SW New Mexico News

The Branigan Cultural Center has announced a new exhibit titled "The Ballard Photo Studio: A Portrait of Community," featuring over 200 portraits and other photographic works by Las Cruces photographer Jim Ballard. The exhibit will open on Friday, October 4, 2024, and run through Saturday, February 15, 2025.

These photographs offer a glimpse into the Mesilla Valley community between 1930 and 1950. The images are sourced from the Ballard Photo Studio collection at the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Library Archives.

Jim Ballard operated a photo studio on Main Street where he created portraits of more than 5,000 Mesilla Valley residents using a large-format camera on a tripod. This method resulted in clear, high-resolution images captured on 5×7-inch negatives.

The NMSU Library Archive holds over 25,000 portrait negatives from the Ballard Photo Studio. More than 200 images have been selected for this exhibit. Additionally, Ballard documented area businesses and community events, producing roughly 4,000 more negatives that are also preserved by the Library Archives.

Several programs are planned in conjunction with the exhibit. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, October 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a lecture by Dennis Daily, Director of the NMSU Library Archives, on Thursday, October 17 from noon to 1 p.m. Additional programs will be announced on the Las Cruces Museums’ social media platforms.

The museum is located at 501 N. Main Street and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and accessible via Roadrunner Transit Route 1, Stop 1.

For more information about the exhibit or related programs, visit https://www.lascruces.gov/museums or call (575) 541-2154.

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