Take Another Look: "The History of the City's Public Art Program"
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Take Another Look: "The History of the City's Public Art Program" is a conversation between Sherri Brueggemann and artist, Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera.
Sherri, Sonny, and joni discuss the history of the Albuquerque Public Art Program as well as the future of the program. Sherri provides insights on the Albuquerque Public Art Program and how it compares to other Public Art Programs around the country; while Sonny shares how the program has changed over the years and discusses some of his public art works. Check out the episode to learn how you can become part of the future and history of the Albuquerque Public Art Program.
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Listen and watch Take Another Look on:
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Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera is a U.S. Navy Veteran, Barber, and Sculptor who has completed over 40 full-scale public art commissions.
He studied fine art at the American Academy of Arts in Chicago with nationally acclaimed sculptor and painter, Eugene Hall, and explored sculpting at Columbia College. He furthered his artistic vision by abroad by attending the Galleria Della Arte in Florence, Italy and the San Miguel de Allende Institute in Mexico.
Rivera's works are housed in museums, botanical gardens, zoological parks, religious establishments, institutions of higher learning, and private collections throughout the United States and Mexico. He has 8 artworks in the Albuquerque Public Art Collection.
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Sherri Brueggemann is the City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Division Manager. She has worked with the Albuquerque Public Art Program for 19 years. She holds a Masters from UNM's School of Public Administration with emphasis in arts and cultural policy. Sherri was a founding member of the American for the Arts Public Art Network (PAN) and served on the PAN Council from 2000-2002.
She is also a former printmaker, special events coordinator, winery owner and adjuncts faculty at the University of New Mexico's College of Fine Arts, Arts Management Program.
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Learn More About the People, Places, and Projects Discussed in Episode 2 |
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Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera's Public Art Works |
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Seated Portrait of Herbert Candelaria by Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera 1987
Albuquerque Museum Purchase
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Seated Portrait of Herbert Candelaria is a bronze sculpture by Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera that was created to honor Herbert Candelaria's long career and dedication to the Albuquerque Museum as the first security guard.
Sonny created the sculpture with an empty chair as an invitation to visitors to sit in the statue's company. This sculpture was Sonny's first public art work.
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Stalking Her Prey is a bronze sculpture that will be installed at Alamosa Park. The sculpture is a mountain lion atop a boulder about to spring forth in pursuit of its prey. Sonny's piece represents the wildlife found among the trees or along the ridges and ledges of the Rio Grande wilderness.
Sonny's interactive sculpture is aimed to educate and evoke emotion in the viewer. Additionally, he aims to instill a sense of pride in the community and create an enduring work of art that serves as a landmark for Alamosa Park.
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Stalking Her Prey maquette by Reynaldo "Sonny" Rivera 2023
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Albuquerque Public Art Program |
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Albuquerque was the 15th government municipality in the United States to pass a Percent for Art Ordinance. Over the last 44 years, the Albuquerque Public Art Program has acquired and commissioned over 1,600 individual works of art.
In October 2022, City Council approved an Ordinance change from 1% to 1.5% for Art. The added 0.5% is set aside for the conservation and maintenance of works of art in the collection. The Ordinance changes also updated the definition of public art to include temporary and digital media art!
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Albuquerque Public Art Collection, Artist Resources, and Public Art Staff |
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- Check out the Public Art Handbook (created in 2000 and updated in 2011) to learn about the Albuquerque Public Art Process.
- On August 21, 2022, Sherri Brueggemann gave a presentation for the Albuquerque Historical Society about the History of Public Art in Albuquerque. Watch the presentation here.
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Albuquerque Public Art Work Spotlight |
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Cruising San Mateo by Barbara Grygutis 1991, corner of San Mateo and Gibson Blvd.
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Cruising San Mateo is a mosaic sculpture by Barbara Grygutis that was installed in 1991. The ceramic tiled archway was built around a real 1954 Chevy.
Grygutis' mosaic sculpture uses the European triumphal arch form to represent a very American image. The sculpture highlights the cars and confluence of cultures along San Mateo Boulevard in the 1950's. Located across from a McDonald's, Cruising San Mateo also visually connects with the "Golden Arches."
Soon after it was installed, Cruising San Mateo was a controversial artwork that helped bring awareness about the City's Public Art Program and helped to evaluate the Public Art process. It is now one of the most iconic pieces of public art in Albuquerque.
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Iconic Public Artworks for Cities in the U.S. |
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Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor 2004, Millenium Park, City of Chicago, IL
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Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen 1988, Walker Arts Center, City of Grand Rapids, MI
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Additional Readings and Resources |
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Since 1959, local Percent for Art ordinances have been applied to publicly-funded capital improvement projects. There are more than 350 public art programs in the United States. Learn more about Percent for Art Programs from the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network (PAN).
In 2017, Americans for the Arts conducted a survey of the nation's public art programs to better understand the organizational structures, plants, diversity requirements, and educational components of public art programs in the United States. Read the 2017 Survey of Public Programs. |
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