By STEPHANIE HAASER
Chair
Art in Public Places Advisory Board

Art in public places helps to create beautiful public spaces and the Art in Public Places Advisory Board values community input.

Ongoing work being pursued by the Board:

• Senior Center Security Gate: After obtaining permission to use the Zia symbol, the Board voted to recommend to County Council the purchase of “Los Alamos Heritage Gate” by Jonathan Watson to be installed at the Betty Ehart Center. This item will be on County Council Sept. 9, 2025 agenda.
• Nature Center Art Proposal: The Board voted to recommend to County Council the purchase of “Raven Dialog” by Star York to be installed at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center. This item will be on County Council Sept. 9, 2025 agenda.
• Justice Center Wall Art: The Board voted to recommend to County Council the purchase of “Birds and Big Skies of Los Alamos” by J Muzacz to be installed on the south facing wall surrounding the Justice Center. This item will be on County Council Sept. 9, 2025 agenda. Future work for the Board related to this piece will be to work with community groups to have community build days during installation.
• Barranca Homestead Working Group update: After surveying residents near the proposed project site of Los Pueblos Park, the working group is exploring alternative project locations to pursue a project honoring homesteaders. The working group will also work to connect with historic, homestead families.
• Police Station Art Project Working group update: The Board received 13 responses to the Request for Qualifications for the proposed memorial project at the Los Alamos Police Station. The working group down selected the number of artists to four. The Board is recommending to County Council that funds be approved to compensate the remaining four artists, not to exceed $6,000 (excluding GRT), for the completion of design proposals.
• Semi Quincentennial Art Competition Work group update: The working group has proposed an art competition in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday. Accepted submissions will be displayed in the Step Up Gallery in June or July of 2026. An offer to purchase the winning piece will be made by the APP Board. More details to come.

Additional Board updates:

• Pacific Coast Conservation currently working on preservation of outdoor art.
• Opening for Leisure Lagoon Art by Amanda Jaffee will be October 7th: 10-10:45am. Past Board Chair Father Theophan Mackey will present.
• Access to “Pollyanna” by Glenna Goodacre is currently being improved by the County.
• Work to relocate one of the White Rock Pots is ongoing. This project was required as part of the N.M. 4 Crossing and Multi-Use Trail Improvement Project.
• Discussions continue with respect to potential deaccession of decaying artwork within the County. Pacific Coast Conservation has brought attention to some pieces and further community discussions will be addressed in an upcoming survey to access community commitment to select pieces.

Funding for the acquisition of art is defined within the Los Alamos County Code, Sections 20-364 and 20-365. Changes to the Art in Public Places Advisory Board funding would require changes to be made to the County Code.

Funding sources defined by the County Code:

• 1% of the budget of any capital improvement projects whose budget exceeds $20,000.
• 0.5% of the budget of any road project.