Events

*THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT*

Harwood Museum of Art invites you to a fundraising dinner at the intersection of art, land, and shared ritual. Earth to Table brings together the artists, curators, and supporters of Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros for an intimate, one-night-only feast held at the historic la Hacienda de los Martinez, curated by /shed and led by artist-chef Johnny Ortiz-Concha.

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros exhibition explores contemporary earthen artworks and the enduring relationships between people, land, and unfired earth–bridging regional traditions and global perspectives through the work of rafa esparza, Christine Howard Sandoval, Ronald Rael, Santino Gonzales, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Gabriel Chaile.

The evening will unfold around a beautifully curated, locally sourced feast by /shed, inspired by the high desert landscape of Taos and Johnny Ortiz-Concha’s Tu-ah-ta (Taos Pueblo) and Spanish heritage. Johnny will share reflections on his practice and the land, culture, and community at the heart of the /shed experience, with live music by Sarah Martinez throughout the evening. With only 40 tickets available, reserve your place not to be part of this extraordinary experience.

Held at ls Hacienda de los Martinez–one of the few remaining late Spanish Colonial “Great Houses” in the Southwest and on the National Register of Historic Places – the evening is rooted in a place whose adobe walls and history echo the exhibition’s themes of land, culture, and continuity.

Ticket Includes:

2:00 pm VIP exhibition preview, Harwood Museum of Art

5:30 pm gathering, Martinez Hacienda

6:30 pm feast, Martinez Hacienda

Image courtesy of /shed project.

Join artists featured in Unearthing Futures/Desenterrando Futuros  for an intimate conversation moderated by critic Raquel Gutiérrez. This event is ticketed in the Arthur Bell Auditorium. This program will be conducted in a fluid mixture of English and Spanish.

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros explores contemporary earthen artworks, establishing a profound dialogue between regional roots and global perspectives. As visitors engage with the exhibition, they embark on a journey through time, examining the intricate relationship between humanity and the elemental material of unfired earth.

At its core, this exhibition highlights the transformative power of mud—a substance that bridges tradition and innovation, ecology and artistry. Through the work of rafa esparza, Christine Howard Sandoval, Ronald Rael, Santino Gonzales, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Gabriel Chaile, Unearthing Futures navigates the intersections of technological progress, societal change, and environmental stewardship. Each artwork invites reflection on a rapidly evolving world, encouraging viewers to consider the past, engage with the present, and imagine futures shaped by deeper connections to the land.

Situated within the striking landscapes of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado, Unearthing Futures extends beyond the Harwood Museum’s galleries, incorporating historic and contemporary earthen building sites throughout the region. These sites and their histories become integral to the exhibition, emphasizing the enduring interplay between art, architecture, and environment.

The legacy of adobe and earthen clay in the Southwest is deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions and enriched by successive cultural influences. From Pueblo communities to Spanish settlers, adobe architecture embodies resilience, adaptation, and collaboration. Unearthing Futures reflects on this legacy, challenging audiences to reconsider their relationship to the land and its materials while engaging with contemporary reinterpretations of these practices.

Image: Christine Howard Sandoval, Arch – A Passage Formed By A Curve, 2020, adobe mud and graphite on paper, 60 x 96 inches. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.

Bring the whole family to celebrate the opening of Unearthing Futures/Desenterrando Futuros, an exhibition of contemporary earthen artworks that explore local roots and global perspectives. The evening will feature live music, gallery talks, and interactive activities for all ages. Complete schedule to follow. This event is free. No reservations required.

Following the Opening, continue the celebration at our free After Party featuring DJ Sonny Goodnight. Dance under the stars in the Harwood Backyard from 8-10pm.

At its core, this exhibition highlights the transformative power of mud—a substance that bridges tradition and innovation, ecology and artistry. Through the work of rafa esparza, Christine Howard Sandoval, Ronald Rael, Santino Gonzales, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Gabriel Chaile, Unearthing Futures navigates the intersections of technological progress, societal change, and environmental stewardship. Each artwork invites reflection on a rapidly evolving world, encouraging viewers to consider the past, engage with the present, and imagine futures shaped by deeper connections to the land.

Situated within the striking landscapes of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado, Unearthing Futures extends beyond the Harwood Museum’s galleries, incorporating historic and contemporary earthen building sites throughout the region. These sites and their histories become integral to the exhibition, emphasizing the enduring interplay between art, architecture, and environment.

The legacy of adobe and earthen clay in the Southwest is deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions and enriched by successive cultural influences. From Pueblo communities to Spanish settlers, adobe architecture embodies resilience, adaptation, and collaboration. Unearthing Futures reflects on this legacy, challenging audiences to reconsider their relationship to the land and its materials while engaging with contemporary reinterpretations of these practices.

Image: Ronald Rael, ​Skylos​, 2022, 3D-printed adobe structures, Center, CO. Photo: Joshua Ware, 2023.

Harwood Museum of Art is excited to collaborate with Twirl to celebrate the joys and wonders of adobe in conjunction with the opening of Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros. At Twirl’s annual FREE, messy, marvelous Mud Day, families can engage with mud pools, sculpture, painting, sensory play, mud kitchens, and hands-on building. Come discover how something as simple as dirt and water can inspire imagination, connection, and art! This event is FREE for all ages and takes place at TWIRL.

10:00am-11:00am: Early Childhood Hour (ages 0-5)

11:00am-1:00pm: All Ages

Courtesy of Taos Land Trust, Twirl’s courtyard will become a muddy landscape of play, creativity, and exploration. Wear clothes you can get messy in and come celebrate the magic of mud. Photo: Courtesy of Twirl

Journey to the Fort Garland Museum and Historic Site to continue the celebrations for Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros. This FREE event features live music, artist interactions, food, and interactive activities for all ages.

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros explores adobe as a living practice that connects art, architecture, and ancestral knowledge across the Americas. From the high deserts of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico to the valleys of northern Argentina, earth, water, and fiber have long been shaped by hand and sustained through communal care. Adobe endures not through permanence but through renewal — its survival bound to the annual acts of maintenance, ceremony, and reciprocity that give it life.

Presented through a collaboration between the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center and Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico, Unearthing Futures extends beyond the gallery to encompass a network of historic and contemporary adobe structures across the Southwest. These include homes, churches, and community spaces that serve as living archives of memory, labor, and cultural continuity.

As we reflect on 150 years of statehood and 250 years of nationhood, Unearthing Futures offers visitors a timely opportunity to examine histories and cultural practices that predate state and national borders, while fostering meaningful dialogue about our shared future.

Complete schedule to follow. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP here.

Image: Courtesy Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center, History Colorado