"Unearthing Futures/Desenterrando Futuros" Artist Panel

Join artists featured in Unearthing Futures/Desenterrando Futuros  for an intimate conversation moderated by critic Raquel Gutiérrez. This program will be conducted in a fluid mixture of English and Spanish. Thanks to TrueKids1 for supporting the livestream.

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.

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros is made possible by the generous support of Henry Luce Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art, Betty T.  Foster Endowment Fund, VIA Art Fund, Taos County Lodger’s Tax, The Sherman and Joyce Scott Family Foundation, 203 Fine Art, Sheree Livney + Steve Hanks, Richard B. Siegel Foundation, Marcy Rumsfeld + Santiago Vaca, Janara Bornstein, Main Street Cultural Event Fund, Janet Holmberg + Shawn Berman, Dora + Carl Dillistone, Judith Cuddihy, Happy Price, Romy + Carl Colonius. 

In Kind Donations: CU Boulder Computer Science Department, Enchanted Outpost, Goat Tree Orchard, Mary Domito, Chuby Construction, Juniper Leherissey, Linda + Bob Warning, Janet Holmberg + Shawn Berman, Stephanie + Scott Salmon, Vanessa + Ted Dimond, Lisa + David von Gunten, Embudo Valley Vineyards, Sheree Livney + Steve Hanks, Janet + John Mockovciak, The Cellar, Ron Cooper – Del Maguey Founder, Rolling Still Distillery. 

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.