Volume 36 , Issue 3 SUMMER 2011

1

From the President

In this issue, Nancy

sweet espinosa provides

a wonderful overview

of our upcoming annual

conference in Farmington.

The preliminary conference

program is being readied

for mailing to the member­

ship. When it arrives, check

out the great sessions,

fun events, and illuminating

pre­conference and post­

conference offerings. In

this sweltering heat, think

November in beautiful

Farmington. enjoy the

summer, and register for

Farmington early. — Laurie J. Rufe, President

Farmington Conference Update Preparations are under way for the November Conference in Farmington and there is plenty in the area to enjoy! A city of 40,000, Farmington swells to around 115,000 on any given weekend as people from all over the Four Corners travel from rural areas for shopping, business, entertainment, and dining. The resulting wide variety of businesses meeting those needs is not typically found in smaller cities, making Farmington a unique hub from which to enjoy the many attractions of the region.

In addition to the community of six museums found in the centrally located communities of Farmington, Aztec, and Bloomfield, one may travel short distances to Ignacio and Durango to find the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum, the Durango Discovery Museum, and the Center of Southwest Studies Museum. Others may be found on day trips to Telluride, Tsaile, Cortez, Grand Junction, or many other nearby locations.

Those interested in experiencing the ancient past may want to add an extra day or two and visit the sites at Chaco Canyon, the Navajo pueblitos of the Dinetah, Canyon de Chelley, or Mesa Verde. The Anasazi Heritage Center and Salmon Ruins Museum offer not only a museum, but are locations of excavated pueblos — being the only two facilities in the Southwest that maintain their own extensive excavation collections.

The Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum is an important new tribal enterprise and tourist attraction. The building is intended as a focus for cultural preservation, education and community activities for all ages. Photo courtesy SUCCM.

Continued on page 2

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NMAM Conference Scholarships The NMAM Scholarship Program provides up to three $400 scholarships to students and emerging museum professionals whose attendance at the 2011 Conference will benefit their future involvement in the museum field. Scholarships are provided to cover travel, lodging, and per diem. NMAM will waive registration fees for the annual meeting and provide a one-year membership for the winning applicants. Priority will be given to those individuals/organizations who have not previously received a scholarship from NMAM. To download a Scholarship application form, visit www.nmmuseums.org or email selena.connealy@comcast.net. Applications must be received by September 1, 2011.

A variety of entertainment is available in the Farmington area: several local and area casinos; five performing arts facilities; Native American festivals and ceremonies; nearly 20 movie theaters; and countless motorcycle, civic, or special interest events may be found. A good entertainment resource is the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau website, where tons of information may be found on upcoming events.

Farmington, Bloomfield, and Aztec welcome you to the NMAM Annual Conference and encourage you to experience the Four Corners and the changing face of San Juan County. See you in November!

— Nancy Sweet Espinosa, Conference Chair

Kin Ya’a is one of many Chaco outlier sites which conference participants may visit in the Farmington area. Photo by Nancy Sweet Espinsoa.

Conference UpdateContinued from page 2

Keynote Speaker for Annual Conference in Farmington

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. William Doelle, is the President and CEO of the Center for Desert Archaeology in Tucson, Arizona, an organization devoted to preserving the places of our shared past, and a long-time partner with the Salmon Ruins Museum. Dr. Doelle has more than thirty years of experience as a professional archaeologist, and has worked extensively in Mexico, Guatemala, and the North American Southwest. His primary research interest is the demographic history of the Greater Southwest: including questions such as what became of the peoples of Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde — questions very relevant to our conference location in that Salmon Ruins is a major outlier for Chacoan Culture.

Dr. Doelle is not only an accomplished archaeologist with a deep knowledge of the Four Corners region, he also brings a unique perspective on revitalization efforts, fundraising, partnerships, and outreach. Dr. Doelle served six years as Treasurer of the Archaeology Division of the American Anthropological Association, and he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA). He is currently the Chair of the SAA’s Fundraising Committee. Dr. Doelle’s experience and support of museums, public education, and collaborations between academic and public institutions make his voice most valuable at this time when we are all struggling to forge new partnerships and find creative ways of enlisting public and private support to ensure that the cultural institutions we cherish and toil in continue to survive and flourish.

— Nancy Sweet Espinosa, Conference Chair

Keynote speaker Dr. William Doelle at Bandelier National Monument. Photo by Linda Pierce.

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Silent AuctionDo you have an extra copy of a exhibition catalog lying around? How about a piece of jewelry that’s pretty but not quite right for you? Please consider donating an item to the Silent Auction, or soliciting a donation from your institution or museum shop (For instance: thanks to the Photo Archives of the Palace of the Governors/New Mexico History Museum for their donation of an art-quality print of an historic photo from their collections.)

Proceeds help to fund the NMAM Scholarship Program for emerging museum professionals. Drop off your items at the conference registration table and don’t forget to bid!

— Selena Connealy, First Vice President and Auction Chair

Vintage Curt Teich postcard of Shiprock, one of many great deals and cool finds to be offered at the Silent Auction at the annual conference in Farmington.

Nominations for NMAM Board SoughtThe nominating committee is seeking candidates for the following two-year positions (2012-2014):

First Vice-President

Treasurer

Mountain-Plains Museums Association Representative

Northwestern New Mexico Regional Representative

Southwestern New Mexico Regional Representative

The NMAM board generally meets once per month, with many of the meetings conducted via conference calls. Travel expenses related to board duties are reimburseable.

If you are interested in being on the ballot for one of these positions, please submit the name of the position and a brief biographical statement (approximately 100-200 words) to selena.connealy@comcast.net. Nominations must be received no later than Friday, August 26. The 2011 Nominating Committee is composed of Selena Connealy, Laurie Rufe and Pat Price.

Conservation Assessment Program ApplicationsThe 2012 Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) application will be launched on Heritage Preservation’s Web site at www.heritagepreservation.org on Monday, October 3, 2011. The deadline to submit 2012 applications is 11:59 pm on December 1, 2011. Participants are identified on a rolling basis, and site visits for participants can begin as early as January 1, 2012. Final reports must be submitted by assessors to Heritage Preservation by November 1, 2012.

CAP is a federally funded program that provides professional conservation assessments for small to mid-sized museums of all types, at a minimal cost. The program also funds historic buildings assessments for institutions with buildings that are 50 years or older. The assessment process helps museum professionals improve their institutions’ conservation policies and procedures, learn conservation and historic preservation best practices, and forge relationships with conservators and historic structures assessors. The resulting CAP report helps museums to develop strategies for improved collections care, long-range planning, staff and board education, and fund-raising. CAP is administered by Heritage Preservation and supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2011, 101 museums in 36 states have been selected to participate in CAP, including the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. To view the entire list of current CAP participants, visit www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP/11recipients.html. To search for any CAP participant from the program’s 21-year history, check out the Past CAP Participants Search Tool at www.heritagepreservation.org/cap/Search.html.

The 2012 application will be available online and for download in PDF and Word fill-in forms. If you prefer to receive a paper application booklet, or would like more information, please contact the CAP staff at cap@heritagepreservation.org or 202-233-0800.

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Call for Nominations for the Edgar L. Hewett Award for Excellence

Edgar Lee Hewett was the first director of the Museum of New Mexico, serving from 1909 until his death in 1946. He taught anthropology at UNM and was instrumental in encouraging the development of small museums throughout New Mexico. Each year, NMAM bestows an award in his honor to a person or organization whose actions exemplify leadership or service to the New Mexico Museum community. Recipients do not have to be members of NMAM or work in the museum industry to be considered. The recipient of the Hewett Award is chosen annually by the NMAM board based on nominations

from the NMAM membership. Any member in good standing can nominate potential recipients. The award will be presented to the recipient or accepted on behalf of an organization at the annual meeting business luncheon on Friday, November 4, 2011 in Farmington.

To download a Hewett Award nomination form, visit www.nmmuseums.org or email selena.connealy@comcast.net. Nominations must be received by October 1, 2011.

— Selena Connealy, First Vice President

Previous WinnersYear and Location Individual Institution

2010 Las Vegas Sue Sturtevant, Director, Hill-Stead Museum (formerly with DCA) NM Holocaust Museum

2009 Santa Fe Louise Stiver, NMAM past president NM History Museum

2008 Roswell Dr. Jim Harris, Director, Lea County Museum

2007 Silver City Tom Livesay, Director, LSU Museum of Art (formerly Director of the Museum of New Mexico)

2006 Taos Dr. Helen Lucero, former curator, National Hispanic Cultural Center Albuquerque Museum

2005 Albuquerque Wesley Rusnell, Curator of Collections, Roswell Museum and Art Center

Susan Berry, Director, Silver City Museum

Carlsbad Museum & Arts Center

2004 Grants Jim Walther, Director, National Atomic Museum Grants County Chamber of Commerce and the New Mexico Mining Museum

2003 Las Cruces Patricia Garcia Miles, Mesilla Valley Museum Consortium Trex and the Museum of New Mexico

2002 Taos Mr. and Mrs. Dean Irwin Taos Museum Association

2001 Ruidoso Dr. James Moore, Director, Albuquerque Museum

Dr. Peter Walch, Director, UNM Art Museum

R.D. & Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation

2000 Albuquerque Dr. Edson Way, Office of Cultural Affairs McCune Foundation

1999 Santa Fe Museum of New Mexico Foundation

1998 Farmington B.H.P. Minerals-New Mexico Operations

1997 Las Cruces J. Paul and Mary Taylor

1996 Taos Jose Lizarraga, Executive Advisor, Mexican Cultural Center

1995 Las Vegas R.J. Bailie, Untitled Fine Arts Service Inc.

1994 Roswell Donald B. Anderson, businessman and artist and founding patron of Roswell Museum Artists in Residence Program

1993 Los Alamos Rick Homans, publisher of Albuquerque Monthly magazine and President of the Board of the Albuquerque Children’s Museum

1992 Silver City Frank Zoretich, columnist for the Albuquerque Journal’s Cheap Thrills Adventure Club

1991 Santa Fe James “Mack” Griffin, volunteer for the Sacramento Mountains Historical Society, posthumously awarded

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Threads of MemoryIn June, the American Association for State and Local History announced that the exhibition The Threads of Memory: Spain and the United States (El Hilo de la Memoria: España y los Estados Unidos) at the New Mexico History Museum, its accompanying programs and bilingual catalogue won a 2011 Award of Merit. The AASLH awards, which will be presented at the group’s annual meeting on Sept. 16 in Richmond, Va., are the nation’s most prestigious competition for recognizing achievements in state and local history. The award celebrates the extraordinary collaboration of the New Mexico History Museum, El Paso Museum of History, and Historic New Orleans Collection.

Natalie Baca, designer in the Museum Resources Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, was honored by the American Association of Museums for her invitation to the Threads of Memory exhibition. Natalie won second place in the category “Invitations to Events.”

New Mexico Centennial License PlateThe Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA, Inc.) has voted the New Mexico Centennial license plate the best plate in the United States this year. The turquoise Centennial plate was designed by David Rohr, Creative Director for the Museum Resources Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

ALPCA president Michael Liscio said, “The Land of Enchantment has always had beautiful license plates. New Mexico’s new Centennial plate combines a rich but simple design that helps it stand out on the roadways as both a proud symbol of New Mexico’s heritage and an easily recognizable plate across the state and across the nation.”

The winning plate and its designer were celebrated at a gala ceremony at the New Mexico History Museum in May, attended by Governor Susana Martinez, Secretary for Cultural Affairs Veronica Gonzales, and other dignitaries from state government and ALPCA, as well as ardent license plate collectors.

Awards

The award-winning Centennial license plate design. David Rohr (right) of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs receives the ALPCA 2010 Best Licese Plate of the Year award for his design. New Mexico History Museum, May 16, 2011. Photo by Monica Meehan.

The gallery installation of Threads of Memory at the New Mexico History Museum. Photo by Blair Clark.

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The Museum Spotlight column and New Mexico’s Small Museums rotate in Links. To submit stories to either, please contact Links editor Cynthia Baughman at cynthia.baughman@state.nm.us.

Museum SpotlightRoswell Business Owner Helps the Palace Press Beef Up Its Bodoni

Thanks to Jeanine Best, owner of Copy Rite in Roswell, the Palace Press at the New Mexico History Museum has scored 24 cases of precious lead type. In early June, Tom Leech and James Bourland of the Palace Press traveled to the site of the old Hall-Poorbaugh Printing Co., now Best’s Copy Rite Co., to load up on enough Bodoni and Caslon to keep them printing for quite awhile.

“We figured it was at least 1,000 pounds altogether,” Leech said, adding that they broke up the burden by moving it case by case. “It’s a dubious honor that comes with being a letterpress printer — the opportunity to move large cases of lead.”

For Leech, laying hands on a cache of Bodoni that ranges in size from 10 to 72 point, including italics, meant broadening his access to one of his most preferred fonts. He plans to use it when designing and printing poetry broadsides.

“It’s a really nice type,” he said, citing its straight serifs and balance of thick and thin lines. “It’s significant to New Mexico because when the first type arrived by the Santa Fe Trail in 1834, it was Bodoni. It was the only type used for a decade or so and got well-worn.

“I’ve been trying to use Bodoni in the last couple of years. A couple of books have used it, but we never really had enough to do much with it. These letters are finite. It’s not like a word processor. Over time, they become damaged, worn out, lost, misplaced, and then you don’t have that letter you need.”

As for the cases of Caslon, well, Leech pointed out, “Since the days of Benjamin Franklin, every printer has learned the adage, “When in doubt, use Caslon.”

— Kate Nelson, New mexico History museum

This elegant Bodoni type has travelled from Roswell to the Palace Press in Santa Fe, where it will make lasting impressions on reams of paper and streams of visitors. Photos by Kate Nelson.

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A Historical SummerHistory’s Other HalfThis summer, the New Mexico History Museum spotlights the unsung heroes of the West in a collection of exhibitions, highlighted by Home Lands: How Women Made the West (through Sept. 11). The exhibition sweeps across centuries of stories in northern New Mexico, Colorado’s Front Range, and the Puget Sound.

Organized by the Autry National Center in Los Angeles and augmented by items from the History Museum, the exhibition focuses on the universal desire to set down roots and create that place called “home” — an institution so deeply rooted in our psyches that it can break up families and set off wars.

Home Lands tells the stories of people like Pablita Velarde, who broke from her pueblo’s women-make-pottery bonds to gain worldwide renown as a figurative painter; photographer Laura Gilpin, who hiked, drove and leaned out of airplanes to capture the landscape of the West; and Fabiola Cabeza de Baca, a Las Vegas, NM, teacher and writer who elevated both the art and science of homemaking from the Depression forward, blending traditional practices with modern-day conveniences.

Artifacts range from a 1,200-year-old Mogollon metate to a 20th-century station wagon, textiles, clothing, pottery, paintings, photographs, sculpture, books, and an art piece made of computer components by contemporary New Mexico artist Marion Martinez.

Home Lands is joined by three other exhibits celebrating unsung heroes of the West:

Ranch Women of New Mexico, through Oct. 30, highlights 11 women who have cow-girled or owned ranches in New Mexico in excerpts from an exhibit originally prepared by photographer Ann Bromberg and writer Sharon Niederman.

New Mexico’s African American Legacy: Visible, Vital, Valuable, through Oct. 9, tells the stories of the families who planted their roots in Las Cruces, Albuquerque and the short-lived community of Blackdom following the Civil War.

Heart of the Home, through Nov. 20, features historic kitchen items from the museum’s collections, including a Monarch stove that just might make you long for the “good” old days.

Free lectures, workshops and symposia occur throughout the summer. Go to www.nmhistorymuseum.org, and click on “calendar” for details.

— Kate Nelson, New mexico History museum

Pablita Velarde, The Green Corn Dance, 1956, oil on Masonite, seven-panel mural commissioned by the Western Skies Motel, Houston, Texas. Museum of the American West, Autry National Center; 2007.2.1. Daughter-in-law of legendary New Mexico rancher Linda Davis, Mary B. Davis shows what she’s made of as manager of the horse breeding operation of the Crow Creek Division of the CS Ranch. Photo by Ann Bromberg. Courtesy of the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives.

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Regional ReportsSoutheast Regional ReportHere’s a sampling of what’s going on at NMAM member museums in the southeast region. If your museum isn’t listed here, remember to get your info to me for future newsletters!

Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center (575) 748­2390The Artesia Quilters Guild’s 11th annual show will be on display through August 27. This group of talented quilters is known for their innovative designs and techniques — this year’s show will feature their latest works.

A collection of early oil and gas company stock certificates from the collection of Heinrich Wenning of Cedar Crest, NM will be on display September 13 – October 15. The artwork on these certificates is beautiful!

Roswell Museum and Art Center (575) 624­6744A Painter’s Progress, a retrospective exhibition of Peter Rogers’ works will be on display through January 29, 2012. British-born Rogers now has his home and studio in San Patricio, NM where he creates portraits, landscapes, and industrial scenes.

The museum’s popular Second Saturdays programs for students in grades 3 – 12 continues. The August 9 class will focus on Printmaking, the September 10 class will focus on Clay, and the October 9 program will feature an art show of works created during the classes. Participation is free but space is limited — call x10 at the museum to reserve a spot.

Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art (575) 623­5600The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art showcases the works of former Roswell Artist-In-Residence alumni in a wide variety of styles and media.

Western Heritage Museum / Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame (575) 392­6730 Underground of Enchantment will be on display September 1 – October 9, featuring 3D photographs of Lechuguilla Cave — considered by cavers the most beautiful cave in the world.

— Nancy Dunn, southeast Regional Representative

Northwest Regional Report

Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum (970) 563­9583The Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum is now open. The new facility was built next to the Sky Ute Casino and Hotel in Ignacio and is well worth the journey.

Durango Discovery Museum (970) 259­9234The Durango Discovery Museum opened its new facility with a Ribbon Cutting and other events on June 17. With plenty of kid-friendly activities and history and events to interest adults, it is a new take on community education.

— Nancy Sweet Espinosa, Northwest Regional Representative

Peter Rogers, Channel of Awareness, 1982, oil on canvas. Collection of the artist. Courtesy RMAC.

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President Laurie J. Rufe

Director, Roswell Museum and Art Center rufe@roswellmuseum.org

First Vice PresidentSelena Connealy,

Educator, Museum Education Group selena.connealy@comcast.net

Second Vice President Nellie Price

Museum Educator, City of Las Vegas Museum nellie.price@gmail.com

Treasurer Linda Deck

Director, Bradbury Science Museum ldeck@lanl.gov

Secretary Melanie LaBorwit

Museum Enrichment Coordinator, National Museum of Nuclear Science and History mlaborwit@nuclearmuseum.org

Membership OfficerCaroline Brooks

Assistant Director, Roswell Museum and Art Center brooks@roswellmuseum.org

Newsletter EditorCynthia Baughman

Managing Editor, El Palacio, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs cynthia.baughman@state.nm.us

Mountain-Plains Museums Association RepresentativeAnthony J. Thibodeau

Collections Manager, Archaeological Research Collections, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture / Laboratory of Anthropology anthony.thibodeau@state.nm.us

Northwest Regional RepresentativeNancy Sweet Espinosa

Curator and Education Coordinator, Salmon Ruins Museum and Research Library srcuration@msn.com

Northeast Regional RepresentativeLauren Addario

AmeriCorps Cultural Technology Coordinator, Media Arts West, New Mexico Highlands University laurenadd@gmail.com

Southwest Regional RepresentativeMichael Walczak

Museum Manager, Las Cruces Museum of Natural History mwalczak@las-cruces.org

Southeast Regional RepresentativeNancy Dunn

Museum Manager, Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center ndunn@artesianm.gov

Listserve ManagerBonnie Verardo

Collections Manager, University of New Mexico Art Museum bverardo@unm.edu

Website Manager Doug Patinka

Webmaster, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs doug.patinka@state.nm.us

Education Committee RepresentativeTish Morris

Senior Educator, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science tish.morris@state.nm.us

ArchivistPatricia A. Price

pjprint@q.com

Annual Conference Chair Nancy Sweet Espinosa

Curator and Education Coordinator, Salmon Ruins Museum and Research Library srcuration@msn.com

NMAM Governing Board

Business (Corporate Sponsor)David Astilli, Owner/Operator,

Astilli Fine Art Services, Santa Fe

Krysta Astilli, Office Manager, Astilli Fine Art Services, Santa Fe

Lena Astilli, Registrar, Astilli Fine Art Services, Santa Fe

IndividualKimberly Hanson, Education Curator, Las Cruces

Museum of Natural History, Las Cruces

Seth McFarland, Director, Unser Racing Museum, Corrales

InstitutionalLinda Deck, Museum Director,

Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos

Omar Juveland, Museum Exhibit Designer, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos

Liz Martineau, Museum Educator, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos

Gordon McDonough, Museum Educator, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos

Robert Naranjo, Museum Exhibit Fabricator, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos

Mary Ellen Ortiz, Museum Operations Manager, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos

Christina Dallorso Kortz, Visitor Services Manager, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Susan Fisher, Director of Development, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Shannon Hanson, Marketing Manager, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Kristin Kautz, Director of Marketing, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Robert Kret, Director, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Camille Romero, Membership Manager, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Tina J. Cates-Ortega, Vice-President, Moriarty Historical Society and Museum, Moriarty

Kathryn Flynn, Executive Director, NM New Deal Preservation Association, Santa Fe

Juliana Halvorson, Exhibits Chair, Walker Aviation Museum Foundation, Roswell

Marie Talnack, Volunteer Coordinator, Walker Aviation Museum Foundation, Roswell

New Members of NMAM

NEWSLETTER DESIGN : MONICA MEEHAN, MUSEUM RESOURCES DIVISION, NEW MExICO DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.