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2024 Montezuma Ball committee hosts online art auction
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New Mexico鈥檚 art scene is like no other.
To commemorate the state鈥檚 thriving art community, the Montezuma Ball committee is hosting an online art auction. The Montezuma Ball was created in 1902 as part of the New Mexico Territorial Fair, according to a news release from the organization. It continued until 1968 when the last ball was held at the Alvarado Hotel.
In 2000, Heritage Hotels & Resorts restored the event in its Alvarado Ballroom inside Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. The ball has raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations.
This year鈥檚 event will focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics). Its beneficiaries are R4Creating and Mandy鈥檚 Farm.
鈥淭he Land of Enchantment is a locus where science and art commingle,鈥� said Shelly Gruenig, founding executive director of R4Creating, in a statement. 鈥淭his is the essence of STEAM, where art intersects with the technical excellence of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).鈥�
The art auction, 鈥淐reating Opportunity,鈥� opened for viewing on Aug. 1 and bidding began on Aug. 14. Bidding ends at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23. The artwork can be viewed at by clicking on the Montezuma Ball tab.
There are multiple pieces of art available including print, lithograph, mixed media, paintings, photography, sculpture and 3D art, Southwestern, textiles/weaving and wearable art, according to the news release.
Works include 鈥淭wo Eagle Dancers鈥� by Pablita Velarde. The piece is valued at $12,000. Velarde created the gouache painting in 1988 during the later years of her career, according to the news release. Velarde was the first Native American woman commissioned in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration.
The Southwest still life by Edward Gonzales is valued at $5,000. The oil painting by Gonzales depicts the Southwest with masterful brushwork. 鈥淶uni Woman With Pot鈥� by Tim Nicola is valued at $4,500. The multi-patina bronze statue is mounted on a wood base. It is numbered 12/12 and was acquired in 1998 from the artist鈥檚 wife.
鈥淎labaster Eagle鈥� by Jeff Grandbois features a heart-shaped eagle body. It is valued at $3,000 and was acquired from the artist in 1990. Other items include 鈥淪mirk,鈥� a giclee print by George Alexander II, valued at $1,000. Alexander II is a Native American emerging artist who has created work highly sought after by collectors.
Another auction item is a Santa Domingo Native American ceremonial necklace, valued at $1,500. It was crafted with handmade heishi, natural turquoise and natural coral. It features two hand tied jaclas, which were pairs of heishi earrings tied onto necklaces for storage and decoration. Variations of jaclas can include vertical slab or chunk stones at the center or layered discs with bead loops hanging from them, according to the news release.
鈥淥ur 鈥楥谤别补迟颈苍驳 Opportunity鈥� art auction gives people an opportunity to buy some fantastic art at great prices while making a difference for the young people that both R4Creating and Mandy鈥檚 Farm serves,鈥� Gruenig said in a statement. 鈥淭he auction is not limited to people in New Mexico, so I hope people send the information out far and wide.鈥�
