Art and Connection: Public Programs at Vladem Contemporary

The legacy of the New Mexico Museum of Art’s early-20th-century championing of contemporary artists—including providing studio space for such artists as John Sloan and Gustave Baumann—lives on in new public-facing initiatives at Vladem Contemporary.

“We're committed to making our collections and programs accessible to everyone, especially through the Vladem Contemporary’s dynamic new programs, where we open doors for deeper artist-public interaction,” says Mark White, the museum’s executive director.

The Dee Ann McIntyre in Memory of Scotty McIntyre Artist Studio, for example, recently hosted mixed-media artist Angela Ellsworth in residence. “With focused time, I completed four sculptures, with two now at the Smithsonian,” Ellsworth says. And photographer Alex Traube, who completed his residency in June, adds, “My residency was one of the best things in my professional life. It gave me a chance
to create an important body of work while reaching out to the community.”

Alexandra Terry, curator of contemporary art at Vladem Contemporary, says that two other dynamic platforms—the Window Box and Digital Window— "also place artists and the community together in meaningful dialogue." The museum's commitment to inclusivity and emerging artists will soon be seen in the street-facing Window Box with photographer Apolo Gomez's upcoming installation of scrolling LED text
panels. The work will “amplify the words of queer activists,” says Gomez, adding that “Institutional support at this level is rare.”

The Fritz Family Digital Window, located on the Van Mabee Plaza, showcases a daily rotating program of short films between 4 and 10 p.m. Viewers may stream the audio through their smart devices, akin to a drive-in movie speaker. Works by Madelin Coit, Susanna Carlisle and
Bruce Hamilton are currently on view. Rounding out these offerings and located on the Covered Terrace in Memory of Edward Hastings and Gino Barcone is Astral Array, a permanent outdoor LED light installation by internationally acclaimed Albuquerque-based artist Leo Villareal.

“The museum also plays a vital role in documenting and preserving the artistic legacy of our time,” says Christian Waguespack, the museum’s head of curatorial affairs and curator of 20th century art. He cites the museum’s recent oral history project, which is assembling video interviews with many of the artists featured in the exhibition Off-Center: New Mexico Art: 1970- 2000. These, he says, are “vital primary source material, preserving contemporary artists’ legacies for the next generation of researchers.”

Off-Center artists Susanna Carlisle and Bruce Hamilton, husband-and-wife collaborators whose work is featured in the Fritz Family Digital Window, credit Vladem Contemporary “with creating more opportunities for New Mexico artists to showcase their work, significantly impacting the state's contemporary art scene.” And museum supporters Barbara Doroba-Ogg and Michael Ogg (a Museum of New Mexico
Foundation trustee) add that Off-Center’s “compelling juxtaposition of works by more than 125 artists from 1970 to 2000 affords viewers a unique opportunity to engage with the extraordinary vitality and diversity of that era."

Contemporary Chicano sculptor Luis Tapia kicked off the Off-Center "Final Friday Artist Talks” program in June with a conversation with Waguespack. Funded by Pat and Jim Hall, the once-monthly series lets the public engage directly with contemporary artists, such as Constance DeJong (September) and Peter Sarkisian (October). In 2025, featured artists will be Jo Whaley (January), Gail Rieke
(February), Charlene Teters (April) and others. Additionally, Maria and Ed Gale’s Gale Family Foundation is underwriting a different series of panel discussions and artist talks scheduled to start later this fall and running through the Spring of 2025.

Finally, the museum’s educational outreach programs will increase accessibility to school-age kids through new digital initiatives, including virtual museum tours. The new Railyard Compass Program, a collaborative project with SITE Santa Fe and Violet Crown Cinema, introduces 7th graders to contemporary art.

"Here at the New Mexico Museum of Art, we believe art is a powerful tool for connection and understanding,” says White. “It is through private support through the Museum of New Mexico Foundation that together we can ensure these programs become a vibrant cornerstone of Santa Fe's cultural landscape."

This article and images are from the Museum of New Mexico Foundation’s Member News Magazine.