Special Showing of Paintings by Ken Barrick
to be hosted by Friends of the Taylor Family Monument
Friends of the Taylor Family Monument will present the second program in its “Visiones de la
Cultura” series at a special showing of more than 30 paintings by Ken Barrick, the late artist and
popular NMSU professor. The event will be held in the historic Taylor home on the Mesilla Plaza
on Sunday, October 20 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Barrick was internationally known for his epic
work, both in size and subject matter. In addition to the collection of Barrick's artwork in the
Taylor home, the Ken Barrick: Legends on Canvas exhibit will feature numerous paintings on
loan from the Barrick Family Collection.
Ken Barrick was born in South Dakota in 1915. He graduated from the University of Illinois with
a BFA in 1937 and received a MA in 1940 from the University of Iowa. Barrick moved to New
Mexico in 1949 to teach art at New Mexico College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts (now
NMSU). For a number of years, Barrick was one of only two professors in the NMSU Art
Department. He was an influential artist and mentor, regularly exhibiting new paintings,
emphasizing the importance of anatomy to figurative artwork, offering the first NMSU courses
in commercial art, and bringing important regional artists to campus to expand student
horizons.
Barrick also left his mark on Las Cruces as a muralist. In 1958, he began painting the first of five
murals that still are familiar landmarks on the NMSU campus in Hadley Hall, the Chemistry
Building, Jacobs Hall, Corbett Center, and Guthrie Hall. During the 1960s, Barrick and NMSU
chemistry professor Dr. Richard Barrett developed a formula for potassium silicate paint that
withstands the harsh Southwestern elements. His largest mural (2,800 SF), The Conquistadors,
was painted in 1982 on the Prepared Foods building in Santa Theresa. An outdoor mural was
completed at Doña Ana Community College in 1984.
J. Paul and Mary Daniels Taylor became friends with Barrick and his wife Nona when he first
came to New Mexico. Taylor was Associate Registrar for the College at the time. The Barrick
and the Taylor families spent many weekends together exploring the heritage of southern New
Mexico at historic forts, along trails, and at ruins of old settlements. Their shared interest in
history and art led to a lifelong friendship and is reflected in the Barrick paintings collected by
the Taylors.
In the 1960s and 70s Mary Taylor and Nona Barrick did research on regional history that
resulted in the book, “A Place as Wild as the West Ever Was – Mesilla, New Mexico: 1848 –
1872” published in 2004. Inspired by listening to Mary and Nona discuss their research, in 1986,
Barrick painted the first of three paintings illustrating the Mesilla Guard’s preparing for defense
of the town from Apache raids. “If you have ever visited the Taylor home, this monumental
work that hangs over the couch in the Sala Grande is hard to forget,” said Cynthia Garrett,
president of the Friends group. “The Mesilla Guard series helps us tell the story to visitors,
especially to children. You can almost feel the tension building as the men mount their horses.”
The other two paintings in the series can be seen in as you enter the home through the Zaguán.
Another historical painting in the Taylor collection, Demise of the Fountains (1993)
demonstrates Barrick’s characteristic theatrical "split-screen" that enables him to
simultaneously present multiple episodes of a narrative. The painting shows Barrick’s
interpretation of the disappearance of Colonel Albert Fountain and his eight year old son.
Other works in the home include portraits of Mike, Pat, and John Taylor as young men, Ramón
Ortiz on Horseback (1986), Fence Rider (c. 1957), and Knight. Works that will be on loan from
the Barrick Family Collection include: No Room at the Inn, (1939 Master’s Thesis), Nona and the
Jeep, Ghost Rider, The Buffalo, and The Yellow Slicker. Girl in the Swing will be on loan from the
private collection of Linda and Jerry Lundeen.
In 2003 J. Paul Taylor, his late wife Mary, and their family donated their historic adobe home
and two adjoining stores to the Museum of New Mexico. The Taylor-Barela-Reynolds-Mesilla
Historic Site provides an exceptional setting for visitors to understand and appreciate the
history, culture, and architecture of Mesilla and the Borderland. Friends of the Taylor Family
Monument is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization formed in 2010 to support the
preservation and interpretation of the Historic Site.
Ken Barrick: Legends on Canvas offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the work of this
fascinating New Mexico artist. The Friends group has worked with local historian Debora Rindge
to produce a brochure about Barrick’s work for the event. An added treat, will be a chance to
visit with Barrick’s daughters, Barbara Barrick Edmunds and Kay Barrick Ricketts, who will be
happy to share recollections of their father and his work. Light refreshments will be served.
The event is open to the public. Donations will be accepted.
Date: Sunday, October 20
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Taylor-Barela-Reynolds-Mesilla Historic Site, 2346 Calle de Principal in Mesilla