CAMINO
COMMUNITY DRIVEN PUBLIC SCULPTURE
MESA VERDE PARK 2021-24
CAMINO is an ongoing public artwork and art garden created by the Harwood Art Center’s Apprenticeship for Art & Social Justice program. The project combines illuminated steel lanterns, handmade ceramic tile, a rainwater catchment garden, and community created audio artworks.
A cluster of three steel lanterns, or welcome beacons are at the center of CAMINO. They narrate the journeys of 7 individuals from diverse backgrounds. In the summer of 2021, apprentices conducted interviews with community members. Quotes from these interviews are cut into the steel facade of the hexagonal sculpture which is illuminated via solar energy. Excerpts of audio from the interviews can be played with the touch of a button, in the largest column. The welcome beacons of CAMINO capture the rich stories and oral histories of La Mesa Neighborhood. With this we encourage you to listen to these stories as well as those of your neighbors. It is through unity we inspire, educate and create environments for a better future.
COLLABORATORS
In 2022, in partnership with CABQ Parks and Recreation, we designed and installed cement benches and a pathway that linking to our other sculptures in Mesa Verde Park.The cement bench is embellished with community engaged handmade tiles. These tiles are imprinted with memory maps that trace the personal journey of community members. In the coming years, Camino will be surrounded by a healing garden that features native plants and herbs with medicinal properties. The vegetation will be supported by an arid LID (low impact design) system, that utilizes runoff standing water from park irrigation. Camino presents a regenerative space of collective healing where the community can engage with their environment, and listen to the stories of their neighbors.
LEAD ARTISTS: Ryan Henel, Helen Atkins, & Jane Gordon
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Jen DePaolo
APPRENTICES: Lilian Estes, Riah Garcia, Alina Pozas, Andrea Selfridge, Gus Tafoya, Isabela Ortega, Lauren Crowder, Michelle Perez-Fuentes, Natalie Brown, Tamana Syed, Marisol Vela, Leviathan O’Neil Quinn Erickson, Arielle Roybal
The Apprenticeship for Art & Social Justice at Harwood Art Center was made possible by generous support from New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps, City of Albuquerque 1% for Public Art Program and Sandia Foundation, as well as in-kind support from Contreras Construction and Positive Energy Solar.