Exhibit: Light Fantastic and Batteries Not Required August 6, 2009

Las Cruces, NM –Two new exhibits will open at Branigan Cultural Center on Friday, August 7, 2009. “Batteries Not Required” is a display of historic cameras. “Light Fantastic” is a display of an historic craft in its newest form: art quilts. The opening reception for both exhibits is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. as part of the monthly 1st Friday Ramble. The exhibits remain on display through Saturday, August 29th.

“Batteries Not Required” features over seventy manual cameras from the collection of Don Brenner. Among the cameras to be displayed are an 1884 Blair with mahogany frame and cherry wood base, a 1909 Graflex with extensible front lens rack, and a 1927 Ansco Memo featuring a vertical frame box body using a tubular view finder on top. Also included are early “spy” cameras, various Kodak models including the Brownie, Exaktas, and many more. When Kodak recently announced the discontinuation of Kodachrome film, Brenner lamented the end of an era reflected in his camera collection. Brenner will be on hand during the opening reception to answer questions about the cameras.

“Light Fantastic” is an exhibit from New Mexico Art Quilters. Art quilts echo the practical and decorative skills of quilt making from yesteryear, and take new life as an art form equal to watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings. This juried show features thirty-one quilts by fourteen artists from across New Mexico.

The Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main Street, is located at the north end of the Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. The exhibit and reception is free and open to the public. Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about exhibits, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s web site at
las-cruces.org/museums