Mark and Stephanie Medoff Contribute to “Las Cruces Collects” Exhibition June 4, 2009

The art collection of Mark and Stephanie Medoff adds a distinctly Southwestern flare to the new exhibition “Las Cruces Collects,” now showing at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. One of seven local collections on display until Saturday, August 22nd, artwork on loan from the Medoff family expresses both their passion for the theater and their personal connection to New Mexico.

With an array of horses and cowboys, the Medoff collection is certainly theatrical. Rugged landscapes serve as the backdrop to a cast of wild characters, with works on display such as “Good Guy Bad Guy” by graphic artist Norris Hall and “Rabbit Hunt” by illustrator Barbara Lathem. Notably, the Medoffs are no longer active collectors because their walls cannot hold any more artwork.

Mark Medoff, recognized for such theatrical works as “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” and “Children of a Lesser God,” is now serving as Creative Director for the Creative Media Institute. Mark Medoff and his wife Stephanie are currently co-chairs spearheading a campaign to raise funds for a new $75 million Center for the Arts at NMSU.

Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 10AM – 4PM, and Saturday, 9AM – 1PM. Admission is free. Funded by the City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Museum of Art is located at 491 North Main Street, at the north end of the Downtown Mall. Call 541-2137, or visit http://museums.las-cruces.org, for more information on museum exhibits and Studio Program art classes.