The Grant County Art Guild is pleased to announce that the chosen judge for the 2014 Members Only Show is local artist and art instructor, Diana Ingalls Leyba. Diana was born in Georgetown, Guyana, raised in Philadelphia, Pa., and got her BFA at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University. She relocated to Silver City in 1996 and works as an artist, and operates Leyba and Ingalls Arts. This Silver City business is a hub for the art community with art supplies, fine art and framing as well as art classes.

Diana is also the director for the Youth Mural Program for the Mimbres Region Arts Council, working with area youth to produce murals that teach students about the history and culture of their community through arts. While local youth are learning the satisfaction of beautifying their community, forty-five murals have been completed since the program's inception.

Reflecting on her own art Diana says, "I'm a literal person and pick imagery that evokes the universal in the personal or the sacred in the commonplace. Juxtaposing images, whether people or animals or objects, sets up a dialogue to be interpreted by the viewer." The Grant County Art Guild is honored to have Diana Ingalls Leyba as our judge for our opening show of the season. The Members Only Show opens with an artist reception on Friday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m. at the Guild's Pinos Altos Art Gallery in the historic Hearst Church, 14 Golden Avenue, Pinos Altos. The public is cordially invited to come for refreshments, meet the Guild's artists and fine crafters and see who Diana has chosen as the Best in Show and other awards.

Following the opening reception, the Members Only Show is open for viewing from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 12. The Pinos Altos Art Gallery is then open for the season for the same hours on the before-mentioned days of the week, plus major holidays, through October 5. Visitors are always welcome, and admission is always free.