WNMU Museum

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:  Karen Rossman 538-6386

DATE: October 5, 2005

The juried art exhibition Discovered! reception on Sept. 30, sponsored by the Western New Mexico University Museum was a great success and well attended.  The exhibition seeks to explore the breadth that creative expression has within the WNMU Community.  Best of Show went to Rick O’Ryan from the Information Technology Department with a breathtaking turned wood piece out of box elder. 

Awards were given in twelve categories and the winners are as follows: Best in Show in the wood category went to Rick O’Ryan of the Information Technology Department, Best in Acrylic on Canvas went to Jackie Ritke Jones, a student; Best in Ceramics was awarded to Gail Gruber of the School of Education, Best in Drawing went to Deborah Cosper-Hughes of the Academic Support Department, Best in Fiber Art was presented to Mary Leen of the Humanities Department, Best in Jewelry was awarded to Karen Rossman of the WNMU Museum, Best in Mixed Media was awarded to Major Benton           , a student; Best in Paper (Collage) went to Maury Shortt of the Humanities/History Departments, Best in Photography was awarded to James T. Carey of the Expressive Arts-Music Department, Best in Print was awarded to Lisa M. Hawk of Miller Library, Best in Sculpture was presented to Duane Elms of the Information Technology Department, Best in Watercolor            was presented to Aurelia Ford-Carey of the Movement Science Department, and Best in Wood went to Rick O’Ryan of the Information Technology Department.

Awards were one-of-a-kind miniature Mimbres bowls by Ancient Life Pottery (Paul & Laurel Thornburg), made similarly to the way the ancient Mimbres people made their pottery.  The bowls were awarded to the winners in each category and for Best in Show by Diana Ingalls Leyba and Harry Benjamin, the jurors for the exhibition. 

Discovered! will run from Sept. 30 through Dec. 1, 2005.  This exhibit is sponsored in part by the Associated Students of Western New Mexico University.  Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  For more information please call 505-538-6386.

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