Taos Light. Courtesy photoMRM News:
This February, the Millicent Rogers Museum will host a variety of events that relate to the museum’s collection of Southwest art: 17th Annual Miniatures Show and Sale, Chaco Choco, and Manko! (Come Eat!).
These events all act as fundraisers for both the museum and the local artists and businesses that will be participating. More information about these events can be found on the museum’s website at millicentrogers.org.
The Millicent Rogers Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST) Tuesday through Sunday from November to March, and is open every day from April to October. In line with the museum’s mission to support the local community, admission to the museum is free on Sundays for Taos County residents (special events not included).
Visit www.millicentrogers.org or call 575.758.2462 for more information about admission, events, holiday closures, and exhibits.
17th Annual Miniatures Show and Sale—Each year, the museum puts out an open call for all Taos County artists to submit works for this popular annual event.
The staff of the museum selects the best submissions for the show that fit within their strict criteria for acceptance. For example, all works must be “miniature” or 100 square inches, meet museum quality standards, be original, less than a year old, and not have been shown in any other exhibit.
This annual event is a local favorite and demonstrates the museum’s ongoing commitment to supporting the local arts community of Taos as well as fulfilling its mission of sharing and celebrating the arts and cultures of the Southwest. When the museum was recently awarded reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums, the Millicent Rogers Museum’s role within its community was noted as a highly admirable trait.
The opening reception is 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8. Tickets for opening night are $15 per person or $10 for members and can be purchased on the museum’s website at millicentrogers.org, by phone at 575.758.2462, in the museum’s store, or at the door. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. The exhibit will continue until March 3.
Competition can be fierce on opening night as this event presents a unique opportunity to purchase a modestly-priced artwork by popular Taos artists while supporting the Millicent Rogers Museum. It is also a great way to add to your art collection no matter how full your walls have become by living in such a rich artistic community since each work is miniature. The museum’s board of trustees will also award a Best in Show piece and attendees on opening night can vote for the People’s Choice Award in three separate categories: 2-D, 3-D and jewelry.
All artworks included in the show will be on view on the museum’s website and can be purchased online after opening night.
The Miniatures Show and Sale includes paintings, drawings, photography, prints, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more all produced by Taos County artists, and over 200 artworks were submitted for consideration. These works are offered for sale as a way to support both the local arts community and the museum, and several artists even donate the full amount from the sale of their artwork to the museum. This event provides a great opportunity for emerging and established artists to exhibit their work side-by-side, and many local favorites will be included in the show.
Participating artists include: Mark Asmus, Debbie Lujan, Jonathan Warmday Coming, Chris Morel, Terry Davis, Robert Cafazzo, Valerie Graves, Margaret Nes, Melinda Littlejohn, Inger Jirby, Angie Coleman, Allegra Sleep, David Vedoe, Holly Sievers, Giovanna Paponetti, Ryan Suazo, Ann Huston, Jocelyn Martinez, Peggy Immel, Daniel Rael, Gustavo Victor Goler, John Suazo, Luis Barela, TJ Mabrey, Peter Chinni, David Anderson, Sheena Cameron, Gail Golden, Michael Archuleta, Larry Herrera, Clarence Medina, Alissa Ritchie, Wiz Allred, Jacqueline Gala, Anne Forbes, and Michael and Causandra Dukepoo.
Chaco Choco—University of New Mexico archaeologist Dr. Patricia Crown will be presenting a lecture on the discovery of Mesoamerican cacao residue in pottery at Chaco Canyon. Dr. Crown’s lecture will be followed by drinking chocolate and other goodies available to sample from Chokola.
Chocolate was important in ritual and exchange in Mexico over a millennium before the Spanish entered the region. The Spanish rapidly adopted this commodity into their own economic system. Far from its tropical home, chocolate spread through Europe becoming a status symbol of the European elite.
Until recently, it was not known that chocolate and the rituals associated with its consumption had made its way into the American Southwest from Mexico, but the discovery of cacao residue in drinking vessels at Chaco Canyon has opened up many more discoveries about the cultural exchange between the two regions.
This event will be held at the Millicent Rogers Museum from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 10. Tickets are $20 or $15 for museum members, and are available to purchase on the museum’s website at millicentrogers.org, by phone at (575).758.2462, in person in the museum store, or at the door.
Manko! (Come Eat!)—Join Heritage Inspirations, Taos Pueblo, and the Millicent Rogers Museum for an authentic evening to experience and taste our Taos heritage and unique Puebloan culture.
Taos Pueblo is home to one of three of New Mexico’s World Heritage UNESCO sites, a Native American community known for the multi-storied adobe buildings, being over 1,000 years old and the most northern of the 19 pueblos from Albuquerque to Taos. The community closes its doors annually in early spring to visitors.
Due to the respect for the community and traditions, Heritage Inspirations and Taos Pueblo Tourism crafted this special cultural evening to offer an insider view of Puebloan life at the world renowned Millicent Rogers Museum. As a proud partner of Taos Pueblo, the Millicent Rogers Museum is excited to host this collaborative event.
While tasting traditional foods, meeting local native artisans and listening to stories, you will learn about the historical and present relationship between the people who contribute to the unique story of Northern New Mexico and all its beauty.
Honoring his roots, Chef Ray Naranjo comes from the pueblo community of Santa Clara. He believes in preserving tribal food ways and advancing the ancestral knowledge of his people.
With the use of modern and tribal cooking techniques, he attempts to push the limits of what is known, unknown and forgotten about his indigenous North American food culture. Chef Ray obtained his culinary degree and has 25+ years of modern kitchen service industry experience, including exclusive hotel and casino resorts in the Southwest. He’s had various titles ranging from Executive Chef to Food & Beverage Director and he has been distinguished with several awards for Modern New Mexican Cuisine, with a particular focus on New Mexican chile.
Chef Ray says “Manko,” or come eat with him (Tewa) because he is specially preparing an opportunity for you to taste native foods, learn about Puebloan ingredients, and help honor traditional tribal foods. Get a historical primer on Taos Pueblo and dive deep into their artistic heirlooms, as you share great cuisine.
Jonathan Warm Day, a local Taos Pueblo artisan, storyteller and author, will share more about his work and personal story of life within the Pueblo during the dinner.
Heritage Inspirations will be donating 10 percent of all proceeds from this event to the Millicent Rogers Museum’s endowment to continue the good work they cultivate through their educational programs and the insider illumination of local art.
This event is 7-9 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Millicent Rogers Museum. Tickets are $99 plus tax per person and are available to purchase through Heritage Inspirations at heritageinspirations.com.
