Art Stop program highlights local artists

Bus riders across Las Cruces will soon encounter colorful artwork while waiting at city bus shelters.  

Local artists gathered March 12 at Amador Live to celebrate the latest installment of the city’s Art Stop program, a partnership between the City of Las Cruces Public Art Program and Roadrunner Transit. The program features artwork displayed along transit routes, allowing residents to experience local art as a part of their daily routines.  

Ceci Vasconcellos, public art coordinator for the city, said the initiative was developed by the City Art Board as a way to expand access to art across Las Cruces. 

“The City Art Board wanted to make art accessible to the community, especially for people who may not have the opportunity to visit museums,” Vasconcellos said.  

By placing artwork in bus shelters, the program brings public art into neighborhoods that may not typically have it. Many of the artists said their work was inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of southern New Mexico.  

Andrew Williams, a photographer and graduate instructor at New Mexico State University, contributed a piece featuring a chihuahua sitting in the window of a pickup truck during a hot summer day. 

“It makes me feel like I’m in the right place — a city that respects artists and wants to build an artist community,” Williams said.  

Artist Alma Phillips focused her piece of desert wildlife commonly found in southern New Mexico. 

“When I saw the prompt, the first thing I thought of was animals in the desert,” Phillips said. 

Several artists explored how daily life in the region is shaped by the surrounding environment. Carolina Cárdenas said participating in the program allowed her to share her perspective with a wider audience. 

“It really means a lot to be able to connect with the people of Las Cruces through my art,” Cárdenas said. “Public art shows that people care and want to make the community more creative.” 

Artist Cynthia Mendoza created a scene featuring a roadrunner riding a bus with the Organ Mountains in the background. 

“I just want my work to make people happy — maybe put a smile on someone’s face,” she said.  

For some artists, participating in the program also helped them build connections within the local arts community. 

Reverend JeKaren Bell, whose artwork features hummingbirds, said sharing her work publicly helped her feel welcomed in Las Cruces, as she recently moved here from Georgia a year ago. 

“Being able to have a piece of artwork displayed helps you build relationships and community,” she said. 

Bell said the collaborative spirit of the city’s arts community was reflected in the artwork displayed through the program. 

“Las Cruces is like a collage of many different things that come together to create a beautiful picture,” she said.