Lincoln County, New Mexico is home to a vibrant art scene. The 10th annual ArtLoop on Friday through Sunday, July 8-10 is a free tour of working artist studios designed to highlight the work of professional artists living in Carrizozo, Nogal, Capitan, Hondo, San Patricio, Glencoe and points in between. Professional artists in all media were encouraged to apply. This year 20 artists were chosen to be included in Art Loop by impartial jurors. Disciplines include painting, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, leather, weaving, glass, art quilting, wood, and photography. All artists are permanent residents of Lincoln County and fall within the Art Loop boundaries. Each studio space is a full time working studio. All art displayed is original work, available for purchase. Artists are encouraged to demonstrate their discipline during Art Loop. 

Art Loop was started by artists Molly Hart and Todd Shelby in 1996 as a vehicle for showcasing the working artists of rural Lincoln County. Their goal was to establish an annual studio tour featuring professional caliber artists and attracting a regional audience. In order to be taken seriously by the art community as well as future patrons and sponsors, Art Loop was founded as a juried event. Says Todd Shelby, who still participates in the event, "I'm proud of Art Loop's success and evolution." 

Accommodations for the weekend are readily available at one of our many lovely B&B's, hotels, lodges, motels, RV parks and campsites. Colorful Art Loop signs mark each studio location. Maps for each location are available at www.artloop.org or call 505-653-4219. Artists this year are: Jeannie Adams, Judy Benson, Roy Brown, Verla Caster, Zoe de Negri, Ronda & Randy Dougherty, Maggie Doyle, Ann Haile, Sandy Hartley, Dave & Jan Houser, Bill Kerr, Mike Lagg, Madeleine Sabo, Alice Warder Seely, Todd Shelby\Karen Pritchett, Karen Smith, Marvin Smith, Gay Speirbhain, Dee Wescott, and Jake Wolfhart.

For the Theatre's 10th season in Magdalena, and 10th Old Timers Days presentation, London Frontier is offering a musical extravaganza which takes a look at the Secret Life of Dogs. Learn what you're Best Friend really thinks of you, and hum along with such great numbers as "You Ain't Nothin' But a Molly-Mutt", "Yappity Yap", "Big Ole Lonely Dog", "La Serenata", "She's Only a Poor Little Puppy", and "Whole Lotta Scratchin' Goin' On."

All the (canine) characters in a small New Mexican village are here: street-wise Rover, cool dog-about-town; pretty Molly-Mutt, who has "pretensions"; sweet little Puppy, looking for her family; tired Old Sal, the herding dog who just can't retire; energetic and irrepressible Pepper, who's everywhere and into everything; big, tough-looking Rocky, lonely and wanting a friend; and flamboyant ChiChi Chihuahua, entertainer extraordinaire. And of course, there's That Cat, nemesis of dogs and humans alike. Performers are Sarah Kate Gallaher, Linda Real Mansell, Vanessa Quinones, Donna Todd, Donald Wiltshire, and Robbie Zamora, all of Magdalena, and Fernando Montano of Soccoro. LFTC Tech Director Don Wiltshire is set and lighting designer, while sound operation is by Ron Thornton. DOGS! is directed by Donna Todd, with musical direction by Linda Mansell. Michael Mideke is videographer.

Since making Magdalena its home in 1996, London Frontier Theatre Company has presented over 35 original productions, including 10 episodes of the popular "LOST WIFE CREEK" series, set in rural New Mexico in the Great Depression era. LFTC offers a variety of plays from original scripts, ensemble work, and adaptations of literary classics and contemporary writings, incorporating the area's vivid multi-cultural history to create exciting, entertaining theatre.

Performances of DOGS! are Friday, July 8th at 7:00 P.M.; Saturday, July 9th at 7:00 P.M.; with a Sunday, July 10th , matinee at 2:00 P.M., at MAGDALENA'S Historic WPA Gym, Main at Fourth St. Tickets are $3.50 for Adults, $2.00 for Children. For reservations (advised) and further information: (505) 854-2519 or londonfrontier@gilanet.com; or visit our website at www.londonfrontiertheatre.com Major funding for this project by the McCune Charitable Foundation of Santa Fe. Additional funding by the New Mexico Department of Tourism.

The public is invited to come by the gallery, meet the artist and view her paintings and share refreshments. Peppers will have extra booths and artist's displaying and selling outside as well. 

Jo was born and raised in Magdalena. She is a pastelist that also works in oil, watercolor and acrylics. Jo, husband, Gene, and four children have lived away from New Mexico since the 60s, returning often to visit Gene's mother, Frances Castillo. Jo's parents, Dutch and Alice Knoblock, both well known Magdalena residents are deceased. Jo and Gene now reside in Bastrop, Texas. They lived and traveled for many years in several countries in South America where Jo's artwork was influenced by the beautiful colors, wonderful people and scenery. 

Jo's paintings will arrive in Magdalena direct from the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild where Jo shared the June featured artist of the month honors with Regina Burchett, a good friend and fellow pastelist. Jo's paintings were in a solo show at the First State Bank in Bastrop during the months of April and May. 

Jo will be visiting in Magdalena several weeks and will demonstrate and paint at Peppers several times in July and September. (Schedule will be posted on her web page below) A sample of Jo's work will be at Peppers in Magdalena through the summer along with art work, Navajo rugs and jewelry by various local artisans. Jim Hokett's woodwork, Lucy Garcia's tin work, Joe Davila's metal art, Aileen Cohee's paintings, Julia Gates' rope work, lamps and baskets, metal work by Nina Chavez, weavers Cat Brysch and Betty Campbell, art work by Ed Erikson, Mary Carter, Vanessa Quinones, Robert Enders, Ann Boulden and Sara Creekmore, to name a few. For more information call Peppers at (505) 854-3696 and to get a preview of Jo's exhibit visit www.jocastilloart.com.

The festival that started as a small outdoor arts and crafts show back in 1971 now fills the Ruidoso Convention Center. This year's event boasts more than 100 award-winning artists from 12 states, and anticipates more than 7,000 visitors. A volunteer staff of more than 100 associates keep the show running smoothly and effectively.

A popular feature of this major Ruidoso Valley Chamber fund-raiser, is the silent auction to benefit the Chamber's Special Project Fund. The fund includes college scholarship awards for the area's outstanding students. Items to be auctioned are donated by the festival's participating artists and encompass a wide range of paintings, sculpture and fine crafts.

The Ruidoso Art Festival hosts some marvelous on-site food vendors with covered outdoor dining for a refreshing break, and the village has many wonderful restaurants to choose from. With lodging options that include fine hotels, cozy cabins, great B&Bs and riverside campgrounds, The Ruidoso area is also home to two casinos, live horse racing and the splendor of the Lincoln National Forest.

For a cool July excursion into the mountains of Southern New Mexico, the Ruidoso Art Festival is the perfect choice. Festival hours are noon to 6pm on Friday, July 29, 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday. Admission is a very reasonable three dollars, with discounts for multiple-day passes.

For more information about the 34th Ruidoso Art Festival or other area attractions, call the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce at 505-257-7395, toll-free at 1-877-Ruidoso, or visit the web site at www.RuidosoNow.com.

In celebration of this anniversary, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the White Sands Missile Range and New Mexico Tech's Skeen library will present a variety of exhibits and tours July 15 and 16. 

Friday evening, July 15, Jim Eckles of the White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office will present a public lecture on the history of the Trinity Site. The lecture will begin at 7:00 in Room 212 of the Skeen Library. Plan to come early to see the exhibit from the National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque called: Warriors - The Navajo Code Talkers. It is a powerful exhibition featuring the story of the men whose language and bravery helped defeat the Japanese in WWII These 40 framed black and white photographs by Kenji Kawano show these men and feature the work they did to develop and implement a form of coded communication that would not be understood by the Japanese. Using the native language of the Navajo, these men spoke orders and coded messages, which were never deciphered by the enemy. 

In addition the Library will display some implements from the Trinity Site including the actual cameras used to record the blasts, special tools developed to work with the materials, and various uniforms and other paraphernalia used in the war. On Saturday, July 16, White Sands will mark the 60th anniversary of the explosion of the first atomic bomb at the Trinity Site by being open to the general public. Visitors can enter the Missile Range through its Stallion Range Center five miles south of Highway 380. The turnoff is 12 miles east of San Antonio, N.M., and 53 miles west of Carrizozo, N.M. The Stallion gate will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors arriving at the gate between those hours will receive handouts and will be allowed to drive unescorted the 17 miles to Trinity Site. The road is paved and marked. 

The Very Large Array, 50 miles west of Socorro on Highway 60 will also hold an open house to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Guided tours will begin at noon and run every half hour from the Visitor Center. Tours are free, no reservations are necessary. The last tour will leave at 4:00. 

Saturday evening Dr. Jim Ulvestad, Assistant Director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, will tell the story of how the world's premier radio telescope array came to the Plains of San Agustin. The lecture begins at 7:00 in room 212 at the Skeen Library. 

Plan to make a weekend of it: tour both sites, hear both lectures, enjoy the exhibits and appreciate the unique impact the World of Physics has had on New Mexico. 

See www.vla.nrao.edu for more information. 

Other speakers through the fall at Skeen Library include Jerry Schurtz from Las Cruces who will speak on New Mexico's role in the war and panels of local citizens telling their stories of their war experience.