Jeanette Baca:

“I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I lived the first 25 years of my life in the South Valley, I have lived in the Southwest Mesa for 43 years only a few blocks away from Central Ave. I have worked in the community for 25+ years as an organizer and an activist working on the Ted Gallegos community center (previously Alamosa CC). I have only started using acrylics in recent years, being able to express myself through painting drawing inspiration from the sights and sounds of West Central.”

Tony Barros:“I spent my first few years being raised in the San Jose area in the City of Albuquerque. My family moved to West Central when I was just a child, in the early sixties. I went to John Adams Middle School and then to West Mesa High School. I have been interested in art since I was about fifteen years old. I taught myself woodworking and carpentry. I have been doing wood craft and carving for over 50 years.”

Tony Barros:

“I spent my first few years being raised in the San Jose area in the City of Albuquerque. My family moved to West Central when I was just a child, in the early sixties. I went to John Adams Middle School and then to West Mesa High School. I have been interested in art since I was about fifteen years old. I taught myself woodworking and carpentry. I have been doing wood craft and carving for over 50 years.”

Raberta Begaye:“I come from a family of medicine people, and I weave paintings. I was born and raised on the Navajo Nation and am a descendant of medicine people and traditional rug weavers. I had a desire to be of service, so I completed EMS training. Since 2003 I have been employed as a firefighter with Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Department. I am a self taught artist thinking of my work as only doodling. I became more serious, my spirit began to reveal itself, and I began to listen. This wasn’t just doodling.”

Raberta Begaye:

“I come from a family of medicine people, and I weave paintings. I was born and raised on the Navajo Nation and am a descendant of medicine people and traditional rug weavers. I had a desire to be of service, so I completed EMS training. Since 2003 I have been employed as a firefighter with Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Department. I am a self taught artist thinking of my work as only doodling. I became more serious, my spirit began to reveal itself, and I began to listen. This wasn’t just doodling.”

Lindsay Brenner:“I’ve been an Albuquerque resident since 2010. I love the West Central area. It has a lot of character and seems to be an influential and important part of Albuquerque’s original beginnings. It is definitely an area to be celebrated in this town.”

Lindsay Brenner:

“I’ve been an Albuquerque resident since 2010. I love the West Central area. It has a lot of character and seems to be an influential and important part of Albuquerque’s original beginnings. It is definitely an area to be celebrated in this town.”

Ginnie Brown:“I specialize in a variety of paintings; mostly landscapes, old New Mexican mission churches and New Mexican structures. I have been paintings since 1959. I’m originally from Quincy, Illinois where I participated in local art shows. I moved to Albuquerque in 1974, and was chosen to illustrate three children’s school workbooks. I have published a calendar featuring New Mexico churches for the past nine years. There is a rich history here of old New Mexico, unfortunately it is disappearing. This is a chance to revitalize the new but not forget the old.”

Ginnie Brown:

“I specialize in a variety of paintings; mostly landscapes, old New Mexican mission churches and New Mexican structures. I have been paintings since 1959. I’m originally from Quincy, Illinois where I participated in local art shows. I moved to Albuquerque in 1974, and was chosen to illustrate three children’s school workbooks. I have published a calendar featuring New Mexico churches for the past nine years. There is a rich history here of old New Mexico, unfortunately it is disappearing. This is a chance to revitalize the new but not forget the old.”

James Calvert:

“My work is a tool for healing my PTSD, I am a Native American Veteran. I am continually influenced by my culture, history, and traditions. I am currently residing in the West Central area and I love the semi-rural semi-urban feel of this community that is thriving on West Central.”

Adan Carriaga:

“I grew up in the Old Town community where multiple generations of my family have lived. I was 9 years old when I carved my first image, my father had just passed away and I wanted to get a bike but my mother couldn’t afford it. So, I began selling my carvings in old town and made enough money to buy a bike. I met some Santeros who taught me the traditional ways of carving wood. As an adult, I started the ‘Escuelita de Santo Niño de Atocha’ in the casita behind my house. Everything revolved around Central Ave.”

Kathleen Coucke:“This piece is about a weaving together of old and new traditions, done by painting traditional textile designs that blend and weave together. My work centers textiles and domestic objects, since these are some of the foundational elements that create the feeling of home and comfort. A metaphor of weaving ties the weaving of cultures, families, past and present together.”

Kathleen Coucke:

“This piece is about a weaving together of old and new traditions, done by painting traditional textile designs that blend and weave together. My work centers textiles and domestic objects, since these are some of the foundational elements that create the feeling of home and comfort. A metaphor of weaving ties the weaving of cultures, families, past and present together.”

Cassidy Gallegos:“West Central has a very special place in my heart. It’s where I spent most of my weekends growing up. It seemed like such a big city with such big opportunities, while still keeping tradition and familiarity alive. These portraits are a celebration. They are a celebration of Chicano culture, and of individuals who have worked hard to ensure not only the preservation of that culture, but a step forward in society. Our cultural history in New Mexico is incredibly rich, and knowledge of this culture must be passed on and appreciated for continuation throughout younger generations.”

Cassidy Gallegos:

“West Central has a very special place in my heart. It’s where I spent most of my weekends growing up. It seemed like such a big city with such big opportunities, while still keeping tradition and familiarity alive. These portraits are a celebration. They are a celebration of Chicano culture, and of individuals who have worked hard to ensure not only the preservation of that culture, but a step forward in society. Our cultural history in New Mexico is incredibly rich, and knowledge of this culture must be passed on and appreciated for continuation throughout younger generations.”

Cassidy Gallegos:Mexican American Civil Rights

Cassidy Gallegos:

Mexican American Civil Rights

Joe Stacey:“I am a local Laguna/Hopi artist and community organizer. A graduate of UNM, I have created a few murals here within the City of Albuquerque. I continue to create and organize. My ancestral relatives were once inhabitants of the Atrisco/Rio Grande area. I continue to gather medicinal herbs and take a cruise down Central Ave. on a cool Sunday night.”

Joe Stacey:

“I am a local Laguna/Hopi artist and community organizer. A graduate of UNM, I have created a few murals here within the City of Albuquerque. I continue to create and organize. My ancestral relatives were once inhabitants of the Atrisco/Rio Grande area. I continue to gather medicinal herbs and take a cruise down Central Ave. on a cool Sunday night.”

Anthony Temer:

“I grew up in Barelas and really enjoy taking pictures of the area, West Central, Rt. 66 heading west. I call myself an amateur photographer. People can look but do they really see? Scenic views are my favorite to photograph. I grew up along the old Rt. 66. We would play around “the shops” now known as the railyards. The Westside is one of my favorite places to go, it always draws me West”

Diego Trujillo:“I grew up one the Westside of Albuquerque during the 1980’s, and I am currently a homeowner in the area. A lot of the ideas I use in my art come from memories and time that I have spent on West Central, the views from Pat Hurley Park, Downtown Albuquerque, and the San Felipe church, passing Rio Grande Blvd, our wildlife, religious beliefs , and our state flag. I try to take bits and pieces of everything and create something you can feel and enjoy looking at.”

Diego Trujillo:

“I grew up one the Westside of Albuquerque during the 1980’s, and I am currently a homeowner in the area. A lot of the ideas I use in my art come from memories and time that I have spent on West Central, the views from Pat Hurley Park, Downtown Albuquerque, and the San Felipe church, passing Rio Grande Blvd, our wildlife, religious beliefs , and our state flag. I try to take bits and pieces of everything and create something you can feel and enjoy looking at.”

Jasmine Vigil:

“My philosophy on art is that we create art to express our own personal experiences, thoughts, ideas, fantasies, and visionary memories that allow us to be diverse in our creativity. When I create art, I incorporate a multitude of aspects, including my multi-cultural background. I was raised in Dulce on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation which is in Northern New Mexico. This painting ‘Atrisco’s Beginning’ represents the westside and the imagery that I feel is apart of its history.”

Rey Trujillo:“I grew up in the West Central Area, I am both Navajo and Chicano. I have been doing art since I was a child. When I was younger I had the opportunity to work with youth at YDI. Although the times have changed, I have fond memories of cruising San Gabriel Park, West Central, and Downtown Albuquerque. This painting is dedicated to Ted, a co-founder of the of the La Familia Car Club. The car in the painting is the car that Ted was working on before he passed away.”

Rey Trujillo:

“I grew up in the West Central Area, I am both Navajo and Chicano. I have been doing art since I was a child. When I was younger I had the opportunity to work with youth at YDI. Although the times have changed, I have fond memories of cruising San Gabriel Park, West Central, and Downtown Albuquerque. This painting is dedicated to Ted, a co-founder of the of the La Familia Car Club. The car in the painting is the car that Ted was working on before he passed away.”

Sean Wells y Delgado:“I am an award-winning 5th generation Spanish Colonial artist, promoting the traditional arts through my television show, New Mexican Santera. I show annually at the prestigious traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe, NM. I aspire to bring an appreciation for the Hispanic traditions and cultures of Northern New Mexico to a broader audience. I live in the West Central area with my family. I love celebrating the Hispanic cultures and the stories of the region in my imagery.”

Sean Wells y Delgado:

“I am an award-winning 5th generation Spanish Colonial artist, promoting the traditional arts through my television show, New Mexican Santera. I show annually at the prestigious traditional Spanish Market in Santa Fe, NM. I aspire to bring an appreciation for the Hispanic traditions and cultures of Northern New Mexico to a broader audience. I live in the West Central area with my family. I love celebrating the Hispanic cultures and the stories of the region in my imagery.”