For the past year, the UNM College of Fine Arts has utilized a studio downtown or events ranging from high school outreach and exhibits to lectures.
Now, according to CFA Director Lara Goldmann, the studio at 113 4th St. will be a permanent gallery for UNM fine arts students, as well as local art enthusiasts.
For a mere one-dollar a month lease payment, the College of Fine Arts Downtown Studio will be open regular hours and will host events generally open to the public, Goldmann said, as only select classes and programs are focused on CFA students and faculty.
Director of the Albuquerque Cultural Services Department Dana Feldman said that, up until now, CFA had been using the space on a month-to-month basis.
"It was vacant for a time, and the idea was to use the space long-term for arts education, to bring something like this to downtown Albuquerque, and to expand UNM’s presence in downtown," she said. "The lease makes this a long-term agreement and no longer a month-to-month agreement.”
The studio gives graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to exhibit and perform their work In a professional environment, as well as get engaged with the community, do workshops with high school students and share their knowledge, Goldmann said.
“It is an exciting and enriching experience, [as well as a] possibility for students to grow as artists... and develop a new understanding of how art can communicate, and who the audience is,” she said.
The studio is part of Albuquerque ARTScrawl, and participates in the First Friday gallery openings, through live performances and artist talks, Goldmann said. Every art exhibition welcomes high school students around Albuquerque for a talk and workshop with the featured artist, and the studio is also hoping to begin an afternoon concert series every Friday on the outdoor patio, beginning in April.
Feldman has not yet visited the space, but said she looks forward to doing so.
“This space may have otherwise remained vacant," Feldman said. "To have it filled with vibrant arts activities, lectures and classes was important to the city of Albuquerque and to the Cultural Services Department."
She said it also expands UNM’s presence in downtown Albuquerque.
"I’m thinking specifically of the ABQ + UNM CityLab, which is also a partnership between the city of Albuquerque, and UNM has been in downtown on Central Avenue for a few years now,” Feldman said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
It is important for students in the arts to experience and learn how they want to define their roles as artists in our society, Goldman said, while also determining what art is like in the professional realm, in addition to sharing all the work that is being done at the College of Fine Arts with the greater Albuquerque community.
“Overall, students and classes bring new, creative life to the downtown area, and [create] an event space for the public to get engaged and enjoy art,” she said.
Elizabeth Sanchez is a reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
