Be Artful at Open Space Center

But coyotes and roadrunners and rabbits, and maybe even turtles and prairie dogs and birds should abound Sunday when the city of Albuquerque’s Open Space Visitor Center unveils its “Waterways and Wildlife – a View with Room” annual fundraising exhibit.

Nearly 20 large-size paintings and about 70 smaller-size works from local artists will be on display and available for purchase.

	If you go What: “Waterways and Wildlife – A View with Room,” a showcase of landscape paintings describing the city of Albuquerque’s Open Space properties. Also continuing this year is the “Little Gems Juried Art Exhibit.” The art show is an annual fundraiser for the Open Space Alliance. Opening reception: 3-5:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors NW between Montaño and Paseo del Norte at the end of Bosque Meadows. The center’s open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. More info: Call 897-8831 or visit www.cabq.gov/openspace/.

The opening is set for 3-5 p.m. Sunday at the center at 6500 Coors NW.

“We have a wonderful assortment of paintings with many different types of animals and waterways,” said co-curator Marilyn Drake, who also has one large painting and several smaller ones in the show.

The display will be up through the end of October.

“We try to time this with the Balloon Fiesta so visitors will stop in,” Drake said.

The media involved includes oil paintings, as well as pastels, watercolors and batik, which are designs on fabric.

This is the seventh annual art fundraiser, said Joshua Willis, Open Space coordinator.

The proceeds, which in the past have amounted to as much as $1,500, benefit the Open Space Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicating to promoting public awareness and conservation of open space lands.

“It’s one of the things that makes Albuquerque a special place to live,” Drake said. “We have easy access to these types of places. We want to ensure that the city has lots of open space available.”

Many of the artists displaying their work are repeat contributors, Willis said, although there are up-and-comers featured, as well.

“There is a very high caliber of art,” he said.

In particular, the smaller-sized show, called “Little Gems Juried Art Exhibit,” has proven to be so popular that a panel has to choose the entrants.

Art in that space can be no larger than 6 inches by 8 inches and sell for no more than $325.

“We want to give people an opportunity to buy an original piece of art at an affordable price,” Drake said. “It just depends on what strikes one’s fancy.”

The visitor center is off of Coors between Montaño and Paseo del Norte at the end of Bosque Meadows.

It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 897-8831.