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Take Another Look:
"Behind the Scenes - New Glass Art at the IDL"
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Take Another Look: "Behind the Scenes - New Glass Art at the IDL" is a conversation between Albuquerque artist Reyes Padilla and CABQ Public Art Project Planner Robyne Robinson, about the exciting glass art project in the International District.
Tune in to learn more about the creation of glass mosaic and glass panel installations at Albuquerque's International District Library (IDL) that is currently in the works. Reyes, Robyne, and joni discuss the Public Art Process; how the project at the IDL got started; and partnering with an international, world-renowned glass fabrication studio Franz Mayer of Munich. Reyes also shares more about his artistic process, how he is engaging with the community to inform his design for the IDL, and the experience traveling to Germany to work with Mayer of Munich.
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Reyes Padilla is an Albuquerque-based painter and muralist whose creations on canvas and site-specific installations take inspiration from the New Mexico landscape and multicultural environment in which he was raised. Born in Santa Fe, Reyes first discovered his artistry through music as his experience of sound translated to a visual experience, a neurological phenomenon known as synesthesia. Reyes' process of painting to music is of the moment, his imagery and brush strokes colliding naturally in an active dance of sight and sound.
In 2022, Reyes was selected to create a custom architectural glass art installation for the new International District Library with the Albuquerque Public Art Program. Recently, Reyes traveled to Munich, Germany to work with Franz Mayer of Munich, an internationally renowned stained glass design and manufacturing company, to translate his painterly style into glass for the library installation.
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Robyne Robinson is a Public Art Project Planner for the City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Division. As the former Director of Arts@MSP, she developed arts and cultural programming at MSP International Airport which received praise from transportation writers and national media, including The New York Times. Robyne is well-known as an Emmy-winning news broadcaster in the Twin Cities – and as the first African American primetime anchor in Minnesota. It was during that time she also produced and hosted the first nightly arts and entertainment segment in a major newscast – The Buzz.
Robyne is the creative mind behind ROX Jewelry Designs. Her work has been on display at The Studio Museum in Harlem, in the collection of the MN Historical Society, exhibited in art galleries in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and has been featured in both US and UK fashion magazines.
Robyne has received numerous honors: She was a 2010 candidate for Lt. Governor of Minnesota; a Hubert Humphrey Public Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota; critically-praised curator and owner of flatland gallery (2000-2003); and induction into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Robyne currently sits on the Santa Fe Arts Commission.
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Production Team Shout Out | |
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We would not be ale to make this podcast, and the accompanying YouTube videos, without the City's Media Resource team.
Take Another Look is a podcast produced and hosted by One Albuquerque Media.
Learn more about One Albuquerque Media.
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Learn More About the People, Places, and Projects Discussed in Episode 5 | |
International District Library | |
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The International District Library is located at 7601 Central Ave NE in the International District. It is one of 18 public libraries in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The library opened in 2022 and serves as a public space for community gatherings and location for public art that engages the community.
Learn more about the Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Public Libraries.
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In 2013, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded the City of Albuquerque Department of Arts & Culture a grant of $150,000 for an Our Town Livability Project in the Public Space/Infrastructure category.
The grant supported the arts-engagement, community design process of new permanent community gathering spaces along Route 66 in Albuquerque that would serve as performance sites and gateways to neighborhood history.
As a result of the deep history and geography research, storytelling and story collecting, and art making process the community identified several locations desirable as public spaces. In November 2016, the City of Albuquerque purchased a two block section known as the Caravan site to build a new library and multi-use community spaces.
Learn more about the Stories of Route 66 Project funded by the NEA Our Town grant and view the final reports created by artists, community members, students, and UNM faculty.
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Glass Art at the International District Library | |
Franz Mayer of Munich has been working with artists for over 150 years to bring their visions to life. Mayer of Munich is a fine art fabrication studio based in Munich, Germany producing high profile, public work and international projects created in collaboration with architects, contemporary artists, and designers in both architectural glass and innovative mosaics. They have worked with artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, Nick Cave, and Kiki Smith. | | |
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In November 2023, Erica Behrens, Mayer of Munich Director in the US and Canada, visited Albuquerque. She and Reyes presented to community members and local artists about Reyes' exciting project at the International District Library as well as the possibilities for glass art at the library. | |
Public Art Process at the International District Library | |
1.) While the library was being built, various sites were identified for possible public art that is welcoming and inviting, that reflects the culture, people, and ideas of the people who use the library. | |
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2.) A Selection Committee was formed with community members, representatives of community non-profit groups, municipal representatives, architects who designed the library, and library representatives. The committee discussed the library space, its purpose within the community, and how to get a diverse representation of artists to work on a public art project.
3.) Artists applied for the Request for Interest in the International District Library Glass Project and the finalists visited the library before it was open to learn about the design elements built into the library following numerous neighborhood workshops.
4.) Erica Behrens traveled to Albuquerque and spoke with the artists about Mayer of Munich including how they work with artists to translate their artistic style to glass.
5.) The artists developed their initial design proposal and presented them to the Selection Committee. In 2022, Reyes was selected by the committee as the artist for the International District Library Glass Project. The Albuquerque Public Art Program and Library Foundation are funding the glass art project.
6.) Reyes' initial design was informed by the location of the library and the diversity of the community to create a global connection within his work. Reyes is engaging with the community to develop his final design for the window plate glass and glass mosaic art at the library.
| Traveling to Munich, Germany to work with Mayer of Munich | |
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In January 2023, Reyes traveled to Germany to work with Mayer of Munich to translate his style and design into glass. There Reyes created a glass sample that he brought back to Albuquerque. He has given numerous presentations to artists and community members about his work, the project at the IDL, and how to work in glass with fabricators like Mayer of Munich.
Through this process, Reyes has been able to grow and develop his own skills in glass and bring what he has learned to other local artists in Albuquerque.
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In November 2023, stations were set up around the library asking the community questions to help inform Reyes' final design.
Community members were asked to share what songs remind them of home, their favorite colors, which spaces in the library would be good for art, and places around the world that feel like home. Many of the questions were taken from the community survey conducted in early 2023.
Reyes will take all of the community input to inform the shape, color, and imagery within the final glass and glass mosaic design.
To follow along in the process and be involved, sign up for the Public Art e-newsletter.
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Episode 6 Sneak Peek: New Art Gallery at City Hall
Episode 6 of Take Another Look will focus on the new art gallery at City Hall - Gallery One.
Mayor Tim Keller, Arts & Culture Department Director Dr. Shelle Sanchez, and joni palmer will discuss the grand opening of Gallery One on January 5, 2024.
Learn more about Gallery One at cabq.gov/galleryone.
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The Public Art Census has landed in Albuquerque! | |
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In Take Another Look episode 3, "CABQ Public Art Collection 101," Matt Carter, Danicia Monét Malone, and joni palmer discussed the Public Art Census conducted and designed by Rokh in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana.
In November 2023, Rokh launched the second Public Art Census here in Bernalillo County, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The City's Public Art Program and the Bernalillo County Public Art Program are partnering with Rokh to conduct the Public Art Census and highlight all of the public art in our community.
Local artists, creatives, and art supporters have been trained as Public Art Canvassers and have begun spotting and capturing information about public art throughout Bernalillo County.
Learn more about the Public Art Census in Bernalillo County, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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