the project
Windows on the Future is a regional series of storefront art installations that ran through the end of August 2020 across Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos, New Mexico. The collaborative effort supported working artists with stipend payments and brought vibrancy and vitality to central and northern New Mexico’s commercial districts while still encouraging social distancing.
In early May 2020, the partnering organizations held an open call to artists, creatives, and art groups from within New Mexico to submit proposals for window showcase installations based on the theme “Windows on the Future.” Following a jury process to review the 200 submissions, 60 artists were selected – 20 installations per city. The winning installations took on a variety of topics and styles in their imaginings of the future, from environmental to social interactions, from realistic to fantastic scenes.
We hoped that visitors would explore our cities on art-treasure hunts, following the map to find exciting art in unexpected places. With more than 2000 map views, we believe we succeeded!
our partners
The Paseo Project’s mission is to transform art through community and community through art. In addition to collaborative community projects and a socially-engaged artist in residence program, The Paseo Project hosts the annual PASEO outdoor art festival in Historic Downtown Taos. Since 2014, artists from all over the world have brought projection, installation, and performance art to the streets of Taos for this free two-night event. Pending pandemic developments, the 2020 festival remains optimistically scheduled for September 18th & 19th.
516 ARTS is a non-collecting contemporary art museum that celebrates thought-provoking art in the here and now. They are committed to providing dynamic programs that bring diverse artists and audiences together to discuss, explore and learn about contemporary art and relevant issues of our day. Their programming seeks to inspire curiosity, risk-taking and creative experimentation.
our supporters
Falling Colors is a Santa Fe-based company providing innovative data collection & analysis solutions for publicly-funded behavioral health programs. The company's mission is to improve behavioral healthcare in New Mexico through advanced data management and treatment plan assessment. They are also a certified B Corp. and are deeply invested in the local community and in community projects.
Creative Santa Fe’s mission is to leverage Santa Fe’s unique sense of place, using collaboration and the power of the arts to reframe critical issues and drive positive change. In March 2019, Creative Santa Fe hosted The Future of Art: A Disruptive Futures Dialogue. Program audiences were asked the question “What are some new projects we can initiate now to support our arts community?” Attendees identified over 220 ideas in response – the majority addressing the need for more pop ups and art distribution across Santa Fe. Creative Santa Fe is excited to assist Vital Spaces as they addressed this need by helping procure sites for Windows on the Future.
Hennepin Theatre Trust advances the cultural and economic vitality of Minnesota through leadership of a dynamic arts district in downtown Minneapolis and educational programming that reaches every area of the state. Their historic theatres — Orpheum, State and Pantages — light up Hennepin Avenue with the best of Broadway and diverse, top-tier entertainment. Annually, the Trust serves more than 7,000 high school students statewide and brings nearly 600,000 people to the Hennepin Theatre District to experience art on the street and stage. Hennepin Theatre Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Joan Vorderbruggen, Director of Hennepin Theatre District Engagement, ran Made Here, a windows installation project in Minneapolis for many years. Her advice and shared resources were instrumental in this project coming together.
Thank yous
Thank you to the following businesses for hosting installations:
City of Santa Fe
Honeymoon Brewery
International Folk Art Market
Geisler Projects
Goler Fine Imported Shoes
La Fonda Hotel
New Mexico School for the Arts
Oasis Theatre Company
SITE Santa Fe
Thomas Properties
Zoomies Dog Daycare & Resort
Thank you to the following curators for advising Artists on their projects:
Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, MA. Assistant Professor in Art History, INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS
Alice Russotti, Curator, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC)
Annika Johnson, Joslyn Art Museum
Augustine Romero, Curator, South Broadway Cultural Center, KiMo Gallery
Bess Murphy, Curator, The Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts
Christian Waguespck, Curator of 20th Century Art, New Mexico Museum of Art
Christy Schoedinger Coleman, Executive Director, Taos Art Museum at Fechin House
Claude Smith, Exhibitions & Fulcrum Fund Manager, 516 ARTS
Craig Lee, Art Institute of Chicago
David Leigh
David van der Leer, DVDL DD
Davison Koenig, executive director/curator The Couse-Sharp Historic Site
Elena Ailes
Erica Cooke
Joanne Lefrak, SITE Santa Fe
Dr. Manuela Well-Off-Man, Chief Curator, IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Mary Anne Redding
Merry Scully, Head of Curatorial Affairs, Curator of Contemporary Art, New Mexico Museum of Art
Nicole Dial-Kay, Curator of Exhibitions + Collections, Harwood Museum of Art
Phil Taylor, The Museum of Modern Art
Tey Marianna Nunn, Director and Chief Curator, National Hispanic Cultural Center Art
Viviette Hunt, Richard Levy Gallery Director
Thank you to the following businesses and individuals for your work on the project:
Brandee Caoba
Cyndi Conn
David Grey
Joan Vorderbruggen, Director of Hennepin Theatre District Engagement
Joanne Lefrak
Justin Skillstad
Lauren Henriksen
Luke Carr
Melinda Frame of Frame+Work
Natalia Payne
Nina Koh
Sage Sommer
Shayla Blatchford of Shayla Blatchford Photography