This story was originally published by Cloudcroft Reader, a New Mexico-based online publication, on October 22, 2024. You can find and subscribe to Cloudcroft Reader here.
Historic rainfall in Roswell, New Mexico, caused a massive flash flood that lasted through the night on Saturday, October 19, until the next morning. Sadly, the waters claimed two lives, forced hundreds of rescues, and caused damage across the city of Roswell and surrounding areas.
Roswell is known for its vibrant arts scene, with several museums and cultural centers. Unfortunately, the Roswell Museum and Art Center sustained severe damage due to flooding.
Flooding at Bone Springs Art Space
Local artist Miranda Howe, who owns and operates Bone Springs Art Space, announced on social media: “The river completely ran through the [Roswell Museum and Art Center] galleries, ruining artwork, archives, [and] the planetarium. It’s devastating. I’m still dumbfounded that such a torrent could rage through our High Desert community.”
Roswell Museum and Art Center flood damage. Image courtesy of the Roswell Museum and Art Center
The Roswell Museum and Art Center, built in 1935 and one of four WPA-era museums still in operation, is closed until further notice. Volunteers quickly secured the building from a second storm surge and began to remove debris from the exterior of the building. The Roswell Museum and Art Center Facebook page shared the following statement:
“Assessment continues of the 51,000-square-foot facility, which includes twelve gallery spaces, a planetarium, classrooms, auditorium and ceramics studio. Recovery will be a multi-year process. The Conservation Center of Chicago, a disaster relief conservation laboratory is working with museum staff to assess damage and begin efforts to stabilize art and artifacts.”
Roswell Museum and Art Center flood damage. Image courtesy of the Roswell Museum and Art Center
The statement also noted that multiple state officials have toured the museum, including Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez and Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Additionally, museum professionals from the Museum of International Folk Art and the New Mexico History Museum have been onsite to assist Roswell Museum staff since Wednesday, October 23. Homeland Security and FEMA representatives also toured the facility, and have provided staff and other national-level resources, including specialists from the Smithsonian. The museum has indicated that some items needing specialized treatments include “the Robert H. Goddard Rocketry Collection and the Rogers and Mary Ellen Aston Collection of the American West, with artifacts dating back to the Spanish Colonial Period, along with adobe walls that make up the original 1937 museum building.”
The National Guard is assessing Roswell area damages, and Chaves County Health Services representative Kerry Moore says, “What the city just put out at their meeting just a few minutes ago is we are a 500-year flood, not a 100-year flood, so it’s been a little bit longer than what they’re anticipating. They also, they’re looking at $500 million in damages, and that is city services as well as private services.”
Bone Springs Art Space basement
Ms. Howe also gave an update on several other Roswell art spaces, including her own, saying, “Bone Springs Art Space turned into a lake with its own swimming hole on Saturday, but thankfully only a couple inches flooded into the basement where I have my classes. Dad and I got it all pumped out, and now it’s just mopping and cleaning, but no real damage as far as I can tell.”
According to Ms. Howe, the Anderson Museum, home to the world-renowned RAiR (Roswell Artist-in-Residence) program, was “thankfully untouched.” Ms. Howe continued, “As far as the arts community goes, it seems like everybody’s really rallied together. Many of the artists-in-residence have gone to different locations, the Roswell Museum and studios and homes to help. There’s a lot of community support. Everybody’s just still kind of reeling and baffled, I think, at the extent of damage for private homes and businesses. It’s just, I’m really heart sick for the community. Everybody’s just, in their own way, doing what they can do in their areas and and helping out as they can. It’s a special community here.”
Stay up to date with developments at the Roswell Museum via its Facebook page.
2 comments
I’m deeply saddened by these recent devastations to our beloved art communities, both in Roswell and Asheville. Truly heartbreaking.
So, so, sorry for the RMA!
Anxious yo learn if their photography collections archives were spared?
I did a portrait project of the Roswell community at invitation of, then, curator Wesley Roswell, titled, “ Herencia, Now What?” Would like to learn of status.
Thank you, Celia Álvarez Muñoz