International Museum of Art
Photograph © Mike Patino
The International Museum of Art is located in the Turney home in El Paso, Texas. The spacious Museum houses collections from Asia, Africa, and many points both near and far. The Museum also houses a Mexican Revolution collection which includes a replica of Pancho Villa’s death mask, and a replica of a Mexican casita as it might have looked at the time of the Revolution.
The Museum hosts several national and international exhibitions each year and offers art-related programs, activities, and special events. The Museum is also available for rental for a variety of events.
The International Museum of Arts exhibit for the month of February and March 2013 is Larry F. Nichols who is the DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO.
Biography: Larry F. Nichols
A life long native of the south western United States, Larry has developed an artistic outlook and appreciation of his surroundings. He began to develop a keen interest in art, architecture and building during his high school years in Las Cruces, NM and contiued his studies at Arizona State University. Graduating from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The architectural training honed skills in sketching and delineation, which sparked Larry's curiosity to further venture into different art mediums such as pen and ink, watercolor, pastels, acrylics and oils as well as gemstone cutting and silver and goldsmithing. He has received awards and an invitation to exhibit from galleries in the southwest from the 1990's to the present. Larry is a memeber of the International Equine Artist Society of England, the American Society of Gem cutters and a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America.
Initially Larry's art subjects were drawings and sketches of buildings, but as life experiences and travel broaened his perspectives; he began painting and landscapes, portraits, and sports. Larry is first and foremost a colorist, and applies impressionistic interpretations to his work in lieu of literal description. His exposure to other cultures which included Afghanistan, Vietnam and England created a desire to express those experiences artistically. He will regularly carry a sketch book or compact watercolor set when traveling to record observation for further development in the studio.
One of those cultrual experiences Larry finds fascinating is the sport of horse racing aand its surrounding characteristics. The race horse and personalities of the industry captured Larry's attention in the 1980's; the display of excitement, commitment and courage they exhibited motivated him to sketch and paint. There was an abundant supply of subjects to paint: racing scenes, personalities, race track surroundings, etc. The result of the painting efforts will hopefully transport the viewer toward races horse excursions full of sights and memories.
Footnote: Larry was diagnosed with cancer in the late summer of 2011, it was stage 4 Leukemia. Good fortune and luck smiled on him and he was pronounced after six months of intensive treatment. During the cancer treatment process, Larry relied on family, friends, faith and his art to show him the path of courage to develop a "positive outlook" towards remission. He sketched the memories of what he recalled of strength, braver, and courage that race horses and their rider's exhibit when overcoming difficult odds. The horses riders became metaphors for him as he was trying to "outrun" cnacer: the give and take of victory or defeat, slowly edging ahead of the opponent, trying to use all means and methods availabel to slowly edge ahead of the oppenent, trying to all means and methods available to win, taking a lead and looking back to see if there was meaningful separation from the opponent: then finally a call at the treatment "finish line" remission-a winner.
Included with Larry Nichols Art Display are poetic works by Rober Geller
Biography: Robert Geller
Since late 2000, Robert has spent winters in New Mexico as the track announcer for Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, having witnessed growth in the quality stature of horse racing in the region. Since their inception just over a decade ago, Robert has called each edition of the Grade III $8,000,000.00 Sunland Derby, the season's signature thoroughbred race and the Grade I $350,00.00 championship at Sunland Park for quarter horses. He remains the single voice of Emerald Downs Racetrack in the Seattle Washington area, that opened its doors in the summer of 1996.
In both racing centers, Robert enjoys active roles that extend beyond his well developed craft of announcing. From a co-anchor of live race-day previews to local television and radio network spots. Robert has appeared on the TVG racing channel, Comcast's Trackside Live, Q-It Up Sports, Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM and 600 ESPN El Paso.
Robert has served as Mater of Ceremonies for many racing functioons, including the long established Emerald Downs Equine Art Show and is a contributing writer each month for surebetracingnews.com.
Robert developed his skills as a race caller in Melbourne, Australia where he grew up. In the six and a half years prior to moving to the USA, Robert was the English Commentator for the Royal Hong Jockey Club at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley Race Courses.
Throughout his travels, Robert has continued to nourish his own artistic passions of poetry, acting, and interior design. He has served as a docent for Tacoma Art Museum and supported the cultural arts wherever possible.
International Museum of Art
1211 Montana Ave.
El Paso TX 79902
915-543-6747
Closed Monday and Tuesday of each week
**For Free Guided Tours we are open Thursday thru Sunday from 1p.m. to 5 p.m.**