Woman in a straw hat painting on a building window

The Art of Cheer-Ventanas Vivas is Back for a Second Year

The Art of Cheer

For the second year in a row the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership will be hosting the holiday art installation “Ventanas Vivas”. 

Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10 local artists collaborated with local businesses to create window murals in celebration of the holidays for completion Friday, Nov. 27.  for the community to experience a safe and positive holiday experience.

“This year, we all need extra holiday cheer and a feeling of connection to our community, and this project strives to achieve both objectives,” said Susan Greenwald, Community Coordinator of DLCP.

There are 13 participating artists and 23 businesses uniting for holiday spirit and competition. First, second and third places will win prizes, downtown gift cards! A panel from the Arts and Cultural District Coordinating Committee will begin judging the decorated business windows Saturday, Nov. 28, in conjunction with National Small Business Saturday. This initiative encourages supporting and highlighting local Las Cruces businesses. “We want to bring attention the businesses as well as the artists,” said Greenwald.

The Local Artists and the Living Windows

Paired with Desert Peaks Architects is artist Rosemary McKeown who will be painting four mariachi snowmen and a gingerbread house.
“It’s an architectural firm so I thought the gingerbread house was appropriate,” said McKeown. “

Other participating artists include: Domenic Altamirano, SABA, Anthony Tarazoff, Gabriele Teich, Preciliana Sandoval, Niko Darko Radtke, Coy Lowther, Julian R. Medran Hunting, Noel Sandino, Lorenzo Zepeda, and Alyssa Trujillo.

Artist Coy Lowther will be painting Beck’s and plans to conceptualize the comfort of our local locations. “Shops like hers [Beck’s] and small businesses around town really make up the heart of Las Cruces, without places like theirs we’d loose so much. I just wanted to accent her ambiance with love and warmth in the desert as winter sets in,” said Lowther.

A Bite of Belgium will feature a “Christmas in New Mexico” landscape from artist Domenic Altamirano. “To me Ventanas Vivas is a window mural painting contest providing job opportunities for local homegrown artists, allowing us to spread the love,” said Domenic Altamirano.

Artist Noel Sandino will be painting the historic downtown Rio Grande Theatre and, suitable to location, her concept will be an audience viewing performing carolers. 

Several other artists and businesses will be contributing to the artistic event. Greenwald said the community can expect, “A beautiful, vibrant, temporary art installation which showcases a wide array of artists and artistic styles while bringing attention to our small local businesses downtown.”

Following current health restrictions and Governor Grisham’s state restrictions, the DLCP installation provides a drivable holiday activity for families and the community. This downtown event has been one of the most requested and asked about community projects of the year according to Greenwald of DLCP. Check out downtown Las Cruces businesses to feel holiday inspiration from local artists. For a list of all participating businesses see a list below.

DLCP plans to continue the cheer by lighting all along Main Street instead of having the large tree in the plaza. Stay safe this holiday season, support our local downtown, and follow DLCP for more community experiences.

List of additional participating businesses: