The Collective
A newly opened art space called MERGE has launched in Silver City at 302 N. Bullard St., operating Thursday through Saturday noon-5 p.m. as an informal arts institution in a historic storefront. It aims to host art installations, social practice, readings, talks, and experimental music, with an upcoming collaborative installation 'Animal Commodification' by Linda L Chappel and Franky De Angelis (reception June 5, showing June 6-July 25). Separately, the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces is presenting two exhibitions: 'Land of the People: Ndende bì Ke'ya' (April 4-June 27) featuring the Mescalero Apache Tribe, and 'Into the Great White Sands: Photographs by Craig Varjabedian' (May 1-September 5), with a reception and gallery talk on May 1.