CIRCLES EXPLORERS | March 2025

Explorers Calendar of Events

March Monday, March 17

Member Monday Talk and Tour Eugenie Shonnard: Breaking the Mold New Mexico Museum of Art, Downtown Plaza Building Executive Director, Dr. Mark White, will guide Circles members through the life and work of Eugenie Shonnard, a pivotal figure in the history of art and sculpture in the Southwest. Widely recognized during her time for her contributions to the visual arts, Shonnard has been largely overlooked in recent decades. She also left a legacy by donating her home and studio to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, where our offices are now located.

 

Saturday, April 26

Member Day Center for New Mexico Archaeology

The Center for New Mexico Archaeology, home to the Office of Archaeological Studies, opens its doors to all Circles members to showcase their work, programs, staff, laboratories and offices. Learn about and try tools like bows and arrows and atlatls; create traditional clay pinch pots; paint replica pot sherds with yucca paint and yucca brushes; and view demonstrations of emerging technologies like 3D printing and photogrammetry that aid the future of archaeological research.

 

Friday, May 9 – Sunday, May 11

Shops Member Extra Discount Sale Five Museum Shops and shopmuseum.org

The spring members-only Museum Shop sale takes place at the five museum shops and online at shopmuseum.org. Circles members save 25% on purchases during this three-day sale!

 

Friday, May 30 – June 1

Explorers Glamping Adventure Vermejo Ranch part of the Ted Turner Reserves Join the Circles Explorers for an exclusive glamping experience and outdoor adventure at Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve —a stunning private nature preserve spanning northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. This 550,000-acre ranch offers a rich array of wildlife, including over 1,200 bison, elk, black bears and mountain lions. The reserve also boasts 19 fishable lakes and more than 30 miles of pristine streams and rivers, making it a nature lover's paradise!

 

Friday, May 30

Photo: Makowa Header

First Look Makowa: The Worlds Above Us

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

All Circles members are invited to preview Makowa: The Worlds Above Us before it opens to the full membership and the public. Explore the significance of the sky and celestial bodies in the lives of ancestral and contemporary Indigenous cultures of the American Southwest.

 

Saturday, June 21

Member Day Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line

New Mexico Museum of Art, Vladem Contemporary

Circles members are invited to explore Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line before it opens to the public. Art Nouveau pioneer Alphonse Mucha’s (1860–1939) influence on Art Nouveau art and design has had a lasting legacy, inspiring psychedelic album covers, Japanese manga artists and contemporary street artists.

 

Tuesday, July 29

Conversation with the Curator Tour Appearances Deceive: Embroideries by Policarpio Valencia Museum of International Folk Art All Circles members are invited to a private, curator-led tour of Appearances Deceive: Embroideries by Policarpio Valencia, the first retrospective of Nuevomexicano artist Policarpio Valencia (1853–1931). His embroidered textiles contemplate serious subjects of morality and mortality with wit and whimsy.

 

Saturday, August 9

Museum Shops 35th Annual Navajo Rug Auction Palace of the Governors Courtyard

The Navajo Rug Auction is an annual benefit hosted by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation Shops. Bid on one-of-a-kind Navajo weavings in a variety of sizes and styles, including Two Grey Hills, Ganado, Teec Nos Pos, Yeis, Pictorials and Wide Ruins.

 

Friday, August 22 – August 24

Image: Armendaris Photo Safari

Explorers Weekend Adventure Ladder and Armendaris Ranches both part of the Ted Turner Reserves Join us for a weekend adventure Armendaris Ranch a Ted Turner Reserve. The 360,000-acre property, nestled in the crimson Chihuahuan desert, embodies the essence of southern New Mexico and Ladder Ranch, a Ted Turner Reserve. A natural oasis situated by four Rio Grande tributaries; the 156,000-acre Ladder property is home to rich biodiversity. Surrounded by sweeping landscapes, Ladder effortlessly pulls you into the present moment. Accommodations at Sierra Grande, a Ted Turner Retreat.

 

Thursday, September 25

Image: Baumann Header 1

First Look Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment

New Mexico Museum of Art, Plaza Building

All Circles members are invited to preview this anticipated exhibition series surveying Gustave Baumann’s artistic career. Best known for his enchanting woodblock prints, Baumann was a prodigious creative who left behind an enormous legacy.

 

Saturday, November 1 – Sunday, November 16

Circles Travel to India

All Circles members are invited to join us for an unparalleled experience in the heart of India—a land where timeless traditions blend seamlessly with visionary modernity. On this journey, you'll explore the rich art, architecture, culture and history of this stunning country. For more information, please email Cara O’Brien, Director of the Circles, at cara@museumfoundation.org.

 

Saturday, November 15

Grand Opening Member Preview Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site

The Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site embodies the rich history, culture and architecture of southern New Mexico. Consisting of three adobe buildings donated by J. Paul and Mary Daniels-Taylor, the site showcases a broad collection of Spanish Colonial, Mexican and New Mexican artwork and textiles. We look forward to sharing this state treasure with members and the community as the eighth historic site opens in the Museum of New Mexico system.

 

Tuesday, November 25 – Sunday, November 30

Shops Member Extra Discount Sale

Get ahead of holiday shopping and take advantage of the members-only Museum Shop sale, where Circles members receive 25% off purchases at the five museum shops and online at shopmuseum.org.

 

Thursday, December 11

Foundation Holiday Party

New Mexico Museum of Art, Plaza Building

All Circles members, Corporate Partners, Business Council members, and other special guests are invited to our annual holiday celebration. Enjoy festive food, drinks, entertainment and the company of friends and colleagues while viewing the Gustave Baumann exhibition.