Each year, the Tom Lea Institute brings FREE, fun and, exciting events to life
for the community and those along the Tom Lea Trail – all centered around
a central theme inspired by Tom Lea and his works.
Full Schedule of Events:
Join a conversation with Nevena Christi and Marty Snortum, dynamic entrepreneurs, each with their own thriving business. Learn how Marty convinced Nevena to move to El Paso from New York City. As the founder of Rocketbuster Boots, one of the world's most iconic custom boot makers, Nevena has become an El Paso legend. Marty, the owner of Marty Snortum Studios, is considered one of the Southwest's top photographers. Discover how they balance marriage and family life while achieving international acclaim in their artistic endeavors. Enjoy charcuterie tastings.
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ST. ROGER’S DEPOT • 420 N. Campbell St., El Paso, TX 79901
FEB 15 - ONGOING
FEB 15 - oNGOING : Tom Lea was one of the most prolific artists documenting the Southwest's landscape, history, and people. This exhibition features landscapes, portraits, and mural studies, highlighting correspondence between artists in a tightly-knit creative community, which made El Paso a central point for rich cultural exchange. Artists include Manuel Acosta, Lois Denton, Freemont Ellis, Leola Freeman, Carl Hertzog, Peter Hurd, Tom Lea, Ada Miller, Audley Dean Nicols, Urbici Soler, and Henriette Wyeth. The exhibition includes objects from El Paso Museum of Art and El Paso Museum of History collections, supported by the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation and the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department.
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EL PASO MUSEUM OF ART
1 Arts Festival Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901
Join Ginger Francis on a journey through the unique public art in the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso campus. Each piece tells a story deeply rooted in the borderland ethos.​ Marvel at the sandblasted local plant forms of Helix Garden and stroll through the El Intercambio sculptures, reminiscent of the Spanish Missions. Experience the delicate balance of healing and high-tech science with Between Earth and Sky.​ Be amazed by the mastery of Tom Lea’s Pass of the North portraits and the Study for the First Recorded Surgical Operation in North America, Cabeza de Vaca Taking an Arrow from an Indian's Chest in 1535.
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TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT EL PASO
Meet on the first floor of the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine
137 Rick Francis St., El Paso, TX 79905
Join us as we celebrate the museum's inclusion on the Tom Lea Trail mobile website. Enjoy the docudrama Uncommon Valor, filmed right here at the museum. Adair Margo, founder and author of Tom Lea: An Oral History, will delve into the remarkable meeting between Admiral Nimitz and Tom Lea at Pearl Harbor. David Shields, museum director, will welcome participants. Also, explore an outpost in the Nimitz-Platz showcasing artifacts and the contributions of war correspondents like Tom Lea. Don't miss this special presentation and premiere at 1:00 or 2:00 p.m.
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THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR
340 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Tom Lea wrote and illustrated the two-volume history of The King Ranch. Arguably the greatest ranching history ever written, it was originally intended as a monograph for King Ranch’s 100th anniversary. Hear James Clement, a sixth-generation member of the King Ranch family, rancher, and former Horse Division manager. Under his direction, King Ranch won the AQHA Best Remuda Award, the most prestigious recognition awarded to a ranch horse program, and raised the first-ever King Ranch-bred and owned World Champion. Afterward, get an exclusive guided tour of the Henrietta Memorial Center and Museum. See the historic remuda while visiting over ranch-themed refreshments. Join the insider's bus tour of King Ranch quarter horses and meet a champion horse. Separate registration is required for the bus tour on Eventbrite.
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HENRIETTA CENTER • 405 North 6th St., Kingsville, TX 78363
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Build brand loyalty, attract new customers, preserve iconic art in the region, and transmit pride of place to the next generation.
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We rely on grants and donors just like you to keep the mission of the Tom Lea Institute alive, thank you in advance for your support and providence!