GO Bond – East Mesa Public Recreation Complex Public Art Project
Budget: $100,000
Project Intent
General:
Las Cruces Public Art (LCPA) commissioned an artist to create a site-specific outdoor art piece to be designed and installed at the new East Mesa Public Recreation Complex (EMPRC).
EMPRC Site Information
EMPRC is a new public recreation complex located off Sonoma Springs Ave. on the eastside of Las Cruces. The recreation complex will tentatively open to the public in Summer 2024. The recreation complex’s first phase is almost completed with two baseball fields, two soccer fields, eight pickleball courts, and a 10-acre park. The next phase will include sand volleyball courts and basketball courts. Plans include a skatepark and amphitheater in future phases.
EMPRC is in a Sonoma Ranch neighborhood against a backdrop of the Organ Mountains. The surrounding desert landscape remains untouched and is home to a variety of indigenous wildlife. Documented history of the property shows it was once covered by water that provided a habitat for the amphibian animals, such as giant jellyfish, that made their home there.
Proposed site for the artwork is in the 10-acre park near the intersection of Sonoma Springs Ave., the main access point to the recreation complex, and Camino Coyote Lane.
Project Amount
$100,000.00 is available to the selected artist for the completed and installed project. Project amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the design, fabrication and installation of the project, including but not limited to: the completed work of art, ladders, scissor-lift, scaffolding, materials, equipment, labor, cement pad, lighting, certifications and permits, engineering documents, insurance, taxes, shipping, identification plaque, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project. There is no other funding.
Winning Concept
“Dance of Life” by James Moore
James Moore’s design concept was selected through a robust selection process for this commission. In his proposal, he says, “For this project, I envision sculptures that embody the vitality and activity of the recreation complex, possibly incorporating elements that create engaging light and shadow play that respond to environmental conditions. The rich history of the site, particularly its prehistoric past with fossils of giant jellyfish and horseshoe crabs, offers a fascinating narrative. I am excited to explore ways to integrate these historical elements into the artwork, perhaps through abstract representations or textural details that reflect the ancient landscape.
His maquette or small model, shows the stylized figures made of aluminum in various poses of action – balancing, stretching and flexing – placed on steel bases with word cutouts and fossil imprints. Lights will shine through the cutouts at night.
