day received her Bachelors in Fine Art From New Mexico State University in 2017 and her Master’s in Fine Art in 2021. She is currently teaching ceramics at NMSU and Dona Ana Community College as well as teaching STEAM in the Las Cruces Public School for Cruces Creatives.

OutsmART: Zine Workshop with Esperanza Luz
Saturday, March 2, 2024; 1-2:30 pm
Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106) in Devasthali Hall

Zines, short for “magazines,” are self-published literary/art booklets that offer a powerful way to directly share our ideas with the world around us. In conjunction with Celia Álvarez Muñoz: Breaking the Binding, please join us for a free zine workshop led by Esperanza Luz. Participants will learn how to make their own 8-fold or pamphlet stitch zine, have a chance to explore the exhibit, and learn a bit about the history of zines. 

Esperanza is a writer, geographer and zine lover from Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is passionate about learning slow crafts, land-based practices, thinking with place, and experimental cartographies. She's been making zines since she was a teenager and sees them as awesome tools of expressive empowerment and reflection. A New Zine Atlas of Las Cruces and mini-pop up zine library will be available at the event. 

OutsmART: Bookmaking & Storytelling
November 4, November 18, December 2

NMSU Art Museum invites you to participate in a series of bookmaking workshops related to the current exhibition Celia Álvarez Muñoz: Breaking the Binding and its accompanying publication. Participants will tour the exhibit, learn introductory bookmaking techniques from regional artists, and use these new skills to create books for their own artwork and storytelling. Participation in all workshops is not required, but encouraged as some skills will build on the first initial workshop. Our third workshop on December 2 will be offered in Spanish. These workshops run in collaboration with Celia Álvarez Muñoz’s retrospective exhibition, Breaking the Binding, and participants can choose to exhibit their books with the University Art Museum in the Mullenix Gallery, alongside Celia’s murals as part of a growing collection of stories from our shared communities. All ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend.

OutsmART: Creacion de libros y historias con Iris Diaz
Wednesday, December 2, 2023; 1pm- 3pm
Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106) in Devasthali Hall

This iteration of Bookmaking and Storytelling workshop will be in Spanish, with El Paso/Juarez artist Iris Diaz.

Los participantes se inspirarán en la exposición de Celia Álvarez Muñoz para ilustrar sus propias historias. Este taller pedirá a los participantes que crear personajes e ilustran su historia en las páginas de sus libros hecho a mano. Trabajaremos con materiales artesanales, usando marcadores y lápices para ilustrar nuestras historias. Este taller se realiza en conjunto con la exhibición Celia Alvarez: Breaking the Binding y los participantes pueden optar por exhibir sus libros en la galería Mullenix junto con el trabajo de Celia Alvarez Muñoz.

Participants will take inspiration from Celia Alvarez Munoz’s exhibition to illustrate stories of travel, migration, and crossing. This workshop will ask participants to create a character and illustrate their story across the pages of their handmade book. We will be working with craft materials, using markers and pencils to illustrate our stories. These workshops are in conjunction with Celia Alvarez: Breaking the Binding and participants can choose to exhibit their books in the Mullenix gallery alongside Celia Alvarez Munoz’s work.

OutsmART: Bookmaking Basics with Maeve Leslie
Saturday, November 18, 2023; 1pm- 3pm
Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106) in Devasthali Hall

In the second part of our Bookmaking and Storytelling workshops, students will tour Celia Álvarez Muñoz: Breaking the Binding and learn introductory bookmaking techniques from Denver artist Maeve Leslie to create artist books that break the boundaries of traditional book formats. Participants will use craft materials to cut, paste, and color their artist books with hard covers. Afterwards, participants can choose to exhibit their finished book in the museum’s Mullenix Bridge Gallery, or take their personalized artist book home to share.  Maeve Leslie is a Filipina-American artist and the daughter of an immigrant. Her current work revolves around both her and her mother’s journey in America and explores these topics through bookmaking, papermaking, and fiber arts.

OutsmART: Bookmaking & Storytelling: Accordion Books
Saturday, November 04, 2023; 10am- 2pm
Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106) in Devasthali Hall

In this workshop, students will learn basic a book-making technique to create accordion-fold books that tell stories of their choosing. Working with craft materials, markers, pencils, and crayons, students will create and decorate their accordion books with stories of their choosing. Participants can choose to exhibit their finished artist book in the museum’s Mullenix Bridge Gallery, exhibited alongside Celia Alvarez Munoz’s murals in Breaking the Binding.

OutsmART: Imprints of Home with Eva Gabriella Flynn
Saturday, August 19th, 2023 , 1:00-2:30pm 
Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106) in Devasthali Hall

What would an imprint of our landscape look like? What textures or colors describe a site that’s important to you? In this workshop we will use alternative painting techniques with sand, concrete, and collage materials to create textured paintings on wooden panels. Local artist and educator Eva Gabriella Flynn will lead participants through a tour of Cara Despain’s exhibit Specter New Mexico currently on display at the UAM where we will take inspiration to make artworks that reflect our surrounding landscapes. All supplies for this project will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own collage materials. 

OutsmART: Nicho Making with Sara Edenburn Harper
May 27th, 2023; 1:00pm-2:30pm
Location: The Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106) in Devasthali Hall

Join local artist, Sara Edenburn Harper, as she shares with us about the traditional Mexican practice of retablos and the nichos made to protect and honor them. We’ll explore the Retablo’s currently on display at the NMSU Art Museum’s exhibition “Icons & Retablos: The Blessings of Christ on Home Altars” learning more about their traditional use in home altars. Participants will also get the chance to make their own decorated paper nicho to take home and share. All supplies for this project will be provided so just bring yourself and your friends!

OutsmART: Nature Walk with Ashley Diane Saldana
Saturday, April 29th from 10:00-11:30 am
Where: La Llorona Multi-Use Path Trailhead

Intersection of Calle del Norte and River Levee Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88005

In this workshop, artist Ashley Diane Saldana will take us on a nature walk and practice creative field writing and sketching. Walking in nature allows us to be more observant, curious and attuned to our senses while noticing the smaller details of the world around us. Saldana, will share more about her art making practice followed by a short, guided walk and journaling along the Rio Grande. (Sketchbooks and drawing materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own. Please bring water and wear comfortable shoes.)

Saldana’s work will be on display in the University Art Museum’s, “Echoes of an Empty Space: MFA Thesis Exhibition” from April 28th until May 20th. 

OutsmART: Weaving a Landscape Workshop with Rebecca Smith
Saturday, March 4th, 1:00-2:30pm
The Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106)

In this OutsmART workshop, we will learn about the techniques of weaving and how to use yarn as a medium for creating works of art. Artist and weaver Rebecca Smith, an alumna of NMSU’s Department of Art and current Student Program Coordinator, will highlight her experience and work as a weaver  guiding us through her process of creating woven landscapes. Participants will then create their own landscapes with yarn on small looms provided by the museum. Currently, Rebecca Smith's art is on display in the University Art Museum’s newest show, “Together Through as Within.”

OutsmART: Creation from Meditation Workshop with Tauna Cole
Saturday, February 18th, 1:00-2:30pm
The Zane Bennett Collection Study Room (RM 106)

Our own NMSU Department of Art professor Tauna Cole will share her practice in this workshop highlighting breathwork as a source for visualizing imagery and using the medium of watercolors to create. This workshop will demonstrate different breathing techniques to take us inside ourselves, bringing awareness to the body, allowing for deeper visualization. These moments will be an opportunity for demonstrating individuality, connection and creating images that can be considered a genuine expression of the moment.

Tauna Cole’s own meditation work is on display in the University Art Museum’s newest show, “Together Through as Within.” 

OutsmART Ex-Voto Collage Workshops
October 22, November 5, November 19, 2022

NMSU Art Museum invites students ages K-12 and their families to participate in three art-making workshops related to the current exhibition Contemporary Ex-Votos: Devotion Beyond Medium. Students will learn about historic ex-votos, contemporary Latinx artists, and important themes of the exhibition. They will be invited to make personal ex-votos, learning to use collage skills and various techniques along the way. Participation in all three workshops is not required, but recommended, since each workshop will build on skills learned in the previous workshop. While these classes will be geared towards K-12 participants, all ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend. Parents and guardians are welcome.

October 22, 1pm: “Ex-voto Collage Workshop” with El Paso artist Bella Maria Varela

In this workshop, students will make personal ex-votos. Working with craft materials, magazine clippings, and photos, students will cut and paste to make a collaged ex-voto expressing gratitude for something they are thankful to have in their lives. The final result will be a physical collage that will be showcased in the museum’s Mullenix Bridge Gallery. 

Spend some time thinking about someone or something you are grateful to have in your life. Bring an image from home that reminds you of that person or thing; one that you don't mind cutting up.

More Information on OutsmART Ex-Votos Collage Workshops Events below:

Ex-Voto Collage Workshop: Animation
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 1PM

In this workshop, Bella Maria Varela and Emmanuel Ramos-Barrajas will work with students to make personal digital animated ex-votos. Working with the R4VE App on their cell phones, images of objects from the collection, and photos from home, students will be guided through creating a digital animated collage. The final video GIF will be a digital collage that will be showcased on the museum’s social media.

Spend some time thinking about someone or something you are grateful to have in your life and have a digital photo representing that on your phone. Bring an iPad if you have one.

Please download the R4VE Collage App.   iPhone or 🤖 Android

You may also log into Photoshop Express Mobile App — IT’S FREE!

For more information click here

Ex-Voto Collage Workshop: Mixed Media
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 1PM

In this workshop, Bella Maria Varela will teach students to make personal ex-votos. Working with craft materials, magazine clippings, and photos, students will cut and paste to make a collaged ex-voto expressing gratitude for something they are thankful to have in their lives. The final result will be a physical collage that will be showcased in the museum’s Mullennix Bridge Gallery.

Spend some time thinking about someone or something you are grateful to have in your life. Bring an image from home that reminds you of that person or thing; one that you don't mind cutting up.

For more information click here

OutsmART Ex-Voto Collage Workshops
October 22, November 5, November 19, 2022

NMSU Art Museum invites students ages K-12 and their families to participate in three art-making workshops related to the current exhibition Contemporary Ex-Votos: Devotion Beyond Medium. Students will learn about historic ex-votos, contemporary Latinx artists, and important themes of the exhibition. They will be invited to make personal ex-votos, learning to use collage skills and various techniques along the way. Participation in all three workshops is not required, but recommended, since each workshop will build on skills learned in the previous workshop. While these classes will be geared towards K-12 participants, all ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend. Parents and guardians are welcome.

October 22, 1pm: “Ex-voto Collage Workshop” with El Paso artist Bella Maria Varela

In this workshop, students will make personal ex-votos. Working with craft materials, magazine clippings, and photos, students will cut and paste to make a collaged ex-voto expressing gratitude for something they are thankful to have in their lives. The final result will be a physical collage that will be showcased in the museum’s Mullenix Bridge Gallery. 

Spend some time thinking about someone or something you are grateful to have in your life. Bring an image from home that reminds you of that person or thing; one that you don't mind cutting up.

More Information on OutsmART Ex-Votos Collage Workshops Events below:

Saint Joseph & The Laborers, Retablo Making Workshop:
Karen Conley, in collaboration with the Dona Ana Arts Council
By Appointment from Feb 20 - Nov 6, 2021

The New Mexico State University Art Museum hosted its first Spring 2021 virtual program in connection with their newest exhibition, “Saint Joseph & The Laborers.” The exhibit, curated by NMSU graduate student Courtney Uldrich, delves into the role of the laborer through the lens of Mexican retablo imagery. The exhibition will be on display in the Margie and Bobby Rankin Retablo Gallery by appointment from Feb. 20 through Nov. 6.

A retablo is a devotional painting of saints, religious personages or votive offerings traditionally created on small sheets of tin-coated iron. There are two types of retablos: the Santos and Ex-voto. Their purpose is to induce spiritual qualities of love, respect, devotion, faith, sacrifice and humility directed toward the person or thing they represent.

OutsmART Event- Embroidering a Feminist History

Saturday May 7th, 1:00pm 

Located at the UAM, with a digital option available for participation from home.

This OutsmART event will be led by Las Cruces based embroidery artist, Bethany Meier from Queer and Crafty Creations. Meier will lead students through a workshop to create their own embroidery artwork that symbolizes and reflects on important women in their lives. This workshop will include age-appropriate options for children, and will end with participants able to take their original artworks home with them! A digital version of the option will be available at the UAM’s website, and we encourage anyone who participates from home to post or send a photo of their artwork and tag the UAM. 

Bethany Meier-Evans is a local art vendor and the owner of Queer and Crafty Creations. She started embroidering as a pandemic hobby in the spring of 2020 and loved it so much that she has turned it into a successful small business! When Bethany is not making embroidered art or hanging out at local art shows, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and their pets! As someone who is passionate about women's rights, Bethany is excited to have an opportunity to connect women's history with her love of embroidery! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy @QueerandCraftyCreations! 

Community Performance Workshop W/Nikesha Breeze
University Art Museum, Devasthali Hall
Date: Saturday, February 12, 1:00PM

This OutsmART Children’s Workshop is presented by the artist Nikesha Breeze this community performance workshop will invite students and participants into the practice of community ritual making and altar building. Students will work together to create a communal offering made from plants, hand made objects and sacred materials and will create a small ritual to present it. Supplies will be provided and will include: Fresh flowers, glitter, glue sticks, colored paper, scissors and salt!

Community Performance Workshop W/Nikesha Breeze
University Art Museum, Devasthali Hall
Date: Saturday, February 12, 1:00PM

This OutsmART Children’s Workshop is presented by the artist Nikesha Breeze this community performance workshop will invite students and participants into the practice of community ritual making and altar building. Students will work together to create a communal offering made from plants, hand made objects and sacred materials and will create a small ritual to present it. Supplies will be provided and will include: Fresh flowers, glitter, glue sticks, colored paper, scissors and salt!

The B.E. Group’s Theater Performance Workshop
University Art Museum, Devasthali Hall
Date: Saturday, February 26, 1:00PM

This OutsmART Children’s Workshop is presented by the The B.E. Group! What’s The B.E. Group’s Theater Performance Workshop? We’ll begin with a warm-up icebreaker with introductions, movement and engagement.  Next, we’ll highlight “Theater” jobs and famous people who’ve held those positions.  We’ll end with teaching and performing a popular Broadway scene with singing and more movement!  Students will walk away with a new outlook into the world of theater and a prop that they’ll create themselves. If you’ve wondered what it takes to produce and direct a theater performance, join us for this fun-filled workshop!

We are advocates for performance that pays.  We want to inspire artists from novice to professional to pursue their passion and get paid a sustainable livable income, when doing so.

OutsmART: TODAY’S KIDS / TOMORROW’S ARTISTS: SATURDAY ART WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AT THE UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM AT NMSU

OutsmART is a series of Saturday interactive art workshops exploring the power of art to impact children’s everyday lives.  All ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend.  Parents and guardians are invited to come to the classes.

Each workshop is related to artwork exhibited in the University Art Museum.  Last year, participants learned about traditional art practices, for example, making mosaics, monoprints, and retablos, but also tackled more conceptual topics like propaganda in art, cultural stereotypes, environmental issues, and even participated in performance art. 

The mission of OutsmART is to expose children to art through exploration and play through workshops in the NMSU University Art Museum focused on exhibitions, practicing artists, and participatory play-based creative learning activities that boost student confidence and imagination. Through these free mixed-media classes, we strengthen community ties, provide a resource for families and educators, and promote artistic skills that contribute to New Mexico’s creative economy. All workshops, as well as the culminating children’s art show, are free to the public.

Saturday, June 20, 2020, 1PM MST (Offline workshop available by printing the PDF here. )

OutsmART Children’s Program: “Wild Beasts” Project for the Fierce Mama’s & Babes Artist to know: Henri Matisse with Mama’s Leche Illustrator: Mia Ortiz-Gandara 

Out first OutsmART children’s workshop was prepared by Mia Ortiz-Gandara, the illustrator of Mama’s Leche. Mia Ortiz-Gandara, an illustrator and public-school art teacher, lives in El Paso, Texas, with her husband and two sons. She offers private art instruction for people with special needs and is passionate about encouraging and building self-confidence in children by using art as a tool to communicate emotions. In Mia’s OutsmART event, “Wild Beasts,” colorful paper designs will be created, influenced by the artwork of Henri Matisse. With a simple material list of construction paper (magazines also work!), scissors, and glue, children will be able to complete the imaginative process of designing their own artwork! 

 The project is available now for the Mama Create-up event. Click here to download. 

Presented on Saturday, July 11, 2020, 1PM/ Available now online/offline as a self-directed workshop:
OutsmART Children’s Program: Andy Warhol Animal Portraits a workshop by artist/mother Isadora Stowe

This OutsmArt Children’s Workshop was prepared by Isadora Stowe, an award-winning artist and arts educator. In Isadora’s OutsmART event, “Andy Warhol Animal Portraits” she explores instruction for how to use the blotted line technique used by Andy Warhol in his commercial work during the 1950’s. This technique combines drawing with basic printmaking and enabled Warhol to create a variety of illustrations along a similar stylistic theme. This process will be used to make unique colorful animal illustrations, with a simple material list of black india ink, watercolors, watercolor paper, tracing paper, paintbrush, and pencil! The full project description can be seen and followed here: https://uam.nmsu.edu/andy-warhol-animal-portraits/ This event was not live, and is prerecorded so your children can take part anytime from anywhere. 

Presented on Saturday, July 25, 2020, 1PM/ Available now online/offline as a self directed workshop:
OutsmART Children’s Program: Radial Patterns w/artist mother Zoe Spiliotis

This OutsmArt Children’s Workshop was prepared by Zoe Spiliotis, a local artist, arts educator and mother of two young artists. Zoe’s OutsmART event, Radial Patterns explores the use of radial symmetry and pattern to create beautiful and colorful designs inspired by mandalas (geometric configurations of symbols). With simple materials including paper, pencils, black permanent marker, a ruler, and coloring materials, such as, colored pencils, crayons, markers or watercolor paint, children will be able to design their own symmetrical artwork!  

The project description and material list is available here: https://uam.nmsu.edu/outsmart/ 

Saturday, August 15, 2020, 1PM (Online/Offline self directed workshop available) 
OutsmART Children’s Program: Stop Motion Animation a workshop by artist/mother Sharbani Das Gupta

This OutsmArt Children’s Workshop will be prepared by Sharbani Das Gupta an installation and sculpture artist who works with clay and other media. In this workshop Sharbani will demonstrate how to create a simple animation using playdoh, a pet rock, other commonly available materials, and a smartphone camera. The animation can then be completed by making a small flipbook or by using  simple online animation software.

If you do not have access to these materials, the UAM will be producing a limited amount of kits for local families designed for this project that will be safely prepared and sterilized, and can be picked up via drive-up on Saturday AM August 15th, between 10:00 -11:00 am MST in the University Art Museum parking lot located just outside Devasthali Hall on the east side. Please call 575-646-2545 for directions or for any questions. The full project description will be released athttps://uam.nmsu.edu/stopmotionanimation/ on Saturday August 15th, at 1PM in conjunction with the Mama Create-up event. This event is not live, and is prerecorded so your children can take part anytime from any where. 

 The project is available now for the Mama Create-up event. Click here to download.