“Where the Earth Meets the Sky”: Public Art Project by Karen Yank

In June 2023, Bernalillo County dedicated a brand-new sculpture by artist Karen Yank. Yank who was the recipient of the 2022 New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts, was selected after an extensive review of 22 proposals by the Sunport public art selection committee . Standing approximately 18 feet tall, Yank’s sculpture “Where the Earth Meets the Sky,” uses symbolism to represent the history, heritages and landscapes of the nearby community. “Karen not only met our project requests, but she also included local school kids to capture the spirit of the place they call home,” says Bernalillo County public arts coordinator Kent Swanson. The budget for the sculpture was $60,000 from the 1% for the Arts, from voter approved general obligation bonds.