Events and Programs

These projects are supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, by the National Endowment for the Arts, by the Devasthali Family Foundation Fund, by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, by Creative West, and by the Sacramento Mountains Foundation

Current

Upcoming

List

Current Events and Programs

Opens Oct 2

Dance Classes Weekly

Otero Arts welcomes back Stan Ford, nature photographer, for a solo show in October. The opening reception will be October 2nd 5-7 at the Otero Artspace. The exhibit continues through October and closes on Saturday the 24th at 4pm.

This past May, Ford was the artist-in-residence at the Valles Caldera National Park. Ford said, “That was a thrill and a bucket list experience for me.” This was the third time he has been selected by the National Park Service to teach photography at one of their parks. “We teach the basics of night/astro-photography and shoot at different locations in the preserve like Longmire’s Cabin (from the TV series “Longmire”) and The “Missing” Cabin (from Ron Howard’s film starring Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchet).

”Most of the workshops have been centered upon night photography. The classes are free and there is always a lengthy waitlist. This year the class was fortunate to see the Northern Lights,” said Ford.

Upcoming Events and Programs

FREE EVENT

Otero Arts is delighted to offer a free reading by distinguished poet and novelist Jennifer Givhan on October 16, from 6-8 PM. Jennifer is a Mexican-American and Indigenous poet and novelist from the Southwestern United States. She is the author of five full-length poetry collections and five novels. Her novel Trinity Sight won The Southwest Book Award in 2020. She often writes about her "borderland identity" but broadens her narratives to resonate with anyone who has inhabited a liminal space between two cultures.

Baroque Chamber Tickets

On October 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM, Otero Arts will present Cruzando Fronteras, a Baroque ensemble featuring Gerard Gibbs (flauto dolce), Stephen Redfield and Carla Moore (Baroque violins), Katie Reitman (Baroque cello), and Charlotte Mattax Moersch (harpsichord). Through works by Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, and Vivaldi, the program explores cultural exchange in Baroque Europe while providing audiences with a historically informed performance experience. Your ticket price also supports an educational program plus a concert at Chaparral Middle School in Alamogordo.

Go To Veteran & Military events

Go To Classes

EVENT LIST

2026

Weekly Belly Dance Classes, Thursday evening, 5:30-6:30

January

2 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception: Juried Photography Exhibit, 5-7 PM

8 Members Meet and Greet 10-11:30 AM

15 Open Meeting about Women Veteran Arts Showcase

16 Otero Arts Reading Series: NM Author Phillip Connors, 6-8 PM

20 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8 PM

25 Veteran Writers' Workshop, 4-6 PM

February

5 Members Meet and Greet 10 AM

6 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception: John Glass Watercolors

11 Art documentary film: Exibition On Screen: Caravaggio, 5:30 PM

14 Kids Workshop: Matisse cut-outs, 10-12 AM (Maria)

14 Adult Workshop: Notans/Matisse, 1-3 PM (Shari)

17 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8 PM

March

5 Members Meet and Greet, 10 AM

6 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception: "Art Speaks" 3 Women Fabric Artists: Art Quilts and Photography

8 Bonus quilt/fabric workshop, 1-3 PM

14 Kids Workshop (Sand Painting) 10-12 (Pennie)

14 Adult Workshop (Sand Painting). 1-3 (Pennie)

18 Evening Workshop: Collage Large 5-7 (Maria)

April

1 Exhibition Opening first rotation of Student Art Show

2 Members Meet and Greet 10 AM

3 Grade School opening reception 5 - 7pm

11 Kids Workshop (Gelli Print/process), 10-12 (Shari)

11 Adult Workshop (Gellie Print process),1-3 (Shari)

15 Exhibition Opening Second rotation Student art Display

17 Otero Arts Reading Series: Charmayne Samuelson, 6pm

21 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series: RINGING ROCKS OF THE SOUTHWEST, 6 - 8 PM

May

1 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception 5-7 PM: Veterans Art Showcase

8 Spring Concert: Lone Piñon 7:00 PM

9 Kids Workshop (Cardboard Critters). 10=12 (Taylor)

9 Adult Workshop (Abstract Painting). 1-3 (Maria)

15 Women Veterans Empowerment Workshop 4-8pm

16 Civilian/Caregiver Workshop on Women Veteran Empowerment 3-6pm

17 WVET 11AM-12:30PM Workshop and Brunch
Spoken Word and Performances That Heal: Creating Artistic Spaces that Don't "Re-traumatize" WVET Hosts OPEN MIC 1-4pm

19 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, A Bazillion Sherds, 6 - 8 PM

23 Journal Jam Workshop, 1-3 PM, (Shari)

27 Flutist Samuel Pollack, 7 PM

30 Drum Circle and Showcase Closing Ceremony 4-6pm

30 Journal Jam Workshop, 2-4 PM, (Shari)

June

3 Veteran and Family Members Public Reading, 6 PM - 9 PM

4 Members Meet and Greet 10 AM

5 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception 5-7 PM: PABLO VESEY

6 Journal Jam Workshop, 2-4 PM (Shari)

10 Evening Adult Work Shop: One Page Wonder, 5-7 PM (Shari)

13 Kids Workshop: Mini Mural, 10-12 (Maria)

13 Adult Workshop: Mini Mural, 1-3 (Maria)

13 Journal Jam Workshop 3-5 PM (Shari)

16 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8 PM

17 Art documentary: Exibition On Screen: Frida Kahlo
Wednesday, June 17⋅5:30 – 7:00pm

20 Journal Jam Workshop 2-4 PM (Shari)

28 ICE CREAM SOCIAL FUNDRAISER AND SILENT AUCTION 3-5 pm

July

2 Member Meet and Greet 10 AM

3 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception 5-7 PM: SMALL WORKS

11 Workshop for children, String Art, 10 AM (Taylor)

11 Workshop for adults, String Art, 1 PM (Taylor)

11 Journal Jam Workshop 3-5 PM (Shari)

1

17 Otero Arts Reading Series: Anne Hillerman

21 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8 PM

August

6 Member Meet and Greet 10 AM

7 First Friday Art Exhibit Opening Reception 5-7 PM: SUE NICHOLS

8 Workshop for children, Rock Painting, 10 AM (Pennie)

8 Workshop for adults, Rock Painting, 1 PM (Pennie)

18 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8

21 Movie: Dean Spanley, 5:30 PM

September

3 Member Meet and Greet 10 AM

4 First Friday Art Exhibit Reception 5-7 PM: Sue Nichols

12 Workshop for children, Air Dry Clay – Plaque Faces, 10 AM

12 Workshop for adults, Air Dry Clay – Plaque Faces, 1 PM

13 Adult Still Life Workshop in Watercolor and Acrylic, 1:00 PM

15 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8

18 Samuel Pollack Concert 7:00 PM

26 Leslee Ames & Al Higgins Workshop 1-4 PM

October

1 Member meet and greet 10 AM

2 First Friday Art Exhibit Reception 5-7 PM: Stan Ford Photography Exhibition

10 Workshop for children, Yayoi Paper Pumpkin Art, 10 AM

10 Workshop for adults, Yayoi Paper Pumpkin Art, 1 P

16 Otero Arts Reading Series: Jennifer Givhan

17 Cruzando Fronteras Baroque Chamber Ensemble 7:00 PM

20 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6 - 8

30 Movie Art Documentary: The Curious World of Hieronymus Bosch 5:30 PM

November

5 Member meet and greet 10 AM

6 First Friday Art Exhibit Reception 5-7 PM: Members' Exhibition

14 Workshop for children, Holiday workshops: beads/cards, 10 AM

14 Workshop for adults, Holiday workshops: beads/cards, 1 PM

17 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6

December

3 Member meet and greet 10 AM

4 First Friday Art Exhibit Reception 5-7 PM: Collectibles Exhibition

12 Workshop for children, Abstract painting, 10 AM

12 Workshop for adults, Still Life, 1 PM

15 Jornada Research Institute Archeology Lecture series, 6