The Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA), a nonprofit, is teaming up with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rio Puerco Field Office to enhance the El Malpais National Conservation Area through the El Malpais Community Arts Initiative. The BLM, on its official website, notes they have “invited artists from El Malpais’ surrounding areas to participate in a unique collaboration: to create a narrative connection between art and land stewardship, history, culture, and land conservation.”
El Malpais, known for its dramatic volcanic fields and sandstone formations, has long attracted visitors. Now, at the newly revamped El Malpais BLM Ranger Station, 9 miles south on Highway 117 near Grants, New Mexico, explorers will be greeted with sculptures, murals, and other art installations crafted by local artists. These pieces, encapsulating the “history, culture, art, and landscape of El Malpais,” enrich the visitor experience in this striking landscape that has been a magnet for centuries.
The El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA), encompassing the Zuni-Bandera volcanic region, showcases stunning sandstone escarpments, canyons, and gorges, including the La Ventana Natural Arch. Attractions like the Chain of Craters Back Country Byway and Joe Skeen Campground, offering 10 free, no-reservation camping spots, enhance the area. Visitors can also explore the Narrows Picnic Area, and the Cebolla and West Malpais Wilderness Zones. An entry point to the Continental Divide Trail is accessible within the NCA, allowing for a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, and nature study in this diverse and unique landscape.
The Public Lands Interpretive Association is a nonprofit dedicated to enlightening and motivating visitors to America’s public territories.
Located at 6501 4th Street Northwest, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM, 87107
Story sponsored by Public Lands Interpretive Association PLIA
This region’s history extends far beyond the arrival of Spanish explorers, as Indigenous communities have been present for over 10,000 years, utilizing the area’s rich resources of plants, animals, and minerals. The BLM website explains, “More than mere artifacts, these cultural resources are kept alive by the spiritual and physical presence of contemporary Native American groups, including the Ramah Navajo and Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni. These tribes continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais including gathering plant materials, paying respect, and renewing ties.”
Artists Needed
PLIA frequently initiates calls for art submissions from creators residing near the El Malpais National Conservation Area. The art should emphasize the natural allure of El Malpais and its adjacent regions. Artists can check for upcoming submission deadlines here..
Each year, the El Malpais Community Art Program creates multiple opportunities for local artists to showcase their artwork for public appreciation. In August 2023, an event was organized featuring creations from three artists, with a focus on themes related to environmental care and protection. This exhibition was hosted at the BLM ranger station for the El Malpais NCA.
Regularly throughout the year, PLIA will issue invitations for artists to propose ideas for new artworks. Artists with selected proposals will be granted a stipend to produce their artwork, which will subsequently be installed permanently at the ranger station.
This project represents a novel approach to engaging with neighboring Indigenous communities, recognizing the area’s historical and cultural significance, and fostering stronger connections with local residents. It simultaneously enhances the visitor experience, enabling a deeper comprehension of the distinctive landscape through the mediums of art and visual storytelling.
Each cycle of artist exhibitions includes a special unveiling event. Here, the artists will discuss their works, offering attendees the opportunity to meet them and appreciate their creations. Following these interactions, visitors are encouraged to explore the El Malpais National Conservation Area, further enriching their understanding of the region.
About El Malpais National Conservation Area
Established in 1987, the El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) is dedicated to preserving a diverse range of significant resources around the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field. These resources include geological, archaeological, ecological, cultural, scenic, scientific, and wilderness elements. The name “El Malpais” translates from Spanish as “the badlands,” reflecting the area’s unique landscape.
Normal operating hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Ranger Station is located 9 miles south of I-40 Exit 89 (Quemado) on NM Highway-117.
Learn more about the El Malpais National Conservation Area here.
About the Public Lands Interpretive Association
The Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) is a 501 c(3) nonprofit that supports public lands in Arizona and New Mexico through education and service.
PLIA collaborates with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to create and distribute educational materials, products, and maps at visitor center shops and offices. It also manages campgrounds in the Kaibab National Forest and offers visitor assistance at the Public Lands Information Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Images courtesy PLIA.
