Jardin de Mesquite Mural
Directing artist Ken Wolverton and a team of Court Youth Center artists (contracted by a committee composed of Las Esperanzas members) produced the Jardin de Mesquite mural, in honor of the historic Las Cruces neighborhood. Eight vibrant colored ceramic tile panels, measuring six by eight feet, are spaced along a one-hundred-twenty-two by eight foot wall. At night the panels are brightly lit from above. Each panel pays tribute to a unique period in the history of the mesquite district of Las Cruces.
The first panel, from left to right, pays tribute to the indigenous people of the area, the Piro-Manso Tiwa. It features images of the Piro-Manso Tiwa among the Organ Mountains and a traditional adobe and branch house.
The second Panel tributes the founders of the original town-site of Las Cruces, including Don Pablo Melendres, the mayor who commissioned Lt. Bennet Sakkett to lay out the original eighty-four blocks. It features images honoring agriculture's role in supporting the town-site.
The third panel tributes St. Genevieve Catholic Church. The saint is depicted in the clouds above the image of the church.
The fourth panel tributes the friendship between the mesquite town people, their businesses and the western culture of farming and ranching people.
The fifth panel tributes Loretto Academy.
The sixth panel tributes the considerable ethnic and cultural diversity of the town's residents which included Hispanic, Euroamerican, Native American, African American, and Jewish peoples.
The seventh panel tributes the lively 1950's atmosphere of the downtown center that was filled with unique shops and activity.
The eighth panel tributes the town site's resilience in the midst of revitalization that destroyed many of the historical buildings of the area.
In addition to the visual appeal of the mural and a large archway, the site serves as a pleasant rest area, featuring decorative fountains, a running stream, and shaded benches. A city park located directly across the street provides a place for recreation. Many of the sites portrayed by the mural panels, including St. Genevieve's Church, are located in close proximity.
The site is easily accessible by drive. It can be found exactly at the corner of Spruce Ave. and North Tornillo St. and Parking is available at the park area located on the opposite side of Spruce.
Entry researched, written, photographed and filmed by Spencer Taylor, Graduate Student, New Mexico Sate University, 2013
