LAS CRUCES – Artists are offering a creative way to remember and honor those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic as many traditional rituals have been disrupted.
Kathy Baker, a Potters’ Guild of Las Cruces member and retired mental health counselor, explained that talks began in March 2021 about how the organization could help the community mourn the year of loss. She said it appeared the pandemic was coming to an end – “wishful thinking” – and a public sculpture seemed appropriate to acknowledge what everyone has been through over the past year and the resilience of the community.
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“I’ve spent most of my career dealing with traumatic loss,” Baker said. “It’s really important to recognize and acknowledge losses. And because of the social isolation and the fear and anxiety that people have had, our normal rituals of doing this have been disrupted.”
The project served as a “signature” event for the guild’s 40th anniversary in 2021.
Mesilla artist Josh Switzer was asked to create a metal tree that was placed in the courtyard of the Agave Artist Cooperative at 2250 Calle de San Albino in Mesilla. Once the tree was in place, the potters began making clay wings to hang from the tree’s branches.
The Healing Wings project was officially dedicated in August, attended by local health and government officials and members of Tortugas Pueblo. Tortugas has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic.
The idea is to invite people in the community to paint the wings and share their experiences together. Grand pianos and accessories are provided free of charge to anyone in need of an artistic outlet. Artists fire the wings a second time before hanging them on the tree sculpture.
Baker said there are about 20 wings on the tree so far, but there are about 35 more that will soon find their place on the tree.
Another part of the project is a metal box sculpture located near the tree sculpture. People are welcome to write their experiences or sadness on a piece of paper and throw the paper in one of the boxes. Half of the boxes are locked and used by most people.
Baker said the plan was to burn the bills once the boxes were full – a symbolic gesture of letting go.
It is planned to make tiles in honor of the donors and partners of the project. These tiles will eventually connect the two sculptures.
The project was funded and provided by local artists, donors and a $1,000 grant from the State Potters Guild. The Bill Armstrong Grant is awarded annually in support of a ceramic arts or education program.
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Baker said because COVID-19 case numbers have increased with the Delta and Omicron variants, the group had to cancel wing painting dates. They have instead planned smaller groups and have gone to nursing homes and other facilities to meet people interested in participating.
Those interested in participating in the community project can contact the Potters Guild by email at [email protected] or through their website at www.pottersguildlc.org.
Leah Romero is a trend reporter for Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, [email protected], or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
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