Santa Fe County has chosen a new public art installation for the lobby of its Administrative Complex at 240 Grant. The selected piece, “Vestigios de los Caminos / Vestiges of the Roads,” is by local sculptor William M. Clift.
The project aims to honor Santa Fe’s history and cultural diversity, referencing significant routes such as the Old Spanish Trail, Camino Real, and the Santa Fe Trail. The installation will feature two sculptural forms suspended above the building’s atrium. The lower form will be made from tinted acrylic sheets to represent the Rio Grande Pueblo Trail, while the upper form—symbolizing El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro—will use laminated wood, carbon fiber, and epoxy with a hand-applied clay slip finish.
Robert Lambert, Project Manager II for Santa Fe County’s Public Works Department, commented on the selection: “Each of the three final art proposals would have been wonderful selections! I’m excited that (of the three options) the most modern, minimal, and visually uncomplicated proposal was selected for the space. I think it will complement the building’s design while contrasting the square edges of the interior with rounded, organic forms.”
A committee made up of county staff members Hvtce Miller, Kimberly Vigil, and Victor Vigil; project architect Parker Sprague from Studio Southwest Architects; and Meredith Doborski from New Mexico Arts led the selection process. Two other finalists were Paula Castillo’s “Crossroads of Culture” and Matthew Ellis’ “Canopy Colcha.”
When notified about his selection, Clift said: “I’m thrilled and so grateful for the opportunity to take this idea from concept to reality, to create and share this sculptural interpretation of a piece of New Mexico’s rich history with my neighbors. Also, I was born and raised in Santa Fe County, and I bring my kids to the County Administrative Complex every time I vote, so having a work of mine there will be very personally meaningful.”
More information about Will Clift can be found on his website at https://willclift.com/about-all/.
Fabrication is scheduled to begin later this year. Residents are invited to visit once installation is complete to view an artwork that reflects New Mexico’s historic pathways in a contemporary setting.
