SANTA FE, May 3, 2022 — Members of the public and media are invited to join the City of Santa Fe Arts and Culture Department and City Councilors Signe Lindell and Renee Villarreal for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce a new sculpture at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 10 a.m.

The sculptural installation, "Steeling Shadows," is by youth artist Sophia Van Luchene, a junior at New Mexico School of the Arts. Ms. Van Luchene submitted her proposal for the sculpture to the City’s Arts & Culture Department through an open call for artists to apply for funding, and was selected and awarded $25,000 for the design, fabrication, and installation of the piece.

"After over a year of work, I was thrilled to see this work completed and to carve my name into the sculpture on its installation day," says Ms. Van Luchene. “I’m so happy that the city gave me a chance to learn the process of working with a team to turn a small model into a large sculpture.”

The project is part of Art In Public Places (AIPP), which sets aside 2% of the Capital Improvement Projects budget to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the city. Luchene is the youngest artist in th­e City’s Public Art Portfolio.

City of Santa Fe Arts Commissioner Anne Wrinkle says: "Public art is the representation of a community’s values and priorities. In Santa Fe, we aspire to represent the entire community by selecting artworks by artists who live and work here, and place them in locations that can be enjoyed by all. It is our pleasure, as members of the Arts Commission and the staff of the Arts and Culture Department, to identify, plan, and implement these public art projects and bring them to you to enjoy.”

“Steeling Shadows” Sculpture Ribbon-Cutting