Petroglyph National Monument Youth Art Exhibition
When
Where
Description
Petroglyph National Monument Youth Art Exhibition
Opening Reception May 18 2pm-4pm
Exhibit dates are May 17 , 2019 - July 7, 2019
Expressions of Rock Art Within a Volcanic Landscape
The purpose of Petroglyph National Monument is to protect and promote the understanding of petroglyphs in context with the cultural and natural features of Albuquerque’s West Mesa (Escarpment) and perpetuate the heritage of traditional communities connected to these landscapes.
It is estimated that the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people created 90% of the monument’s 24,000 petroglyphs. A broad term to describe the petroglyphs is ‘rock art’. Puebloans have lived in the Rio Grande River Valley since before AD 500, but a population increase around AD 1300 resulted in numerous new settlements. The arrival of Spanish people in 1540 had a dramatic impact on the lifestyle of the Pueblo people. In 1680, the Pueblo tribes rose up in revolt of Spanish rule, and drove the settlers out of the area and back to El Paso, Texas. In 1692, the Spanish returned and resettled in the Albuquerque area.
Due to cultural and religious differences, the Spanish discouraged participation by the Puebloans in many of their traditional ceremonial practices. Consequently, many of these practices went underground, and much of the image making by the Puebloans decreased. A small percentage of the petroglyphs found within the park pre-date the Puebloan period, perhaps reaching as far back as 2000 BC. Other images date from historic periods starting in the 1700s, with petroglyphs carved by early Spanish settlers.