Our regular Hours are Tues. 10-7, Wed. Thurs. & Sat. 10-5, and Sun. 1-4.
Think of this exhibition as lemonade. You know, like when life gives you lemons and you make something delicious out of them. In the “before-times,” Placitans frequently gathered at the library en masse to hear marvelous lectures on myriad topics, chairs set up front to back and side to side in the Collin Meeting Room […]
Celebrate Earth Day with activities bags created by our children's committee. There are a variety of activities for children of different ages. There will be 15 bags available on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope your children enjoy them. Pick-up dates include: Thursday, April 15 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17 - […]
"Nature Up Close" Insects! Arachnids! Myriapods! Oh My! What can you discover when you look up close and study? You will build the best shelter for a bee or butterfly. This program is free for all, courtesy of the Explora Children's Science Museum and the library. You do not need to be a library patron […]
The library will be open for voting for the Special Election for Congress on Tuesday, June 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Placitas Library is inviting all communities to participate in our summer reading program, “Tails and Tales." The virtual programs start at 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings. There are three live programs that allow you to interact with the performers and ask questions. Also, there are two recorded programs you may watch as well. […]
With storyteller, Rob Thomas, “Tails and Tales from Australia” The DDU Show is a high-energy, Australia-themed show that combines music, culture, comedy, storytelling and audience movement/participation. The didgeridoo has been played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years and is known for its otherworldly sound. But DDU is much more than music. It’s interactive, […]
We will begin with a 15-minute live segment where you can ask Rick questions and introduce your pet. Your pet does not have to be a dog. Cats, birds, lizards, and all others are welcome. Be sure to be on time at 10:00 AM so you can introduce your special friend to Rick. The recorded […]
Join us for a series of conversations on issues of race, class, and systemic divisions in our culture and community. Juneteenth (June 19) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers received news that the war had ended […]
For the first 30 minutes, Evan will help you read the mind of a cuddly stuffed teddy bear, learn amazing animal facts, be delighted by a disappearing bookworm and much more! For the next 15 minutes, you will be invited to a V.I.P. Magic Class. Everyone goes behind the scenes to take the Magician’s Oath, […]
Shadow Camp Live with Matt Sandbank is a cross-curricular virtual puppetry program designed for elementary-aged audiences. It features an interactive show where you will be able to make puppets, watch Matt perform with his shadow puppets and ask him questions. Here is a list of supplies that you can gather prior to Matt's program: Here […]
When life gives you lemons.... As you are no doubt aware, the 2020 Placitas Studio Tour was canceled due to the pandemic. What was to be the first exhibit in Placitas Community Library’s new Gracie Lee Community room featuring 2020 PST artists’ work became a virtual exhibition because of delayed completion of that space. So […]
Mellow Yellow? Yellow Submarine? Yellow Bird, Yellow Moon? Yellow Rose of Texas? Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree? Musicians have an extensive history of celebrating the color yellow. And now, artists, it’s your turn. The focus for the August/September exhibit is the color yellow. Whether your take is positive (think sunshine and sunflowers!) […]
Meet the world's most fascinating family of animals in a live program presented by Bruce Shwedick. Since 1974, Bruce has shared his fascination and knowledge of reptiles with audiences of all ages in libraries and schools across the country. He combines an ability to communicate with a skillful and gentle approach for an unforgettable look […]
During her first August Work Period, Congresswoman Stansbury will be traveling throughout the district to learn from educators, union organizers, small business owners, local elected officials, and constituents throughout our district. Congresswoman Stansbury’s District Listening Tour will help guide her work in Washington to ensure that the voices of all New Mexican’s are being heard. […]
Gardens and artwork are similar in that they are composed in harmony with a series of shapes, forms, colors, and textures. The Placitas Garden Tour has invited a select group of local artists to showcase their work at Garden Tour Exhibit held in the Gracie Lee Community Room. The following artists will join us: Barbara […]
Stop in after touring the gardens to view and purchase additional artwork created by the guest artists of the Garden Tour. While there, take your chances on a raffle for a basket full of garden delights.
By Shara Moscinska Conversations with great minds are priceless, and I had such an invaluable conversation with Jon Ghahate, who is of the Laguna & Zuni Pueblos and the Museum Cultural Educator at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Jon will be the featured guest for October’s Placitas Reads: Color, Class, and Caste; The Other Social […]
By Jillian Gonzales Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead This is the exact sentiment that comes to mind when I think back on the six-plus months a small group of committed citizens worked together to bring […]
About Mosaic Traditionally, mosaic is a style of art where a larger image is created by arranging and attaching bits of clay, glass, stone or other materials directly to non-flexible surfaces with cement and mortar to last through the ages. Today, polymer cements, silicone, and other glues are frequently used as adhesives. In New Mexico, […]
Halloween ghosts, pumpkins, witches, monsters, and skeletons are coming to the Placitas Library on Saturday, October 30 from 10-4 and on Sunday, the 31st from 1-3. They need your help! There will be 10 activities they need to complete but can't do it without your assistance. Will you come to the library to help them? […]
Halloween ghosts, pumpkins, witches, monsters, and skeletons are coming to the Placitas Library on Saturday, October 30 from 10-4 and on Sunday, the 31st from 1-3. They need your help! There will be 10 activities they need to complete but can't do it without your assistance. Will you come to the library to help them? […]
Mosaic is a style of art where a larger image is created by arranging and attaching bits of clay, glass, stone or other materials directly to non-flexible surfaces. The resulting surfaces, whether smooth or rough, brilliantly hued or somber in color beg to be explored by human hands, and these sturdy materials have the power […]
Join friends and family for an indoor stroll through a festive German town reimagined at Placitas Winery, where halls will be decked with hand-crafted, holiday-style gifts. Come share in the joy of the season while benefitting our community library. Enjoy authentic German and European tasty treats, such as bratwurst with sauerkraut, latkes, pretzels, and more! […]
Grab a cozy sweater and stop by the library! We’ll have a holiday craft and treat bag for each family! First come, first served, starting at 10 a.m.. Plus, throughout the month of December, come explore our holiday-themed books available for check-out, as well as additional activities and crafts for your children that celebrate Kwanzaa, […]
Beaded Wonders! Sparkling, shimmering, red and azure, twisted threads and ornate pendants. The Bead Society of New Mexico presents a “Celebration of Color Fantasy” using the color wheel as inspiration. Member artists were encouraged to think outside the box to create a color fest of fanciful, fantasy-inspired wearable art pieces appropriate for the holiday season—or […]
Assembled by members of the Jardineros Photography Club, the exhibit entitled “Life in Focus” reflects a broad spectrum of photographic intent and technique. This manifests in the effort of these dedicated local photographers to push the medium beyond making a record of personal history and toward “an interpretation of reality, not a documentation of reality,” […]
This retrospective exhibition was mounted in celebration of the 90th birthday of Roger Evans, one of Placitas’s most cherished and colorful long-time residents. Assembled by the PCL Art Committee, the exhibit includes examples of the architectural illustrations that helped support Evans’s early life in Placitas and models for a unique forward looking community envisioned by […]
Lost loves, lost opportunities, lost in space! New found knowledge, new found friends or found objects! Artists are encouraged to define and explore the experience of loss and the joy of new discoveries. Whether your focus is on a personal or communal experience, consider employing repurposed, rescued and reclaimed materials to enhance your narrative with […]
In the digital age of "Kindle" reading and "Audible" listening, many of us yearn for the days of picking up a book and "Turning the Pages." There is something about the feeling and artfulness of holding a book, browsing through the beautifully illustrated art, and beginning the journey of reading. Literature is the inspiration for […]
Twenty-four years ago a small group of artists in Placitas, New Mexico organized the first Placitas Studio Tour. Celebrating its 25th year, this event has become one of the most highly anticipated studio tours in New Mexico on Mother’s Day weekend. The PCL is honored to present work by the 76 artists of this year’s […]
Martha Liebert, founder and namesake of the Bernalillo Public Library and past president of the Sandoval County Historical Society will be speaking about her book, "Bernalillo Between the River and a Hard Place". Come listen to Martha talk about the Sandoval County Historical Society and the making of the book about the history and stories […]
Ms. Rebecca Correa Skartwed and Land Grant historian Dr. Jacobo Bacawill educate us about heirs, acequias (community-operated watercourse), parciantes, the phenomenal land Grant activities that have been taking place in Placitas over the past 10 years, and about the history and purpose of Land Grants overall
COLLABORATION The action of working with someone to produce or create something. Making art is, for the most part, a solitary process. Artists toil alone in the studio and, if they’re lucky, find fellow “makers” with whom to share ideas and from whom they occasionally solicit feedback. The Surrealists overcame their solitude by playing “Exquisite […]
"Life's Fabric Holds Many Stories" ~Evey Jones and Donna Dowell
The color RED has the potential to touch all our senses: the taste of a tart cherry, the brilliance of a flaming sunset, the sound of an explosion, the smell of a rose, the tingle of passion and seduction or perhaps the sensation of a slap across the face! For our July/August exhibition, artists […]
Image by: Lani Hitchens - "Pomegranates"
"The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart." Judy Garland Life’s Hidden Treasures can be found in the friends and family that surround us every day; those wonderful destinations that provide solace and renewal or surprise us with the unexpected. There are the life changing moments that illuminate and elevate our […]
Explore the Art of Fiber Fiber or textile art is considered the oldest form of art. The first fiber was plain and created only to solve a utilitarian need. But a plain “canvas” sparked artist to embellish and decorate it. Artist have been using fibers obtained from plants, animals, and insects to create since prehistoric […]
"Window" Pat Gould
Welcome to Dianna's art world. We invite you to view and become acquainted with her work and what it means to her, and further your appreciation for the abstract art that has evolved in tandem with her life. Not all of her work is abstract, as is also true of other artists. Dianna is an […]
"Serious Sweet Peas" - Dianna Shomaker
Escribiente, Albuquerque’s Calligraphy Society, celebrates its 45th anniversary with a member exhibition of calligraphic art. “The Love of Calligraphy” showcases a diversity of styles and techniques from delicate ornate flourishing to abstract mixed media art. Drop by the library on Saturday, February 25, 2–4 pm and take home a personalized bookmark created by Escribiente calligraphers. […]
Magical, enchanted, complex and at times tragic....New Mexico's history and environment is as diverse as its inhabitants. Inviting artists to contribute their interpretation and sense of place in their chosen medium. Exhibit submissions CLOSED. Coordinator: Margaret Bruch Image: John DeSpain "Saint's Preserve Us!" Pastel $400
"Juniper Rock" - Colleen Gregoire
The Annual Placitas Studio Tour Preview Exhibit will be on display in the Gracie Lee Community Room prior to and during the annual studio tour May 13-14, 2023, traditionally held over Mother’s Day weekend. The exhibit will feature artwork by each artist on the tour, and will be organized by neighborhoods to allow visitors to easily locate the […]
While you might never do a "Thelma and Louise" but secretly envy that unrestrained streak of adventure they followed. Do you fantasize about getting a bike and joining a club to head out on the highway in a fearless leather motorcycle jacket - decked out and ready to rumble? We all have a bit of […]
"Gone with the Wind" - Tatiana Klimov
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." --Ecclesiastes How do artists come up with ideas, conjure images and produce something new? Where does inspiration originate? Often it comes from other artists, contemporaries or historical figures, artists from similar cultural backgrounds or […]
Artists on Display: Meg Leonard: Oil, Pastels Mary Lou Skelton: Gourds Jude Rudder: Watercolor, Oil Sabina Turner: Watercolor, Oil PK Williams: Mixed Media Erica Wendell-Oglesby: Mosaic, Jewelry, Photography Coordinator: Sue Ortiz “Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as the paint and the soil and sky as canvas” -Elizabeth Murray
Placitas Community Library Turns 20! Birthday Celebration + Welcome our new Library Director : Lynne Hynes
“We must reject not only the stereotypes that others hold of us, but also the stereotypes that we hold of ourselves.” —Shirley Chisholm Mother, daughter, wife, partner, friend, dreamer, dancer, scientist, sportswoman, artist, performer, leader, legislator, litigator, adventurer, goddess, warrior, mystic, and muse. Over time women have embodied all of these roles and more, either […]
Image: "Georgia" by Mike Kimball
The New Mexico Gourd Society is thrilled to display our decorated gourds and showcase the remarkable talents of our members. Many techniques have been used such as wood burning, carving, painting and adding embellishments to enhance the natural characteristics of this unique Cucurbitaceae family of fruits. Art forms include decorative bowls, ornaments, spirit dolls, teapots, […]
Each program will have stories, an activity, time to check out books, and refreshments. The program will be 1-1.5 hours.
Gourd Artist: Ginger Larkin
A retrospective featuring works by longtime Placitas residents Mary and Karl Hofmann will begin the Placitas Community Library’s 2024 exhibition series in the Gracie Lee Community Room. The couple is being celebrated for their collaborative efforts throughout the nearly fifty years they’ve lived and worked together in New Mexico producing ceramics and sculpture, paintings, pastels, […]
As displaced persons of the African Diaspora, upon birth we are inundated with tainted notions of other’s perceptions of who we are, can be, will be, and won’t be. Because we are born of Spirit-power, from a soul level we continuously, actively, no matter how arduous the journey, identify and embrace our true individual and […]
“Our America” is a tapestry of cultural diversity bound together by the unique weft and warp of stories and experiences of all people representing various backgrounds and origins of the American landscape. Through the lens of art, we can explore and celebrate the richness and complexity of our collective identity. Artists are invited to reflect […]
Placitas Community Library is delighted to host a conversation between two of our favorite authors, Anne Hillerman and our own Ron Franscell, on Sunday, June 23 at 2pm. Over the last 14 years Anne has become a dear friend of this Library and she honors us with a visit with each new book. Lost Birds […]
Artist Reception: August 2, 5:00 -6:30 pm Chaco Culture National Historical Park is considered to be the sacred ancestral homelands of the Hopi and Pueblo people. Las Placitas Association sponsored an artists’ adventure in Chaco Canyon in late 2023. Sacred Places will feature works inspired by that trip, and is open to any artists similarly […]
Photography by David Haigh
Over the past eight years PACE has offered courses on science, water rights and where our water comes from, literature, jazz and classical music, life planning in our senior years, and many other topics. A complete schedule will be available in August. Join us for an overview of the Fall courses and a sneak peek […]
The Placitas Community Library exhibit - "Native Visions" celebrates Native American artists. This art exhibit showcases Native American artistic talents in painting, pottery, basketry, jewelry and other art forms. Coordinators: Geri Verble & Margaret Bruch
Coordinators: Geri Verble and Margaret Bruch
Inspired by the beauty in which we live, from the grand scale to the minute, through seasonal and temporal changes, we create “From Our Hearts.” — Bunny and Leland Bowen For well over fifty years, Bunny and Leland Bowen have been collaborating to create art. It began in 1970 as they learned basic metal smithing, […]
In collaboration with Mosaic New Mexico, Placitas Library will display work of approximately twenty local mosaic artists. Imagery fanciful, realistic or design oriented - all will have wild spirit!! Coordinators: Geri Verble & Laura Robbins
Learn about the library's services, resources and programs! Offering light snacks; Talavera door prizes; join in on a library tour.
Dive into a realm where boundaries blur and colors, lines, and shapes speak louder than words. Experience the raw, unfiltered thoughts and emotions captured by local artistic visionaries working in a variety of mediums.
This unique, vibrant exhibit offers a journey into the depths of abstraction. Expect the unexpected, and let art awaken your imagination. Come and meet the artists! Janine Wilson PK Williams Phillip Timper Dianna Shomaker Karen Melody Shatar Alfons Schuster Alison Schmitt Jonn Salovaara Gail Sacharczuk Bill Sabatini Dave Newman Kate Miller Bobby Middendorf Lavon Maestas […]
A select art collection from Placitas Studio Tour artists will be on display. Coordinator: Colleen Gregoire
Operation Art highlights inspirational works by active-duty service members, Veterans, National Guard and Reserves, their spouses, and Gold Star Families. The collection spans a variety of mediums, reflecting a broad spectrum of themes and artistic expressions - shaped by the artist's unique life experiences. All 30 featured artists are members of New Mexico Veteran Art, […]
All 33 featured artists are members of New Mexico Veteran Art, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting and showcasing the creative talents of military personnel, past and present, and their families. The artist reception will begin with a Presentation of Colors by the Women Warriors Color Guard of Albuquerque. Guests can enjoy refreshments and browse […]
Assemblage is a technique used by artists to contribute to the overall texture and visual interest of their art and to give it a new context and aesthetic value. Unlike collage, a two-dimensional art form that combines flat images to suggest depth and explore spatial relationships, assemblage combines actual multidimensional objects into an artistic whole, […]
Parcels become a parcel.
“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” — Kahlil Gibran Artists were asked to create a portrait of a tree or trees or to explore the abstract essence of trees in their work. May it be a poetic rendering of a favorite tree or a visual expression of concern for the future […]
"Ailanthus" Artist: Molly Zurek
This exhibit of children's art was created by the students of the Placitas Elementary School from September through May, 2024 under the guidance of Joanne Collier, Art Teacher. Ms. Collier along with the Placitas Library's Collection Coordinator, Nancy Guist, chose a selection of books with colorful, vivid, and dynamic illustrations. The students read the books […]
The Mixed Media Textile Artists of New Mexico create in the diverse and magical realm of mixed media. A little bit of everything imaginable. Coordinator: Linda Hughes
Judith Roderick began her creative journey as a Painting and Design major at Carnegie Tech in the 1960s and has been joyfully immersed in art ever since. This retrospective exhibition showcases the breadth of her work — from early paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and on silk, to linocuts, woodblocks, and lithographs from the 1960s […]
Shakespeare suggested that the eyes are a window to the soul. No words are needed when eyes convey feelings and emotions. Whether intentionally or inadvertently, we all tend to intuit a direct link between a friend or stranger’s eyes and their inner feelings. Think back to the pandemic and how reliant we were to understand […]
Artists: Lisa Avila, Corky Baron, Rex Barron, Jill Bartel, Indira Boswell, Allen Bourne, Bunny Bowen, Jeri Burzin, Patricia Earle-Baron, Linda Heath, Catherine Kelly, Tatiana Klimov, Claire Lissance, MarkLavon Maestas, Barbara Morrow, Rachel O'Connor, Nicholas Tesluk, Katie Thomas, Pam Troutman, Geri Verble, Kathryn Weil
For the “Art of the Word” exhibition, artists are invited to combine text with visual imagery, whether to convey a message or emotion or simply as a graphic component of the work. This is your chance to channel your inner Jenny Holzer, Ed Ruscha, Barbara Kruger, Glen Ligon, or Robert Indiana all of whom incorporate terse […]
Artist: Margi Weir "Family Farm"
Join us for a special preview of the 29th Annual Placitas Studio Tour Preview Exhibit, featuring the work of 62 Placitas artists who create right here in our own community. The Preview Exhibit opens on April 14th and runs through May 10th, organized by studio number and neighborhood - the perfect way to plan your […]
