Silver City MainStreet & Arts and Cultural District Community Collaboration
Meeting Minutes March 3, 2022
Attendees: Lucy Whitmarsh, Rhonda Munzinger, Bryan Hyde, Marcus Hanson, Emily Gojkovich, Karen Beckenbach, Bernadette Smyth, Kristen Warnack, Kitty Clemens, Ann Lowe, Patty Reed, Eric Ockerhansen, Marcus Hanson, Alexa Tubbs, Steve Chavira, David Chapman, Brenda Tozier, and Charmeine Wait.
Guest Presenter: Melody Collins Mimbres Regional Arts Council (MRAC) – Blues Festival will be happening this year at Gough Park on Saturday, May 28, from 11AM to 8:30PM. To kick off the event, Friday night there will be bands playing at Q's Bistro and Little Toad Brewery. Saturday will be the big event and will feature five bands hosted by MRAC with a grant from the Lineberry Foundation with an additional two bands sponsored by Little Toad Creek and Q's Bistro who will also have beer gardens. The Maker's Market will be there presenting all local artists instead of using outside vendors. There will also be food and the entire event will be fenced in. After the show additional live music at the Little Toad Creek Brewery and Q's Bistro. Sunday the Little Toad will be hosting a Blue's Brunch to end the event.
The show costs between $60,000 and $80,000 to put it on and they are asking for $5 donation to assist with costs.
NM True chose to support the Blues Festival out of 100 events are one of thirteen to be highlighted by NM True. They have donated $16,500 to promote the event and hired a consultant to help. The Town of Silver City is supporting greatly with this event helping with the fencing as well as other needs. MainStreet is supporting by helping Downtown merchants to promote and offering banners to highlight the sponsors.
NM True bringing down professional photographers as well as a drone to create marketing materials to use next year in hopes to make it a three-day event again.
Linda Gray is the admin and volunteer for this event. Bryan Hyde helped with graphics, Marcia Tinker is setting up volunteer, and Chris Uribe is the event coordinator.
To get the full line up go to their Facebook page or silvercitybluesfestival.org website and if interested in volunteering reach out
The board is being rebuilt so please contact them if you are passionate about art and want to learn more.
MainStreet Report: Charmeine –We launched the Small Business Assistance Program which is a forgivable loan for downtown businesses. You must apply by March 31.
We are also working on an Outdoor Trails+ grant for Lion's Park improvements.
Silco Theatre Report: Charmeine – Silco Film has about fifty members now. Go to www.thesilcotheater.com to see the lineup of Film Club movies and about renting the Silco.
WILL in collaboration with the Museum will be renting the Silco. Reach out to
Brenda- If you want to advertise your event on the Swan Street Sign please reach out to Brenda at
Visitor Center Report: David – In February we had an average of 40 people per day visit the visitor Center totaling 1108 people. The most since September. With spring arriving we are seeing even more per day in the last week, and we are preparing to get busy soon.
We do have the new town maps in play, which now lists the Silva Creek Botanical gardens and The Historic Waterworks in the legend.
In our lobby, the interactive birds and pollinator display is finished. It is a fun display where kids and adults can open "bird houses" to learn about the birds and other pollinators that live in the Big Ditch. Be sure to come and check it out.
The town has installed the new lampposts, as well as the arch welcoming people to Big Ditch Park
With the CDT trail days around the corner, we will be bringing out the hikers' box for people to share items that they may not need to others who may find of use.
At the request of some local businesses, we will be trying to do a count of hikers coming into our visitor center during the hiking season. This would be a good way to see how many are also interested in our town. A little side story: Last month, a young woman and her mother were visiting from Norway. The daughter had hiked the CDT in 2019 and knew she had to bring her Mom to see Silver City.
If anyone has any questions or ideas about anything let me know! David at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you have any events please add them to visitsilvercity.org
Discussion:
Patty Reed Advisory Board at WILL – Western Institute for Lifelong Learning will begin hosting six lunch and learns in partnership with the Silver City Museum with a seventh event with CDT Trails. You can contact Patty at
Steve Chavira Workforce & Economic Development Alliance of Grant Count –
February 23 held a roundtable event on the principles, vision, and opportunities as a follow-up to the roundtable in December, which was for elected officials. Another roundtable will happen I April where they will share the results. Sending out a survey of 10 questions about covid challenges and worked for them. They are looking at training opportunities and rural connectivity for those working from home. A virtual Toastmasters meeting will be starting on Wednesdays from 6-7. 575-574-0176
Karen Beckenbach GCCCA – February 25 was the Diamonds with Let's Rock Broadway and featured hits from 15 different Broadway media. Lots of costume changes and was very entertaining. Many people came out as well as family. The Pianist is from El Paso and wants to come back to perform. March 25, Thalea String Quartet is a young group that will be doing a free education outreach program for children. May 3, Yjastros, a Flamenco band, from Albuquerque will be playing and they will be doing a free education outreach program for youth. The 2022 subscription is available on line and will include a Beach Boys tribute bans, a duo from Mexico City, a classical Cello/Piano duo, a brass Quintet from Florida. Full listing can be found at https://www.gcconcerts.org/
Eric Ockerhausen Grant County Art Guild - We have many art-related activities during the month of March starting with Carolyn Paez two-session Abstract Painting Workshop on Monday, March 7 and Monday, March 14 from 10 am to 1 pm. The cost for both sessions is just15 dollars.
We are holding a three-day teen workshop on Wednesday, March 16 to Friday, March 18 from 1 pm to 4 pm. This is a free workshop but you need to register ahead for it. Both the teen workshop and the abstract class are funded by our educational outreach fund.
We have a Glass Fusion Basics two-day workshop on Saturday, March 26 and Saturday, April 2 from 2 to 5 pm. The cost for this workshop is 70 dollars but that will cover all materials and you will take home several pieces of fused glass or jewelry.
If you have questions about the Glass Fusion Basics workshop, you should contact Stephanie Demme at
For information about other upcoming classes and events, you should contact
The Gallery is pleased to announce our new artist, silversmith Frank "Andy" Anderson who does his own lapidary work and often uses local stones. Our window artists for March are glass artist Susan Rice, painter Beatriz Giraldo, and painter Luanne Brooten.
We will hold our Saturday morning artisan market at theAnnex through March. Our open studios are the second and fourth Thursday of every Dropinmonth from 10 to 1. Drop in with a creative project to work on and meet other area artists.
The Grant County Art Guild is open every day from 10 to 5 in the downtown historic Hester House.
Bryan Hyde Design Committee SC MainStreet – is working on rebranding Silco and MainStreet. Working on Silco logo that combines past with the future and creating templates and promotional slides to utilize for advertising on the Silco Screen.
Lucy Whitmarsh Murray Hotel – Working on community outreach to encourage groups to utilize the ballroom 2000 sq. feet flexible space with room for social distancing. Helps all businesses downtown when we bring people to come downtown. Win/win situation for groups to utilize the ballroom. Lucy hosts out of town writers at the hotel. If you want to call Lucy at the hotel or email her to book the space. Phone 575- 956-9400 Option 2 or email
Ann Lowe – Working on a big party at Big Ditch party for a meet and greet of the new people in town with those that have been here for some time to help build relationships and community. Looking on getting a list of all people who have moved here from a realtor. Looking for downtown merchants who want to get bags together to advertise. Looking at maybe July. For more information or to get involved contact Ann at shipbow88@cincast,net or 575-313-7633
Rhonda Munzinger Silver City Arts Association - 1st quarter art guide will have ten more pages with many more sponsors. Will be at the printer by April 1 and out by April 30. Working on the new website and advertising for Give Grandly. Weekend at the Galleries will be coming up and an exhibition for Indigenous day. Studio Tour at the Light Art Space. Planning a float in the Christmas Parade and will participate each month with the Maker's Market for the Make and Take for kids and families. We have a new board member, Mary Gates.
Jennifer Tepper posts new images and copy to the website as Jeff processes them, complete by March 15th.
Rhonda Munzinger manages the Lodger's Tax Application for Reimbursem*nt of Art Guide Design and Printing. The Application/Invoice is submitted to the Lodger's Tax Committee April 30th. Committee sends reimbursem*nt check to SCAA July 31st.
Rhonda Munzinger serves on the Give Grandly! Advertising Committee to prepare for the event from Jan 17th-May 10th. Event is May 8th.
Joel Armstrong and Karen Hymer begin Weekend at the Galleries (WAG) Advertisem*nts design, including posters, brochure and save the date 4-up card August 1st. Posters, brochures and save the date cards printed and distributed by the Galleries Group and the Visitor Center by September 1st.
Karen Hymer and the Galleries Group prepare for the Weekend at the Galleries Event (WAG) beginning July 1st, and complete by the Thursday before Indigenous People's Day Weekend. Galleries Group holds the Event Friday-Sunday Indigenous People's Day Weekend. Double check with Karen Hymer if it will end that Sunday or Monday as it can vary.
Rhonda Munzinger begins preparation for the Weekend at the Galleries Fundraiser May 1st. Fundraiser begins August 10th, and ends Saturday of Indigenous People's Day weekend.
Rhonda Munzinger manages the Lodger's Tax Application for Reimbursem*nt of the Studio Tour and Weekend At the Galleries. The 2 Application/Invoices are submitted to the Lodger's Tax Committee October 15th. Committee sends reimbursem*nt check to SCAA December 31st.
Zoe Wolfe and the Studio Group begin preparing for the Red Dot Studio Tour. Date:September 2, 3, 4. stay in touch with Zoe who will tell you the date preparation begins.
Sally Tilton and the Independent Artists Group will begin to prepare for the Red Dot Independent Artists Show. Committee is formed by August 1st. Prep from August through Nov 15th, Reception Nov 17th, Show runs for 2 weeks until Nov 27th.
Karen Hymer and the Galleries Group will hold a Candelaria Event during the Christmas Holiday. Dates TBD, Karen will tell us when the Group makes a decision about holding the event and the dates.
Make & Take, Charmeine Wait, Director of Main Street gives SCAA the list of dates (one a month) and pitches the event to the membership in the March 9th membership mtg. Rhonda signs up artists for each date and gives the list back to Charmeine to manage. List complete by April 1st.
Dates the 2022 Make & Take will be at the Maker's Market: May 14th
June 11th
July 9th
August 13th
September 10th
October 8th
Sally Tilton and committee will create an SCAA float for the Silver City Light Parade. Prep begins March 1st. The Parade takes place November 26th.
Bernadette Smyth Grant County Community Foundation – Give Grandly coming up May 7 in-person as well as online. Will be in-person at the Maker's Market. Sponsorship will be $250 at a minimum but hoping to get up to $500.
Four new grants can be found on the website with a deadline of April 17 for Jane Elise Hendricks/Sebert Brewer Charitable Trust, Disability and Accessibility, and Luna County Sustainability. The 30 Something grant is due to by May 1. More information can be found at
Kristen Warnack Little Toad Brewery – Mardi Gras party was a great success. 3/3: Karaoke (8-11)
3/4: Boaz & Zito (7-10 or maybe 8-11?)
Boaz and Zito are a fiddle/guitar/vocals duo based in northern New Mexico (Taos and
Albuquerque). They play both original songs and traditional folk tunes from their various influences and the places that they come from: old-time, Hungarian folk, Irish folk, Americana, blues and mariachi. Their new 5-song EP "One for a Cello One for a Goat" is coming out in mid-February.
3/6: Thrown-Out Bones (4-7pm)
San Francisco-based Thrown-Out Bones is a high-energy swanky rock group known for their experimental approach to genre and performance. With 10+ years of playing together, this power trio has developed a unique sound that blurs the lines between funk, jazz, classic rock, and even the occasional deep, contemplative jam. The shows themselves have gained a following for the creative ways the band breaks down the fourth wall with audience-inspired improvisation or even occasionally invites fans onstage to sing lead.
Come for the explosive originals and dancey covers, ranging from classics like Queen and Johnny Cash to modern hits like Green Day and Amy Winehouse. Stay for the chance to get your very own improvised song!
3/8: Trivia (7-9)
3/10: Karaoke (8-11)
3/11: DJ AutumnAttic's Space Cowgirl Party (8:30-11:30)
3/15: Trivia (7-9)
3/17: St. Paddy's Day Party and Pub Crawl (4-11) Food and drink specials, prizes, music by:
The Gila Lobsters (8-11)
The Gila Lobsters are a 4-piece cover band local to Silver City. They play outlaw country and classic roc k ranging from the 1960s to ‘90s.
3/19: The Status Crowes (8-11)
Chuck & Michelle – The Status Crowes – are a high-energy acoustic duo with a repertoire of more than 1,300 songs. They have so many cover tunes in their playlist, they have been dubbed "The Acoustic Jukebox." They pride themselves on making every show unique and gladly take requests from their audiences.
3/22: Trivia (7-9) 3/24:
Karaoke (8-11)
3/25: Steven Baird (7-10)
Originally from SoCal, Steven Baird escaped the Los Angeles cover band scene for survival, bought a one-way ticket to Europe and wandered for a year while exploring and developing his acoustic style. After more years wandering ‘round the western U.S., he ended up in Tucson in 2000 where he quickly gained a spot on the main stage at the Tucson Folk Festival, eventually performing there five times over the next several years. His conscious originals address an array of human experience from love to loss and hope for better days to come. Plus, he has a treasure chest of '60s-'70s folk-rock nuggets to liven up the night.
3/26: Alex Wilkerson & His Band (8-11)
Alex Wilkerson is a Bisbee transplant from Alabama. Combining aspects of shoegaze, psychedelic rock and bedroom pop, Wilkerson writes music best described as atmospheric and honest; sunny indie rock with a dark side.
3/27: Compás (2-5)
Compás returns in trio form after a long break to play originals as well as some favorite ethnic songs from around the globe. With their different musical backgrounds, band members Andrew Dahl-Bredine, Michele Parlee, and Peter Dahl-Bredine combine musical elements and genres in a rhythm-inspired way.
3/29: Trivia (7-9)
3/31: Karaoke
Virus Theatre is not gone. Looking to do Romeo and Juliet in the fall with high school students and more.
Kitty Clemens Southwest New Mexico Council of Government - Have a new logo to be launched and building a new website. Co-starters for rural areas to help people get started. In four counties and has fifty new businesses in the past 12 months. Nineteen in Luna, three graduating in Hidalgo, and another to get started in Catron. A startup coming to visit Silver City from Columbus who wants to start a co-op. There is a lot of interest in the co-op module and you can reach out to Kitty for more info.
Emily Gojkovich Southwest New Mexico Council of Government - working on building a regional database to be able to disseminate information very quickly and is part of their five-year strategic plan. They do not share info unless you ask for help and will connect you to those. Steve and Romeo trained on how to use this database. You can get access and trained to add stakeholders. Your information that is input cannot be seen by others and can be used like a CRM.
Marcus Hanson Manager at KURU/GMRC - Spring fundraiser the March 14 to 20. We like to promote local vendors. For more information reach out to
Alexa Tubbs Clay Festival - The 5-day headliner workshop, Sculpting the Self with Jamie Bates Slone for CLAY Festival is now available for registration on our website. Hosted at Western New Mexico University. https://clayfestival.com/clayworkshops
Our International Juried Exhibition: Reflections in CLAY is open for submissions: https://clayfestival.com/exhibition
11th Annual CLAY Festival July 11-17, 2022
A new display on Continental Divide Trail is on view at the Silver City Public Library by Alexa Tubbs and Matt Leef. Thanks to Shelby Hallmark, Silver City Visitor Center, Gila Hike & Bike, and Continental Divide Trail Coalition for the materials. Check it out! On view through the end of March.
For arts and cultural listings in the 2022 Field Guide with Southwest Contemporary, please contact me:
Next meeting will be Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 9am, invitation to follow the week
before.
Meeting adjourned
