LAND ARTS OF THE AMERICAN WEST
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PROJECTS - 2018

NeoRio: Roots ~ Raices

Land Arts of the American West artists were invited to present works during L.E.A.P’s annual outdoor contemporary art and community event, called NeoRio at the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Wild Rivers, NM. The theme of this year’s event, Roots ~ Raices, prompted LAAW artists to explore the connection between people, place, land, wonder, and nourishment through creating five projects in the span of just a few days at the site.

September 15, 2018
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Wild Rivers, New Mexico

Partners and collaborators for this project include:
Land Arts of the American West
L.E.A.P. Land Experience and Art of Place
Francisco Leterlier, Santa Fe Art Institute Truth and Reconciliation Visiting Artist


land arts of the american west

The Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument encompasses the confluence of the Rio Grande and Red Rivers.

land arts of the american west

Guest artist Francisco Leterlier works with students and faculty to experiment with the possibilities of light and shadow.

land arts of the american west


land arts of the american west

Sarah Canelas, Erin Gould, and Xena Gurule work with sage and pinon branches to construct a site-specific sculpture that reflects the contours and shapes of the surrounding environment.

land arts of the American West

A process map for Roots project by nicholas b. jacobsen.

land arts of the american west

LAAW student, Rowan Willow assembles The Roots of Wonder, an interactive, multi-generational material exploration using objects found in the landscape and concepts for all ages. This work provided a space to play, think, and reconnect to the roots of the land and childhood wonder.

land arts of the american west

Santa Fe Art Institute artist Francisco Leterlier draws a map of South America, which will become a component of Paso del Condor, Quipu Rivers, and Continental Veils. This map was a part of a series of works exploring American continental histories, human rights, and environmental justice through quipa-knotted strings and earth pigments gathered from Rapa Nui, California, and Rio Grande Headwaters.

land arts of the american west

Roots Interviews, by Kyle Holub and Xena Gurule were a series of audio interviews about people’s roots and their connection to Wild Rivers.

land arts of the american west

Daytime and night views of Pinon-Sage Arc: Growing Dead Trees, by Sarah Canelas, Erin Gould, Xena Gurule, and Ryan Henel. This work emerged from the landscape, creating an arc between a pinon tree and the earth.

land arts of the american west

land arts of the american west

LAAW student Brionna Garcia reads a poem about roots and their connection to our environment; she was one of many to perform for the Neo Rio event.

land arts of the american west

land arts of the american west

land arts of the american west

Nourishing Roots, by Brionna Garcia, Jeanette Hart-Mann, nicholas b. jacobsen, Blaise Koller, and Jessica Zeglin was a sculptural installation and performance nourishing interconnecting roots as home.