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Spring 2001 Bulletin
River Rocks Make a Big Splash at the Roundhouse
Albuquerque Projects Director
Cynthia Gomez,
Upon arrival at the Roundhouse, eight students, soon to be Pages, were escorted to the House and later the Senate floors where they were introduced and applauded by Representative Mimi Stewart and Senator Kent Cravens. From the Gallery, the remaining students, plus parents and teachers, observed classmates playing their part in the Legislative process. Joe Martinez, coordinator of the River Day Exhibits and noon time celebration, sprung for a pizza, feeding thirty-eight students, teachers and parents, as well as River Day exhibitors. Musician Lenore Armijo's river ballads enchanted visitors into the Rotunda to meet with Alliance for the Río Grande Heritage members and learn from river and watershed displays of the Rio Grande basin. Just before a select Kennedy student read the River Day Proclamation, ninety-eight painted river rocks were unveiled in the Rotunda, and numerous visitors, pages, volunteers, and Legislators were drawn to a brilliant display of river representations. And, if one listened carefully, a group of elderly visitors could be heard telling of how they collected river rocks in their own day, sharing river memories and stories. The Albuquerque Journal and Legislators used the river rocks as a photo opportunity and professional photographers snapped shots of the brilliant colors and personal images layered on the naturally smoothed surface of the rocks. The podium was open for guests speakers including: Steve Harris, Chair of the Alliance for the Rio Grande Heritage; Wilfred Gutierrez, Chairman of the NM Acequia Commission; Senator Carlos Cisneros, Chair of the Conservation Committee; Representative Pauline Gubbels, Member of the Agriculture and Water Resources/Water and Natural Resources Committees; and Senator Dédé Feldman, Member of Water and Natural Resources/Land Use Committees. A strong message throughout the presentation was the importance of protecting the Río Grande and building a river stewardship ethic for generations to come. At the end, speakers were invited by students to select a signature river rock. In the afternoon the painted river rocks were presented to several Legislative committees, including Agriculture and Water Resources, Conservation, and Energy & Natural Resources. Attached to each river rock was a card with the messag, "Help Us Save Our River," presented by Kennedy Middle School Art Students and the Alliance for the Rio Grande Heritage. Thanks to all those who contributed to a successful event!
Ninety-eight painted river rocks were a hit at the February 20, 2001 River Day at the Roundhouse. The intent was to strengthen the awareness of policy makers about the Rio Grande and its tributaries. The simple yet essential ingredients were river rocks and young artists. Without hesitation, Steve Harris had delivered a bucket of Pilar river rocks and after three conversations with APS Art and Spanish Teacher, Gloria Hurtado, of Kennedy Middle School, an agreement was reached. In exchange for my speaking with her students about oral traditions and story telling, she would turn painting ninety-eight river rocks into a class project. While students did research about the river and river images, they also decided to learn about the politics surrounding water in New Mexico by participating in the River Day at the Roundhouse. Teachers, parents and
students pulled resources together to rent a bus and Amigos Bravos coordinated with the House and Senate Legislators to open their doors to their constituents, thus unfolding a learning experience for us all.
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