By Dr. Bernadine Hernández
Assistant Professor 
University of New Mexico

Decolonize Public Art Parte Dos Art Exhibit 5-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1, at El Chante: Casa de Cultura at 804 Park Ave. SW in Albuquerque.

The first Decolonize Public Art Pop Up show was a success. We were able to come together as an art community in Albuquerque to initiate conversations about the future of Public Art in the city.

Now, we are faced with even more challenges as we enter election season. Now it is time for PARTE DOS and we aren’t just doing a pop-up show this time. We are installing a whole show for the Albuquerque community to interact with long-term.

Artists, art educators, activists and community members are having conversations around the country on what Public Art means and how it is supposed to enhance a particular space, who benefits and who doesn’t, and how creative placemaking is being used as tool for displacement, gentrification, and now gentefication.

The art show will address the following themes:

• How do we honor the community through Public Art? 
• How can we bring value to the community through art and not commodify the space or alienate those that live in the area? 
• How does Public Art intersect with other issues such as housing, healthcare, policing, transportation, and urban development?  
• Does Public Art perform diversity without thinking about the community it affects? Do you feel like you are being represented within Public Art?