Austin Arts Retreat

06/08/2026

BACK FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY! Following the tremendous response last month to the debut of its art exhibition "Chris Krieg: Enchanted Lands," Hot Springs Gallery, located at 517 Austin St. in downtown Truth or Consequences, is reopening the show to the public during Second Saturday Art Hop on June 13, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This extensive indoor and outdoor presentation is the largest-ever TorC showcase of paintings and murals by the nationally noted, locally based artist, whose striking exterior art and signage graces several locations around downtown — including, most recently, his enormous mural on the front of the Geronimo Springs Museum titled "Sierra County—Truth, Trailblazing, Tradition." If you missed the show previously, be sure to stop by! Most pieces will be available for sale, and prospective buyers can arrange an appointment to view them after June 13 (please direct-message this page for inquiries). Hope to see you there! 🎨

(Photos: Dean Lamanna)

06/03/2026

😊🥰❤️

FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DEB HAALAND, the current Democratic nominee for governor of New Mexico, as rendered on the premises of Austin Arts Retreat in downtown Truth or Consequences, NM, by nationally noted local muralist and artist Chris Krieg of Altitude Murals. Haaland made history in 2021 when she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. She is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a 35th generation New Mexican.

(Photo: Dean Lamanna)

05/18/2026

WHAT A GREAT EVENT... and we loved hosting it! Congratulations to our friend and amazing artist, Chris Krieg, on the show and its terrific reception. 🤩😍

05/16/2026

WOO-HOO!!

THIS AFTERNOON & EVENING (5/16)! At 4 p.m. Saturday, the public is invited to join the SCHS Geronimo Springs Museum Board of Directors and local artist Chris Krieg for the official dedication of the museum's massive new exterior Truth or Consequences and Sierra County history mural, which Chris completed last month along with with his son, Will, of their company Altitude Murals. And a short while later, starting at 6 p.m., don't miss "Chris Krieg: Enchanted Lands" — an exhibition of the artist's paintings and several permanent onsite murals at Hot Springs Gallery, 517 Austin St downtown. Chris will introduce his latest pieces and discuss his work, and multitalented fellow local artist Hieronymus Bogs will perform music from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The art show runs 'til 10 p.m., with refreshments provided by Pablo's Health Food Juice Bar. Admission is free! See you there...

05/15/2026

ART + MUSIC = BIG FUN with your Truth or Consequences friends, neighbors and all kinds of cool peeps downtown on the evening of Saturday, May 16! Swing by Hot Springs Gallery at 517 Austin St. to join artist Chris Krieg for his exhibition "Enchanted Lands" and live painting... PLUS enjoy great sounds by fellow locally based artist and musician Hieronymus Bogs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Doors open 6 p.m. and the art show runs 'til 10 pm. Come on down! 🎨🎸🤩🥰

Excited to be playing at Chris Krieg's opening tomorrow night!

05/14/2026

CAN'T WAIT! 🎨🤩🥰

CELEBRATING THE CREATIVE HEART of TorC's Hot Springs Historic District, artist and outdoor muralist Chris Krieg describes his 9-by-17-foot oil painting at 516-520 N. Broadway St. downtown, which he finished earlier this year, as a "little gift to the city. I wanted to create something that would evoke emotion and spark discussion." A few steps south of this mural, just across the back alley, there will be plenty more of the local resident's work to see and talk about this Saturday, May 16, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at "Chris Krieg: Enchanted Lands" — an exhibition of his paintings and several permanent onsite murals at Hot Springs Gallery, 517 Austin St. Chris will introduce his latest pieces and discuss his work, including the massive new historical mural on the outside of the Geronimo Springs Museum (recently completed together with his son, Will, of their nationally recognized company, Altitude Murals) — one of many striking Krieg projects that have contributed to beautifying and raising the profile of our city. Chris also will be applying his brush set and palette to a fresh, blank canvas for some live painting during the evening, affording a rare opportunity to observe the man creating on a more intimate scale. Joining the event is multitalented local artist Hieronymus Bogs, who will perform music 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments provided by Pablo's Health Food Juice Bar. Admission is free!

(Photo courtesy of Chris Krieg)

05/11/2026

WE ARE DELIGHTED to be hosting our talented friend Chris Krieg's artwork show in the Hot Springs Gallery here at Austin Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 16. Please join us as we welcome Chris and showcase his latest amazing paintings, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.! 🎨🥰

05/06/2026

A MAN of pioneering media influence globally, and in New Mexico and more locally here in Truth or Consequences and Sierra County, a legendary landowner and conservationist. R.I.P, and thank you, Ted.

Ted Turner, the media maverick and philanthropist who founded CNN, a pioneering 24-hour network that revolutionized television news, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a news release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87.

05/03/2026

GOOD TIMES with a lot of talented folks, both local and visiting, at Austin Arts Retreat during the 76th Annual Truth or Consequences Fiesta and the El Cortez Theater's Film Fiesta 2026... 🤩🥳🎉

01/30/2026

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN hosting Gene Simmons of KISS fame, actor James Franco, and the rest of the cast and crew of the upcoming feature comedy LOVE MEETS IN THE SUNSHINE at Austin Arts Retreat in November. The production used our premises for both general staging and filming. Looking forward to seeing the movie! 🎥🎬🥰

ROCKIN' THREADS FOR A VENERABLE ROCKER: KISS band co-founder, bassist and co-lead singer Gene Simmons, in Truth or Consequences recently as a film producer and performer in the upcoming James Franco / Nick Antonyan-starring feature road-trip comedy LOVE MEETS IN THE SUNSHINE, was presented with this signature custom-designed shirt by longtime local clothing retailer Dukatt '71 Tie-Dye Kingdom and tie-dye artist Jeff Dukatt. The Israel-born musician, the son of a Holocaust survivor, has entertained audiences for more than half a century onstage and onscreen. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of KISS and, last month, was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic contributions along with surviving fellow KISS bandmates Peter Criss and Paul Stanley. (Lead guitarist Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley passed at 74 last October.) Thanks for spending some creative and kick-back time in TorC, Gene!

(Current Simmons photo courtesy of Dukatt '71)