City Art Board: Working for public art, artists, creative economy

The seven-member City Art Board (CAB) was created by Las Cruces City Council in 2013. CAB members are appointed by the mayor with council consent.

The board advises the council and assists city staff in the development of guidelines, programming and policy for art-related projects and programs. In 2014, the city began setting aside one percent of the general fund as a dedicated funding source for public art.

The Bulletin reached out to CAB members for their thoughts about public art in Las Cruces:

Chair Christina Ballew is an artist, graphic designer and co-founder/creative director of NMCO Media. She moved to Las Cruces eight years ago from Alaska. Ballew has curated more than 35 art shows in Las Cruces. Ballew was also the first graphic artist to be featured in the fine arts magazine, The INK. 

 "Las Cruces is an excellent community that's so supportive of the arts,” Ballew said. “This city is an emerging arts destination, and CAB’s goal is to help facilitate quality artwork in public spaces while developing opportunities for local, regional and national artists. Board members are so passionate about energizing public spaces that will help improve the quality of life and experiences within our community."

“I am proud of the work I did with CAB,” Vice Chair Susan Frary said. “My appointment expires soon, and then I will be moving to another volunteer position. Ten years ago, I volunteered on the city's ad-hoc arts committee under Laurie Grumet, with several local artists and gallery owners. We were tasked to review the city-wide public art situation and make recommendations and identified several needs: more and better venues for local artists; art for public facilities, including the new city hall; and tourism advertising (that) was not featuring our local arts scene. When the results were presented to city council, CAB was formed. I volunteered, was appointed and served two full terms.”

Secretary Alysa Grayson-Aulbach is a social-impact entrepreneur whose work focuses on leveraging cultural art education’s network effect as an asset toward economic development. Her theoretical perspective and evidence-based research gained her international recognition from the Global Forum for Education and Learning as one of 2020’s Top 100 Visionaries in Education.

“The richest asset, accumulating appreciation after every generational change, through the community placement of stories, history and culture is public art,” Grayson said.

Member Saul Ramirez is a multidisciplinary artist who was born in El Paso and has always lived along the Rio Grande. Ramirez studied at New Mexico State University, beginning as a student of physics and astronomy and graduating with degrees in studio art and art history in 2018. Ramirez’s work centers on a multidisciplinary practice that engages various mediums, including painting, installation, drawing, music and writing to engage issues of colonial history, civics and education.

“The essence of education is to give us the capacity to live well and dream,” Ramirez said. “The essence of art is to make that life and those dreams come about; our goal in public art is to make those means available to everyone.” 

Member Chantelle Yazzie-Martin grew up in Smith Lake, N.M. and is part of the Navajo tribe. She has a bachelor’s (2015) and a master’s (2016) in social work from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Yazzie-Martin works as a mental health clinician, photographer, blogger and artist.

 “Public art is important to a city's heart and identity,” Yazzie-Martin said. “When we visit a town or city, we visit and embrace the sights, sounds and even eats of the town. Public art enhances that definition, and Las Cruces is up and coming for being a city of color to match the beautiful diversity and love our community has.”

Member Katrina Chandler, has been working in graphic design for the past 10 years. She completed a BA from NMSU in 2016 with a concentration in graphic design and is pursuing an MFA from NMSU with a focus on digital art. Chandler also works full-time for NMSU as a student media advisor.

“I love public art,” Chandler said. “I enjoy how public art unites communities, brings focus to local artists and uses resources to give back to the community. One thing I have noticed from being on the board, even for this short amount of time, is how the artwork can pay tribute to, or honor, the history of the community, which is beautiful.”

 City Art Program Coordinator Ceci Vasconcellos grew up in Las Cruces and graduated from NMSU with a BA in journalism-advertising and marketing. She has been with the city for five years and at her current position since January 2021.   

 “I remember playing on the bronze lions that sat in front of the old City Hall as a kid, not knowing or caring that they were public art and not meant to be played on,” Vasconcellos said. “I know better now, but I have a happy memory that is triggered every time I see them.  That to me is what public art should be: art that energizes a public space and creates a memory, hopefully a positive one, that will stay with everyone who sees it.”

CAB meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.

Contact Vasconcellos at 575-541-2780 and cvasconcellos@las-cruces.org.

Visit www.las-cruces.org/1326/City-Art-Board.