Silverarado Skies

2021/2022

Bernalillo County, Albuquerque, New Mexico

“Silverado Skies” design is based on the huge beautiful vistas and skies of Bernalillo County and the Albuquerque area. The design also reflects the energy that the mountains and landscape provide this community.

Nine 4’ x 8’ framed panels have been successfully installed in the new Bernalillo County headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thanks to the community for taking part in this exciting community-based mosaic mural. Hundreds of hands were in involved with the mosaic process across the county in five different community sessions.

This project was shipped partially completed with mosaic portions ready for the community to take part. Once the community members spent time creating and putting their few pieces into the mosaic, it was time to grout the panels. The County provided a workroom at The Paradise Hills Senior Center for the behind the scenes work to be done.

After many hours of mosaicing, grouting and detailing, the panels were ready to be installed.

As I reflected on the project the last few days of detailing the panels, I was focused on making the mural “perfect”. Trying to get each and every mosaic glass piece to sparkle and shine. With thousands of small pieces of glass and hundreds of hands involved in the project, perfection is not easy.

But as I spent those final hours trying to reach perfection, I realized that none of us are perfect, none of our families, neighborhoods, jobs, co workers, governments, or cities are perfect.

But the process, the engagement and joy of creating and working together was and is perfect. The process and the mural is perfect in all the right ways.

This mural is colorful, dynamic, and distinctive, and it echoes the spirit of this diverse yet unified community.

Thanks to Ted Lorado of Albuquerque, the installation process was seamless. Also many thanks to my lovely assistants, Carol and Mary Beth…could not have done it with out you. A few more thank you’s that made this beautiful mural happen - My neices and their families that live in Albuquerque helped with meals, drinks, and grouting; my Bernalillo County team, they organized all the events, provided support marketing materials and were just a joy to work with, I miss them already!