SW New Mexico News

The Branigan Cultural Center is set to unveil a new exhibit titled "Aliento a Tequila" on May 2, which will be open to the public until August 9, 2025. The exhibition showcases 39 photographs by Joel Salcido, capturing the essence of the tequila-making process and the landscapes and traditions of the regions in Mexico where tequila originated.

Among the subjects of the photographs are blue agave fields, ancestral distilleries, and artisanal tequileras, highlighting the traditional methods of tequila production from the beginning of cultivation to the bottling of the spirit. The exhibit aims to convey the cultural and historical significance of tequila, which has its roots dating back to the Aztec civilization and has been cultivated since the 1600s in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

According to Joel Salcido, the exhibit illustrates not only the tequila-making process but also the region's deep-rooted cultural and religious traditions. He noted that "Aliento a Tequila celebrates a craft that is rooted deep in the culture of Mexico and connects viewers with the labor and place that produces this popular spirit."

The exhibition is curated by Roy L. Flukinger, Independent Curator Emeritus and Past Senior Curator of Photography at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin. Organized by ExhibitsUSA, part of Mid-America Arts Alliance, the exhibition is also supported by The National Endowment for the Arts.

The Branigan Cultural Center is located at 501 N. Main St. and is open Tuesday through Saturday, offering free admission. Visitors can learn more by visiting the city’s website or contacting the museum directly.

Salcido's exhibit offers a bicultural experience with Spanish and English texts accompanying the photographs, providing insight into both the craft of tequila production and the life of the communities that sustain it.

For additional information, interested parties can visit the Las Cruces government website or contact the museum by phone.