Exhibitionism

A PEEK AT WHAT’S SHOWING AROUND TOWN

Frank Croft, Tecolote (2008), oil on Belgian linen

Owings Gallery on Palace, 100 E. Palace Ave., 505-982-6244, owingsgallery.com Much of New Mexico remains rural, and village life, with its idiosyncratic customs and close-knit communities, is still a part of the character and fabric of the Southwest. In Village Life: Art, Culture, and Community in New Mexico, Owings Gallery looks at the longevity and diversity of the small but vibrant towns across the state that have drawn artists for generations. This broad-based exhibition is a blend of the modern and contemporary, demonstrating how rustic village traditions continue to be maintained. The show includes the color woodblock prints of Gustave Baumann, paintings by Frank Applegate, Frank Croft, and Carlos Vierra, and the drypoint and aquatint work of Gene Kloss. The works are juxtaposed with historic and contemporary Pueblo wares and domestic and ceremonial objects. Village Life is currently on view and remains up through Jan. 11.

Jaco Thomas Frye, Chaco America (2019), earthenware clay, stone polish

Institute of American Indian Arts, Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery, 83 Avan Nu Po Road, 505-424-2325, iaia.edu Thirteen artists participate in the 2019 fall senior graduating exhibition at IAIA. From traditional Pueblo ceramics to conceptual works in painting, printmaking, and other mediums, these artists — including Jacob Thomas Frye, Scarlett Cortez, Makaye Lewis, and Robyn J. Tsinnajinnie — represent a diverse range of talent and discipline. The exhibition, Thirteen, is the culmination of a final semester of intensive study and studio practice under the guidance of IAIA faculty. Thirteen is currently on exhibit and remains on view through Dec. 10.

William Penhallow Henderson, Holy Week in New Mexico/Penitent Procession (1919), oil on panel

New Mexico Museum of Art, 107 W. Palace Ave., 505-476-5072, nmartmuseum.org In the absence of priests to serve in the isolated rural communities of New Mexico during the 19th century, men came together to form their own confraternity of the pious. Known as the Penitente Brotherhood, their rituals included reenactments of the flagellation of Christ, which involved mortification of the flesh. Fascinated by what they saw as a distinctive feature of New Mexican culture, 20th-century artists sought to capture the ritual processions of the brotherhood, which persists to this day. The exhibition Picturing Passion: Artists Interpret the Penitente Brotherhood, currently on view, explores the ways artists have depicted the tradition. The show also examines the myths and misconceptions about the Penitentes, and the artists’ roles in illuminating this aspect of religious devotion. A public reception takes place at 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 (free for New Mexico residents with ID). The exhibit is up through Aug. 16; $12 general admission, $7 for New Mexico residents, and free for children 16 and under.

Inger Jirby, Small Church in Golden (2019), acrylic on linen

Acosta-Strong Fine Art, 640 Canyon Road, 505-982-2795, johnbstrong.com Swedish-born artist Inger Jirby’s paintings of the Southwest capture a beatific vision of a world full of color. From a young age, Jirby was influenced by the radiant autumn colors of her native Lapland, as well as by her first hero, Vincent van Gogh, and later by the vivid intensity of the Fauvists and the gestural brushwork of the Abstract Expressionists. While her work is reminiscent of all these influences, she blends them into unique interpretations of landscape. Rich, impactful, and celebratory, her paintings capture the essence of place through representational forms rendered with an abstract sensibility. This is the final weekend to see My Land of Enchantment, her first solo exhibition at Acosta-Strong, which is on view through Sunday, Dec. 1.

Erin Elder, Magnetic Splash (2019), mixed-media collage

Hecho a Mano, 830 Canyon Road, 505-916-1341, hechoamano.org More than 50 regional (and some not) artists participate in Hecho a Mano’s small works exhibition Regalos. It’s an eclectic mix of works on paper, functional and decorative ceramics, contemporary jewelry, woodcut and mezzotint prints, drawings, paintings, and mixed media works. The show includes hand-carved rubber stamp print work by Kat Kinnick, mixed media collages by Erin Elder, functional porcelain and stoneware by Marion Wasserman, painted polymer clay jewelry by Lindsay Locatelli, watercolors by Zahra Marwan, and mixed media by Terry Taylor. Annual small works shows are a staple of the Santa Fe gallery scene and offer plenty of options for that perfect, out-of-the-ordinary holiday gift. Regalos opens with a 5 p.m. reception on Friday, Nov. 29. The show remains up through Dec. 24.