ID Park Art Team

Since moving to Albuquerque in 1996, I have lived on the outskirts of the International District and have come to deeply appreciate the area’s diverse, global ambiance. I especially enjoy shopping at Talin Market, where I can find Caribbean ingredients that I need for my Jamaican American family. (I am a white woman originally from Wisconsin and my late husband was from Jamaica.) My eldest son chose to attend Highland High School, where he felt he could blend in and be part of an inclusive community. He received a strong education there and found the social experience rewarding.

The International District’s inclusive atmosphere played a significant role in my family’s life, particularly for my eldest son. His decision to attend Highland High School stemmed from a desire to be part of a diverse and welcoming community. This choice proved beneficial, as he received a quality education while enjoying a rewarding social experience that embraced the area’s multicultural character. 

In the International District, I’ve collaborated with young students to inspire community engagement through art. At Emerson Elementary School, I partnered with students on a mural for Kindness Club International, where I contributed a 25-foot section featuring floral motifs that symbolize growth, kindness, and unity. At Van Buren Middle School, I mentored students in Warehouse 508’s after-school program, leading the creation of three large-scale murals. This hands-on project allowed students to express themselves artistically while learning valuable technical skills and understanding the impact of public art on their community.

My commitment to community-based art extends beyond the International District through partnerships with other local schools and organizations. I also mentored students from the Media Arts Charter School on a 6×48-foot mural for St. John’s Thrift Store, allowing them to select core motifs that I incorporated into the design. Guiding them through each stage, I watched them gain confidence and skill in large-scale mural work.

My name is Samuel Sisneros, I’m an artist born and raised here in Albuquerque. I have an undergraduate Art degree from UNM, and
currently rent a studio downtown. For the past 8 years I’ve worked with youth in different capacities, with 5 of these years at Newday
Youth and Family Services, which provides services in the ID. As a Transitional Living Coordinator I supported youth through the
challenges of living in the ID, and as a Street Outreach Coordinator I attempted an even more challenging feat of finding and
supporting youth who were experiencing homelessness in the ID.

Through this work I was also able to support community efforts
such as the weekly needle exchange organized by Healthcare for the Homeless, pop-ups benefiting women with Streetwise,
volunteer with God’s Warehouse and other organizations, and even organize our own BBQ’s at Phil Chacon park.

I am a full time self-employed project-based artist. I work in a variety of mediums including design, sculpture, photography, drawing,
and mixed media. I employ organic materials and architectural elements to frame space and shape how we engage with light, sense
of place, the natural world and community. The themes of transformation and sanctuary are integral to my work. I lived in Albuquerque’s international district 2006 until 2017 when I moved to Sandia Park (in Bernalillo County). I have produced numerous public art projects in Albuquerque, and have received multiple large-scale commissions throughout the United States.

As a queer, community-engaged, interdisciplinary artist with a site-responsive practice, I cherish opportunities to work in different
contexts and with different communities to explore questions about sanctuary and public art. I am interested in how nature and the
built environment can influence our perceptions of and experiences with shelter and sanctuary.