Healing Wings Project

Recognizing the difficulty of being able to appropriately grieve during the pandemic, the Healing Wings Project is designed to provide the residents of our community the opportunity to acknowledge their loss and resilience through public art. Co-sponsored by the Agave Artists’ Gallery and the non-profit Potters’ Guild of Las Cruces, the project is a grassroots endeavor for and by members of our community. 

 Our two groups will be sponsoring community workshops where participants can create a personal ceramic “healing wing” to commemorate their loved one or other difficult experiences related to the pandemic. The handmade wings, representing letting go and moving forward, will be hung on the sculptural tree and become a permanent art piece in the Agave Artists’ Gallery courtyard.

 Located in this peaceful setting adjacent to the Agave Artists’ Gallery, are two permanent iron sculptures designed and created by local metal artist Josh Switzer. One emulates a tree trunk with branches reaching skyward. A companion piece holds a collection of “memory” boxes. Participants will be invited to use the memory boxes to place personal messages in honor of those lost. 

This project is volunteer-driven and depends on donations from the community to provide support and sustainability of the workshops. All members of the community are invited to participate in the wing making workshops. The workshops are free of charge and include all materials required to complete an individual’s personalized wings. All donations are tax deductible and donations of any size are welcome.