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02-15-2007, 01:00 PM
RRCA Plans mARTi-gras Art Show & Party
Region’s Artists Flexing Their Economic Muscles
Ruidoso, NM – The Ruidoso Regional Council for the Arts recently set February 17, as the date for its 3rd annual mARTi-gras celebration. They invite the public to come out and enjoy this special art event with them from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday the 17th.<br><br><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0><tr><td width=160 valign=top align=center><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3959_Betty_Day.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3959_Betty_Day_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Betty Day<br>Gourd Artist<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3952_B_J_Moore.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3952_B_J_Moore_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>B.J. Moore<br>Painter<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3967_Joyce_Hastings.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3967_Joyce_Hastings_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Joyce Hastings<br>Potter<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3921_Dennis_Martin.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3921_Dennis_Martin_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Dennis Martin<br>Painter<br><br></td><td valign=top>mARTi-GRAS is an annual celebration of Lincoln County, the region’s artists; and a fund raiser to help support the operations of RRCA, a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote the arts as a regional economic force, and thus contribute to Lincoln County’s tourism appeal and its economy, by promoting the arts and cultural assets of the area.<br><br>This year’s mARTi-gras offers lots of fun to those who attend. Among its attractions are an Art Show featuring RRCA member artists, Live New Orleans Jazz Music, a Gumbo Cook-off Competition, Dancing, a mARTi-gras mask contest, a Cash Bar and a silent art auction as well. Even local ski shops told Steppin’ Out they are looking forward to the positive impact mARTi-gras could have on their business.<br><br>According to Dari Stierwalt Executive Director of RRCA, part of the group’s mission is to build and promote the Ruidoso region as an arts destination -- to help the area become as prominent in New Mexico Arts as Santa Fe, and Taos. “To achieve this goal, RRCA needs the support of artists, businesses and the community,” Stierwalt says.<br><br>Stierwalt explains that, although Ruidoso and Lincoln County have many attractions that encourage tourism, several of the region’s traditional tourist attractions have been hurt in recent years by changing weather patterns which caused closures of Lincoln National forest in the summer, and unfavorable snow conditions on Sierra Blanca in the winter.<br><br>The reduced availability of local tourist attractions has tended to cut the number of travelers into the area. Less tourism means lower lodger’s tax revenues which have traditionally been used to support and promote the arts and the entire region’s appeal as an arts destination. If adverse weather conditions are long term, the region could continue to experience lower tourism revenues from its traditional summer and winter tourist attractions.<br><br>With these factors in mind, Stierwalt is convinced it is essential to broaden the economic base of the region’s tourism by making a countywide effort to build and encourage other dependable attractions that support tourism in the area. Pointing out that the county’s arts reputation is already a significant factor in attracting artists and tourists, Stierwalt insists the region’s large and talented arts community can play a key economic role in the future.<br><br>“Working together with local resources like the Ruidoso Convention Center and Spencer Theater the arts can play a big part in boosting the local economy both by increasing Lincoln County’s reputation as an innovative and arts-friendly area and by planning and promoting events that can attract more tourists into the county,” she states.<br><br>There is no question the region’s arts-friendly reputation already draws thousands of tourists and settlers from places like Santa Fe, Dallas and Austin. In fact, Carrizozo’s recent Painted Burro Auction sold burros to art-lovers as far away as California and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. So, it seems clear that with continued and reliable community support, the art leg of the Ruidoso region’s tourism economy could become an even more significant contributor to the area’s economy and tourism in the future. This may be particularly important because the attraction of art -- as a source of growing economic activity – is not seasonal and is less impacted by changing weather patterns than the area’s other tourism attractions. This means the region’s strong and growing arts community may be able to attract tourists year-around and could become a more significant contributor to the region’s economy in the future.<br><br>The mARTi-Gras event is RRCA’s annual celebration of the arts in the Ruidoso area, it’s also one of the group’s way of saying, “Thank you” to the community of which it is a part. It sounds like there will be plenty of fun for all who attend.<br><br>Like Stierwalt and the RRCA artists, Steppin’ Out encourages residents and art lovers from throughout Lincoln County to get out and enjoy the evening and support this important annual celebration of the arts in the Ruidoso region.<br><br>See you there!<br><br>
[Editor's Note: Images associated with this article are representative samples of work of several RRCA members as displayed in the Destination Sierra Blanca Show in November 2006. Steppin' Out extends our appreciation to the artists for allowing us to photograph their works.]</td><td width=160 valign=top align=center><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3915_Betsy_Shaw.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3915_Betsy_Shaw_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Betsy Shaw<br>Sculptor<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3955_Betty_Day.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3955_Betty_Day_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Betty Day<br>Painter<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3950_B_J_Moore.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3950_B_J_Moore_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>B.J. Moore<br>Painter<br><br></td></tr></table>
Region’s Artists Flexing Their Economic Muscles
Ruidoso, NM – The Ruidoso Regional Council for the Arts recently set February 17, as the date for its 3rd annual mARTi-gras celebration. They invite the public to come out and enjoy this special art event with them from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday the 17th.<br><br><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0><tr><td width=160 valign=top align=center><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3959_Betty_Day.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3959_Betty_Day_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Betty Day<br>Gourd Artist<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3952_B_J_Moore.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3952_B_J_Moore_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>B.J. Moore<br>Painter<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3967_Joyce_Hastings.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3967_Joyce_Hastings_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Joyce Hastings<br>Potter<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3921_Dennis_Martin.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3921_Dennis_Martin_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Dennis Martin<br>Painter<br><br></td><td valign=top>mARTi-GRAS is an annual celebration of Lincoln County, the region’s artists; and a fund raiser to help support the operations of RRCA, a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote the arts as a regional economic force, and thus contribute to Lincoln County’s tourism appeal and its economy, by promoting the arts and cultural assets of the area.<br><br>This year’s mARTi-gras offers lots of fun to those who attend. Among its attractions are an Art Show featuring RRCA member artists, Live New Orleans Jazz Music, a Gumbo Cook-off Competition, Dancing, a mARTi-gras mask contest, a Cash Bar and a silent art auction as well. Even local ski shops told Steppin’ Out they are looking forward to the positive impact mARTi-gras could have on their business.<br><br>According to Dari Stierwalt Executive Director of RRCA, part of the group’s mission is to build and promote the Ruidoso region as an arts destination -- to help the area become as prominent in New Mexico Arts as Santa Fe, and Taos. “To achieve this goal, RRCA needs the support of artists, businesses and the community,” Stierwalt says.<br><br>Stierwalt explains that, although Ruidoso and Lincoln County have many attractions that encourage tourism, several of the region’s traditional tourist attractions have been hurt in recent years by changing weather patterns which caused closures of Lincoln National forest in the summer, and unfavorable snow conditions on Sierra Blanca in the winter.<br><br>The reduced availability of local tourist attractions has tended to cut the number of travelers into the area. Less tourism means lower lodger’s tax revenues which have traditionally been used to support and promote the arts and the entire region’s appeal as an arts destination. If adverse weather conditions are long term, the region could continue to experience lower tourism revenues from its traditional summer and winter tourist attractions.<br><br>With these factors in mind, Stierwalt is convinced it is essential to broaden the economic base of the region’s tourism by making a countywide effort to build and encourage other dependable attractions that support tourism in the area. Pointing out that the county’s arts reputation is already a significant factor in attracting artists and tourists, Stierwalt insists the region’s large and talented arts community can play a key economic role in the future.<br><br>“Working together with local resources like the Ruidoso Convention Center and Spencer Theater the arts can play a big part in boosting the local economy both by increasing Lincoln County’s reputation as an innovative and arts-friendly area and by planning and promoting events that can attract more tourists into the county,” she states.<br><br>There is no question the region’s arts-friendly reputation already draws thousands of tourists and settlers from places like Santa Fe, Dallas and Austin. In fact, Carrizozo’s recent Painted Burro Auction sold burros to art-lovers as far away as California and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. So, it seems clear that with continued and reliable community support, the art leg of the Ruidoso region’s tourism economy could become an even more significant contributor to the area’s economy and tourism in the future. This may be particularly important because the attraction of art -- as a source of growing economic activity – is not seasonal and is less impacted by changing weather patterns than the area’s other tourism attractions. This means the region’s strong and growing arts community may be able to attract tourists year-around and could become a more significant contributor to the region’s economy in the future.<br><br>The mARTi-Gras event is RRCA’s annual celebration of the arts in the Ruidoso area, it’s also one of the group’s way of saying, “Thank you” to the community of which it is a part. It sounds like there will be plenty of fun for all who attend.<br><br>Like Stierwalt and the RRCA artists, Steppin’ Out encourages residents and art lovers from throughout Lincoln County to get out and enjoy the evening and support this important annual celebration of the arts in the Ruidoso region.<br><br>See you there!<br><br>
[Editor's Note: Images associated with this article are representative samples of work of several RRCA members as displayed in the Destination Sierra Blanca Show in November 2006. Steppin' Out extends our appreciation to the artists for allowing us to photograph their works.]</td><td width=160 valign=top align=center><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3915_Betsy_Shaw.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3915_Betsy_Shaw_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Betsy Shaw<br>Sculptor<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3955_Betty_Day.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3955_Betty_Day_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>Betty Day<br>Painter<br><br><a href=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3950_B_J_Moore.jpg><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/IMG_3950_B_J_Moore_tn.jpg border=1 alt="Click now to see larger image."></a><br>B.J. Moore<br>Painter<br><br></td></tr></table>