The First Mission
To foster appreciation and development of the fine arts in New Mexico and to promote the performance of arts through appropriate programs of publicity, education, coordination and direct activities such as sponsorship of the performing and visual arts.
The First Meeting
The first meeting of The New Mexico Arts Commission was held in the Coronado Room of the La Fonda Hotel on September 13, 1965, at 1:30 PM. The New Mexico legislature authorized $15,000 for the first year of the Commission’s operations.
The First Commissioners' Bios
Mrs. Scott Mabry (Jane)
1965 Chair
(Received the 1995 Governor’s Award for Painting)
Albuquerque, NM
Artist/Painter. Jane graduated from UNM and then studied art for several years with Santa Fe School Artist, Gerald Cassidy. She was President of the Artist Equity Association, Inc., Albuquerque Chapter. Her husband, Scott Mabry was son of the 14th Governor of New Mexico, Thomas Mabry (1947 – 51).
Mrs. Norman Rosen (Ivy)
Secretary/Music Committee
Santa Fe, NM
Collector and Patron of Art.
Mrs. Sue W. Barbo
Espanola, NM
Sue represented the Espanola Branch of the Community Concert Association. She was also chairwoman of the civic committee for Amantes de Flores Garden Club.
Mrs. Alfred Colbert
(Betty)
Sandoval, NM
Renowned New Mexican potter. Betty started potting in graduate school at UNM. A studio potter and muralist, she also taught at the University of Albuquerque for nearly two decades, as well as leading many seminars and workshops at Ghost Ranch.
Mrs. Herbert Callaway
(Samuella)
Alamogordo, NM
Writer/Poet
Samuella wrote “All Full of Wonder, Fifty Poems” and “Old Tularosa.”
Father Angelico Chavez
Pena Blanca, NM
(Received the 1976 Governor’s award for Literature.) Father Chavez spent a lifetime researching New Mexico history, writing books, scholarly articles, poetry, and fiction. He was also a self-taught artist and mural painter.
POPOVI DA/TONY MARTINEZ
San Ildefonso Pueblo
Santa Fe, NM
Potter. Popovi Da was
a San Ildefonso Pueblo
Native American potter.
As an artist he worked
as a collaborative team
with his mother, the
noted Tewa potter,
Maria Martínez, and
also independently on
his own works. He served
six terms as Governor
of San Ildefonso Pueblo
beginning in 1952.
MAURICE EBY
Las Cruces, NM
Photographer.
In Las Cruces. Maurice
took a position at NMSU
as a photographer for
the Physical Sciences
Laboratory. He was
hired to take photos
of Maria and Popovi
to promote their studio
at San Ildefonso Pueblo.
ALICE BERNARD EVANS
Las Alamos, NM
Teacher/
Theatre Director.
Alice served on the
Art in Public Places
Committee appointed
by the late Governor
Campbell. A gifted
director for the Los
Alamos Little Theatre
in its early years,
Alice and others
founded the Don Juan
Playhouse in 1958. She
was honored as one of
the first “Living
Treasures” in
Los Alamos.
Peter Hurd
San Patricio, NM
(Received the 1977
Governor’s Award
for Painting)
Painter.
Hurd was an American
painter whose work is
strongly associated with
the people and landscapes
of San Patricio, New
Mexico, where he lived
from the 1930s. He is
equally acclaimed for
his portraits and his
western landscapes.
Hurd was commissioned
to paint the official
portraits of two heads
of state, United States
President Lyndon B.
Johnson and King Faisal
of Saudi Arabia.
MRS. HANS TROELS LARSEN
(NORMA)
Albuquerque, NM
Music Teacher.
Owner of Norma Jordan
School of Piano. Vice
President of the
Albuquerque Opera Guild.
JOHN MCHUGH
1966 CHAIR
Santa Fe, NM
(received the 1992
Governor’s Award
for Major Contributor
to the Arts.)
Architect.
John McHugh initially
worked in John Gaw Meem’s
architectural firm as
a senior draftsman.
In 1963, McHugh served
as President of the New
Mexico Chapter for the
American Institute of
Architects. McHugh is
best known for his
contributions to the
architecture in Santa Fe
and the surrounding
area. He designed many
landmark structures such
as the Santa Fe Opera.
WINFIELD SCOTT
Santa Fe, NM
Poet/Diarist.
Scott worked as a
newspaperman and book
reviewer. Scott published
13 books of poetry, as
well as work in numerous
literary periodicals.
MRS. A.E. THOMAS
(MURA)
Albuquerque, NM
Theatre.
Mura was Vice Presi
dent of the Albuquerque
Little Theatre Board
of Directors. In 1959,
she received
Albuquerque’s Community
Service Award.
FRANK WATERS
Taos, NM
Writer.
Frank Waters is known for
his novels and historical
works about the American
Southwest. The Frank
Waters Foundation,
founded in his name,
strives to foster
literary and artistic
achievement in the
Southwest United States.
JACK M. CAMPBELL
Governor
Santa Fe, NM
Campbell served as
the 21st governor of
New Mexico from January
1, 1963, until January
1, 1967. In office,
Campbell supported
programs to aid the
mentally ill and
appointed the first
state science adviser.
In 1963 he called for
an overhaul in the New
Mexico Constitution and
convinced the
legislature to create a
Constitutional Revision
Commission, which
eventually led to the
1969 New Mexico
Constitutional
Convention.
The Work of the First Commission
SIXTEEN PROJECTS WERE FUNDED:
ALBUQUERQUE JUNE MUSIC FESTIVAL
ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATRE
ALBUQUERQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
CARLSBAD AREA ART ASSOCIATION
CORRALES ADOBE THEATRE
DON JUAN PLAYHOUSE
HELEN HAYES REPERTORY THEATRE
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAYERS
NEW MEXICO ARTS & CRAFT FAIR
NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS EXHIBITION
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY ART & CREATIVE WRITING DEPT.
ROSWELL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SANTA FE OPERA
SCULPTURE EXHIBIT ON CAPITOL GROUNDS
TAOS SCHOOL OF MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
VICENTE ROMERO REGIONAL FLAMENCO TOUR
