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. Moving down the line some distance, I started creating rock images inspired by animals and sometimes requests from fellow walkers. Below are some samples showing designs in progress. I worked on the rock art and it grew into large murals that filled the side of the dam. Then the Elephant Butte Irrigation District informed me that the dam was going to be expanded and the art would have to go. Since it wasn't supposed to be there in the first place, they kindly gave me a year to move the hundred tons or more of rock to a new location. The rocks were all removed and are now under reconstruction at the hill in front of the NMUS Golf Course.
Enjoy the journey, Kathy
Enjoy the journey, Kathy
$ Donations will help with expenses: Weed barrier fabric, Concrete to fill the hollow tiles and the purchase of many tons of rock. The animals are 2 times larger than they were on the dam. Work will take about 2 years to complete. At the end of the move, if there is extra money left, it will be donated to LEWF.org (Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation) A non profit that support wildlife rehabilitators.
MORE NEWS ABOUT MOVING THE ROCK ART
The new location is ideal in many ways:
1. It is on NMSU property and under their protection, which should curb any future vandalism which was a problem at the dam.
2. The hill has been covered with landscape weed barrier cloth. This will maintain a cleaner look with proper weed control. 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 is fun and good exercise! Kathy
Below is a sketch of the animals Bull dozer clears the hill Volunteers roll out weed barrier
The new location is ideal in many ways:
1. It is on NMSU property and under their protection, which should curb any future vandalism which was a problem at the dam.
2. The hill has been covered with landscape weed barrier cloth. This will maintain a cleaner look with proper weed control. 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 is fun and good exercise! Kathy
Below is a sketch of the animals Bull dozer clears the hill Volunteers roll out weed barrier
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Hummingbird
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Big Horn Sheep in progress
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Drone video of Rock Art
by Kathy Morrow
Videographer Dr. Bill Enig
May 2023
by Kathy Morrow
Videographer Dr. Bill Enig
May 2023
Below are slide shows of the original art on the Tortugas dam. Most will be recreated but 2 times larger. They have all been removed from the dam.
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