LAS CRUCES - Get ready to Ramble at a new time today. Because of last week's big freeze, the monthly tour of Downtown museums and galleries, usually held the first Friday of each month, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

Included will be several special shows and artists reception launching February for the Love of Art Month (FLAM) events.

"Because the city museums were closed, it was decided to go ahead and move the whole Ramble," said Cheryl Fallstead, FLAM event coordinator.

Still, some Ramble participants opened their galleries Friday for the few who braved the cold temperatures.

"We had smaller crowds than usual," said Flo Hosa Daugherty, owner of Blue Gate Gallery on the Downtown Mall. A few galleries - Blue Gate, M. Phillips and Main Street among them - will not be participating in tonight's unofficial Ramble.

Among those taking part is the Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Water St. The 13th Annual ArtForms FLAM Member Exhibition includes paintings, sculpture, jewelry, paper art, fiber arts, photography, fractals and more. Also at the BCC is the New Mexico Watercolor Society, Southern Chapter exhibit, "I See Red," and "By George!" the President's Challenge exhibit of the Las Colcheras Quilt Guild, a show featuring quilts made with fabric created by Las Cruces artist George Mendoza.

GFWC Progress Club of Las Cruces "New Endeavors" exhibition, with paintings and photography, opens at Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E. Picacho Ave.

The Quillin Studio

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and Gallery will feature paintings and collages by Sally Quillin, art yarn by Dedri Quillin, jewelry and other items.

"Sight Unseen," a retrospective exhibition showcasing 30 years of work by sculptor Michael Naranjo, opens at the Las Cruces Museum of Art.

The Rio Grande Theatre galleries will feature works by expressionist painter Luis Navarro.

Exhibiting at MVS Studios are Emily Detrick, Michael Poncé, Alex Williams, Claude Smith, Russell Mott, Janel Wicht, Sherry Doil-Carter, Isadora Stowe and Priscilla Robinson. Also at MVS Studios, NMSU business graduates Aron Jones and Jose Rodriguez, who have achieved national attention for their ROJO Apparel clothing line, will host a launch party for their new product line, in partnership with the Green Chamber of Commerce.

"The new line of shirts are made from organic, ringspun cotton. There were a lot of challenges; finding the right organic cotton materials, getting affordable American manufacturing and eco-friendly inks, while still meeting our business model of feeding 50 kids with each T-shirt purchase," Rodriguez said.

"Raptors of the Southwest," featuring 42 color prints reproduced from paintings created by Richard Sloan for the "Raptors of Arizona" book, opens at the Cottonwood Gallery of the Southwestern Environmental Center, 275 N. Main St.

For a map with locations of Ramble galleries, go to M. Phillip's Fine Art Gallery website at mphillipsgallery.com and click on Events and Art Shows. M. Phillips, Main Street and Blue Gate galleries will not be participating in the Tuesday event.

The next Ramble will again be on the first Friday of the month, March 4.

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at (575) 541-5450

Lucas Peerman contributed to this report.

If you go

• What: The Downtown Ramble, featuring gallery openings, music, theater, refreshments.

• When: Events 5 to 7 p.m. today.

• Participants: Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces Museum of Fine Art, Branigan Library Terrace Gallery, The Main Street Gallery, Blue Gate Gallery, Southwest Environmental Center Cottonwood Gallery, Rio Grande Theatre's El Paso Electric & Carolene Herbel de Mesilla Galleries, Gallery 309, Justus Wright Galeria, MVS Studios, Ono Grindz, The Quillin Studio & Gallery, SB's Late-Night Lunch Box.

• Note: M. Phillips, Main Street and Blue Gate galleries will not be participating Tuesday.

• Performance venues: Black Box Theatre, Las Cruces Community Theatre, Rio Grande Theatre.

• Information: Flo Hosa Dougherty (575) 523-2950. Map available at participating galleries or mphillipsgallery.com.