The Artesia Arts & Cultural District racked up another accomplishment this week, as ACD Coordinating Council members and local sponsors gathered to celebrate the completion of “Peter Hurd: Along The Trail,” an art trail and interactive website developed to encourage arts based tourism throughout the region.
Hurd was a renowned artist known for his works celebrating the New Mexico and Texas ways of life. Fittingly, the trail covers sites in New Mexico and Texas where works by Hurd can be found; besides museums, galleries and shops, the trail includes lesser known venues such as hotels, banks, libraries, county offices, courthouses, post office annexes, schools, and even a country club.
Curious about exactly where these various works are?
Check out http://www.artesiaacd.com and click on the “Peter Hurd” link on the top right of the screen — the map is clean, clear, and very user friendly, thanks to Bud Shipman.
ACD Coordinating Council member Elizabeth Stephens worked very hard as an art detective to locate all of these diverse locations on the Trail and is currently developing brochures and rack cards to be placed at stops along the Trail. Artesia has four sites on the Trail: the Artesia Public Library, the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center, First American Bank, and Hotel Artesia.
Two of these sites hosted the ACD’s Trail celebration this week, as participants first enjoyed Russ Panzer as Hurd kicking things off at the Artesia Public Library. Stephens spoke about the Trail’s development, and the Friends of the Library served refreshments. The Friends also provided several Hurd art prints that were raffled off during the evening.
First American Bank then opened their doors (and offices)
to share their little known but impressive art collection, introduced by First American Bank CEO Greg Marrs and Executive Vice President/Chief Administration Officer Vickie Townley, including works by — guess who? — Hurd and his wife, equally renowned artist Henriette Wyeth.
Cottonwood Wine and Brewing provided adult beverages for all, and Adobe Rose provided the hors d’oeuvres.
The Dessert Studio provided goodies at the Ocotillo Performing Arts Center to finish things off.
And while there weren’t any Hurd works to view there, this month’s beaded art exhibit is worth making a trip over there to see.
