What would the world be without art? Many different mediums of art touch the lives of people every day. Imagine our community without certain iconic art pieces. Imagine if all buildings were just boring boxes exactly all the same size, each painted beige, with none enhanced by the images of people, flora, fauna, and symbols of our cultural heritage that are so important to our community. How flat and boring would your drive through our streets be if the murals you drive past everyday weren’t there anymore?. You might notice that our community would seem empty. You know why? Because public art engages us and adds color and depth to our city.
Art creates an identity for the community. Over seventy percent of Americans believe that art improves the image and identity of their community. Picture Las Cruces without the most popular “Recycled Roadrunner” sculpture or the Visit Las Cruces mural “Con Amor”. This artwork invites people to interact with it, creating a destination for photo opportunities. Site specific art also provides an understanding of our community.
Public Art matters and highlights the symbols of our community’s past and present. Each community is unique and may have its most iconic art piece. One of the coolest things about public art is how it can make the viewer feel welcome. We become so familiar with what we see every day – public art turns those everyday places into something truly special. It can invite people to gather, take photos, and even just stop for a moment to appreciate the view. It’s these little touches that make a neighborhood feel like home.
