Artist Bio
Merging painting, sculpture, ceramics and engineering, six diverse artists have come together to create a site specific sculpture for Art Prize 2010. All six artists currently reside in southern New Mexico. Janice and Bill Cook are artists who own the Potteries, a working ceramics studio in Mesilla, NM. Janice Cook has been a studio potter for 30 years, working primarily in porcelain for the last decade. A potter, Bill Cook is also an Exhibits Fabricator at the NM Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. Jeanne Rundell shares the studio with the Cook's, creating contemporary paintings and sculptural works. Corey Asbill is an electrical engineer who specializes in photovoltaic research at New Mexico State University, who brings a "green" sensibility to the project. Also connected to NMSU, Jim Billings is a Resident Scenic Lighting Designer and instructor. Cassandra Lockwood, originally from Grand Rapids, is a painter, fiber artist and historian. Together, they are the Desert Fish Collaborative.

Sturgeon Soirée
Art form: 3-D
Medium: Temporarary Installation
Year created: Work not created yet
Description of work: Our concept is to create an installation honoring the annual fish run within the parameters of the Fish Ladder. We propose a stable yet kinetic installation using motion powered by solar photovoltaic energy. Ceramic fish will take the form of lake sturgeon, mimicking a seasonal run. Additional materials would consist of a steel armature and other structural components. The installation would anchor over the grid walls of the site, as not to cause any structural damage to the ladder. The entire art piece will appear to undulate in the form of a metal river attached to the grid walls. We may also employ several large cloth color fields that would mimic the essence of water. These components, including the steel infrastructure would be visible on both the interior and exterior of the Fish Ladder. Our installation would not interfere with the pedestrian paths or fish run below.

We have the initial approval of the DNR, Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation and artist, Joseph Kinnebrew.