Norma Chairez-Hartell became the curator of NMSU’s University Museum in January 2023. Nine months later, she unveiled her first exhibit, “Low and Slow: Lowrider Culture on the Border,” which celebrates lowrider history and culture. The Sept. 8 opening reception drew hundreds to NMSU’s Kent Hall, which houses the museum.
Chairez-Hartell spends most of her days overseeing various projects and events that drive the museum’s mission of preservation, exhibitions, teaching, research and collaboration. She is currently researching, developing and planning a new exhibit about transfronterizos at NMSU – students, professors and researchers who cross the United States-Mexico border daily to commute for work or school.
“I enjoy working with the community and providing a space where everyone feels welcome to enjoy, learn and create dialogue,” she said.
Chairez-Hartell also oversees the museum’s vast collection, which includes more than 200,000 ethnographic, historical, archaeological and contemporary objects. This fall, she and a graduate student are organizing the Amador family collection, a trove of belongings from one of the most prominent settler families to settle in Las Cruces. The collection is significant to the heritage and history of Las Cruces.
“We are not only organizing but working on the preservation and conservation of the objects, too,” she said. “I also give tours and host community events like our upcoming Día de Los Muertos altar display and Weaving for Justice textile sale, which benefits Maya youth.”
Chairez-Hartell, who has a bachelor’s degree in fine art and a master’s degree in anthropology from NMSU, also teaches the Introduction to Museology course in the Department of Anthropology during the fall semester. As a graduate student in Beth O’Leary’s Cultural Resource Management course, Chairez-Hartell successfully nominated Chope’s Bar and Café in La Mesa to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visit https://univmuseum.nmsu.edu/index.html for more information about upcoming events and exhibitions at NMSU’s University Museum.