Rock Art - A personal expression that became a public art project
In the January of 2017, I started walking along the earthen dam on the North East side of Las Cruces bordering the University Golf Course. A beautiful peaceful walk with many animals for entertainment, hawks, roadrunners, lizards, rabbits, coyotes butterflies and dragonflies to name a few. I noticed on the walk that on the East side of the path there was a row of small rocks that someone had placed as a border on the path. It grew a little each day as a few more colorful rocks were added to the line. I joined in the fun and added a few more rocks to the line each day. It grew past small bushes then past a clumps of grass. I'd pick a distinct color and watch to see how many new rocks were added past the rocks I had placed. Moving down the line some distance, I started creating rock images inspired by animals and sometimes requests from fellow walkers. Other people have been inspired by the Rock Art too and the word "LOVE" was added then a heart design by my lizard then some crosses. People have written little messages of appreciation in the sand next to the rock designs. I look forward to "exercise" with my dog Bandit and wonder what will inspire the next rock design. Below are some samples showing designs in progress. Enjoy the journey, Kathy
$ Donations will help with expenses: Weed barrier fabric, Concrete to fill the hollow tiles and other unexpected costs. Work will take about 1 year to complete. At the end of the move, if there is extra money left, it will be donated to LEWF.org A non profit Wildlife foundation.
MORE NEWS ABOUT MOVING THE ROCK ART
Here's the latest news about my Rock Art on Tortugas Dam. The 60 year old dam is scheduled to be upgraded. The dam will be wider and taller and the spillway expanded. This means the Spillway will go through the area where the rock art is now. The South end of Las Cruces will be much safer when the work is completed. EBID (Elephant Butte Irrigation District) is allowing time for me to move the rock art before they begin their work on the dam in about 2 or 3 years.
New Mexico State University is allowing the art to be relocated directly across from the NMSU Golf Course Club House. There is a hill large enough to support all the images. The location will be ideal in many ways:
1. It will part of NMSU property and under their protection, which should curb an future vandalism.
2. The hill will be covered with landscape weed barrier cloth and the rock art placed on top. This will maintain a cleaner look. Weeds have always been a problem. The hill is .57 acres - Art is 150 ft. x 170 ft. That's a lot of landscape fabric!
3. The rock are will help with the erosion problems on that location.
4. The location will be more accessible to the public and will be enjoyed by more people. You'll be able to walk or drive to see it.
If you would like to be on the list of Volunteers Contact me on the website's Contact page and leave your name, Cell number and email. This will be fun as well as good exercise! Kathy
Below is a sketch of what it may look like
Here's the latest news about my Rock Art on Tortugas Dam. The 60 year old dam is scheduled to be upgraded. The dam will be wider and taller and the spillway expanded. This means the Spillway will go through the area where the rock art is now. The South end of Las Cruces will be much safer when the work is completed. EBID (Elephant Butte Irrigation District) is allowing time for me to move the rock art before they begin their work on the dam in about 2 or 3 years.
New Mexico State University is allowing the art to be relocated directly across from the NMSU Golf Course Club House. There is a hill large enough to support all the images. The location will be ideal in many ways:
1. It will part of NMSU property and under their protection, which should curb an future vandalism.
2. The hill will be covered with landscape weed barrier cloth and the rock art placed on top. This will maintain a cleaner look. Weeds have always been a problem. The hill is .57 acres - Art is 150 ft. x 170 ft. That's a lot of landscape fabric!
3. The rock are will help with the erosion problems on that location.
4. The location will be more accessible to the public and will be enjoyed by more people. You'll be able to walk or drive to see it.
If you would like to be on the list of Volunteers Contact me on the website's Contact page and leave your name, Cell number and email. This will be fun as well as good exercise! Kathy
Below is a sketch of what it may look like
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Drone video of Rock Art
by Kathy Morrow Videographer Ken Brouhard March, 2022 |
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