"Unearthing Futures/Desenterrando Futuros" Opening Celebration

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.

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.