ALMA February Newsletter

ALMA is starting a blog! We would like you to get to know us better. This will be an opportunity to get to know the ALMA artists, our philosophy, and how and why we do what we do! In our first blog, we would like you to get to know our lovely Lead Artist/ Operations Director, Margarita Paz-Pedro

The Pandemic & ALMA

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The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected everybody in various ways and the ripple effect will continue. ALMA, just like everybody else, has had to adjust the way we conducted business. During the summer program in 2020, we enacted a COVID Policy and safety procedures. We accommodated for remote working when it was necessary or was requested from our staff. Our current project with Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is in it’s community consultation and design phase.  It has been a challenge to connect and consult with people via Zoom, but thanks to our Community Consultants, they are helping facilitate this process. We would prefer to be face to face, but we believe in keeping the community safe.  The tales of Creativity in COVID will continue!  

ALMA at Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge

ALMA has been working in collaboration with Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of VDO, Mountain View Neighborhood, and the Pueblo of Isleta for our next ALMA Summer Institute program this year. We will build four concrete sculptures that will be near the entrances to the refuge and cover them with handmade tiles.  We are in the process of gathering community input for our designs.  If you reside in the South Valley, Mountain View neighborhood, or Pueblo of Isleta (or know someone), we would like to hear from you!  Please fill out this VDO Community Questionnaire Google Form

We hope to be done with interviews by the end of February/early March and will work on completing a design in March so that we can be ready to pour our concrete structures in May. We will continue to update you all on our project!

ALMA’s #SunflowersAcrossBurque

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hese “Micro-Murals” are paint and/or tile mosaic. They are made in collaboration with the Artists and apprentices of ALMA and the students of La Academia de Esperanza Charter High School. Sunflowers can be seen growing all over New Mexico. Just like these plants, we see this project as a way to bring strength, color, beauty, and resilience to our neighborhoods. ALMA’s mission is to support and nurture artists of all ages in creating artworks of exceptional quality while building entrepreneurial skills. Our paid apprenticeship model develops leaders through a diverse and inclusive program. 

If you would like a Sunflower mural please email us at almatilearts@gmail.com. We would love to talk to you about getting more of these out in our community while we provide income and training for local student and apprentice artists. 

Creative Bravos Legacy Award