The El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) is set to unveil its refreshed Second Floor Galleries this Saturday, injecting new life into the cultural scene with a trio of riveting exhibitions. After improving the venue's HVAC system, the museum will host a series of shows spotlighting works from Judithe Hernández, Tom Lea, and media artist Owen Schwab, according to the El Paso Museum of Art.

With over 80 pieces on display, the "Judithe Hernández: Beyond Myself, Somewhere, I Wait for My Arrival" exhibition is set to be the first expansive look at Hernández's illustrious 50-year career. Organized by The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum and curated by María Esther Fernández, the show features Hernández's acclaimed chalk pastels from the Adam & Eve, Juárez, México, and Colonization series. A video detailing her foray into muralism and activism also accompanies the works, which "reflects the lived realities and mythologies of Mexican migrant women, addressing themes of colonization and the U.S.-Mexico border," as per El Paso Museum of Art.

The second highlighted exhibition, "Tom Lea and Contemporaries", transports visitors to the life and artistic sphere of Tom Lea, an emblematic artist from the Southwest. The exhibition showcases Lea's renowned works alongside an ensemble of pieces from his contemporaries like Manuel Acosta and Henriette Wyeth. Art enthusiasts can look forward to exploring not just Lea's paintings but also a range of personal correspondences that sketch the creative dialogue rampant in El Paso's artistic community.

Lastly, "Owen Schwab: Group Theremin" introduces an interactive slice of modernity within the museum's walls. Visitors are invited to become part of the artwork and encouraged to interact with an installation that uses ultrasonic sensors to generate a medley of synthesized sounds and LED animations. Reflecting on the pervasive yet silent frequencies of our technological landscape, Schwab's piece draws a line of connection between the physical and the digital realms of existence.

With support spanning from the Bank of America to the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, the reopening of the Second Floor Galleries is set to offer a broad range of art experiences, from the traditional to the innovative. Visitors can begin exploring the new exhibitions at the El Paso Museum of Art starting February 15.