Signs of the Times

Created 2014, currently on view

LOCATION: 1st Street between Central and Gold

Led by Albuquerque artist Larry Bob Phillips, Signs of Life is a collaborative group of artists from Central New Mexico Community College that harnesses the vernacular of the traditional sign painting to investigate meanings and spaces within the urban sphere. Sign painting has experienced a major resurgence in the last decade and its aesthetics and techniques are being taught to an increasingly receptive audience of young people looking to reconnect with the lost art form while creating unique, alternative and sustainable solutions to the mass-produced marketing and design. As a means of paying homage to the skilled artists and wordsmiths who helped develop signage for area businesses throughout he last half century, Signs of Life has created a mural that explores the identity of Downtown Albuquerque, using historical narratives and contemporary culture to resonate with a refreshingly poetic optimism. The themes and content about Downtown Albuquerque are informed by the group’s research in contemporary culture as well as historic and prehistoric Albuquerque for iconography that tells the complex and layered story of who we are.

Lead Artist: 
Larry Bob Phillips



Apprentices:
 Kimberly Crawford, Patricia Del Rio Jaen, Karina Guzzi, Rylea Karcher, Larry John Leija, Jacob Perea and 
Bridgett Taylor. Signs of the Times was conceived as part of the Heart of the City project (February-May 2014), which focused on visions for the urban environment and growing the creative core of our city and included a gallery exhibition at 516 ARTS.

Special thanks to Albuquerque Public Art, Central New Mexico Community College and the Historic District Improvement Company.