The Branigan Cultural Center is set to showcase a unique blend of history and artistry with its latest exhibition, 'The Dinner Party: Multicultural Crossroads in Clay.' According to the City of Las Cruces, the exhibit, which runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 18, 2025, is a celebration of the 175th anniversary of Mesilla and Las Cruces, N.M. An opening reception, paired with an awards ceremony, will warmly invite guests to a first look on Nov. 1, from 5-7 p.m. at the cultural hub on 501 N. Main St.
The exhibition is a collaboration with the Potters’ Guild of Las Cruces. Artists from the Guild will honor the momentous anniversary by offering up works that interpret the cultural significance and mesmerizing history of the region through clay. They have managed to innovatively capture themes that echo the spirit of the Southwest, with each of the nine featured artists presenting place settings complete with handmade dinnerware. These articles aren't just plates and bowls, they are adorned motifs that are representative of the landmarks, nature, and even the landscape's influence to tightly interweave past with present.
Drawing a parallel to Judy Chicago's well-known 'The Dinner Party,' this exhibition hopes to equally resonate with viewers. It's more than just an art show, it’s a cultural dialogue articulated through the elemental medium of clay. The pieces prompt introspection on the layers of cultural identity that wrapper Mesilla and Las Cruces, urging viewers to appreciate the profoundly rooted traditions of the Southwest.
The Potters’ Guild of Las Cruces is no newcomer to the local arts scene. Founded in 1981, the Guild began as a modest assembly of Southern New Mexico artists who sensed a dearth of support for pottery and ceramic arts in the region. They set out to hardly build a ceramics community that has since flourished and attracted a diverse array of members, including Native American artists, longtime local families, and newcomers passionate about exploring this form of artistic expression. As the Guild marches into its fifth decade, it continues to position clay as an impactful medium for storytelling and creative articulation.
