Who are we and what do we do?
The Murals of Las Cruces (MoLC) Project is a community-based initiative that brings artists, scholars, and the public together to document and preserve murals in the greater Las Cruces area. Our work has entailed the documentation of public murals in our city via photographs and written descriptions, compiling a database of the information, creating tour guides, and hosting public events. We have been active since May of 2015, after the project originated in a Public History Seminar at New Mexico State University.
Why do we do it? And how can you join us?
Because murals tend to be ephemeral, we see our work as an important way of preserving public art. We have also discovered that through its public murals, Las Cruces claims a distinct artistic style (different than El Paso, Albuquerque, or Santa Fe, for example) highlighted by unique homages to agricultural life in the Mesilla Valley, environmental awareness, and vibrant indigenous and Hispanic street art. We are interested in starting dialogues with members of the community about these topics, and inviting the public to help us continue preserving and interpreting our culture.