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A lot can be said about a town's history by a sculpture. The Derrick Floor Sculpture is a striking bronze sculpture depicting what life is like on a drilling rig. The sculpture which is built in life like form shows a four man drilling crew that was typical of a drilling rig operation in Southeastern New Mexico. The oil rig itself is cut off at 34 feet and the sculptures of the men manning the rig are 125% of their normal size. The Derrick Floor was built by Cody, Wyoming sculptor Vic Payne and dedicated in 2004. On a plaque near the statue it reads that this is dedicated to the men and women who take the risks, and do the work to find, produce and refine New Mexico oil and gas."
On the same parcel of the sculpture are shown, "The Partners," a smaller sculpture which depicts two local Artesia area men Mark Chase and Johnny Gray who developed an oil and gas partnership that was a successful local company for many years. They are featured leaner over a pick up truck to make a deal which apparently was the way they did business in the 1970's.
Written Feb 16, 2012
Address: South Sixth and West Main Streets
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City administration and other community services are provided at the Artesia City Hall building at 511 West Texas Street. The building was constructed in the early 1960's to replace the old City Hall Building at 422 Main Street which was constructed as a WPA project in 1939.
Written Feb 15, 2012
Address: 511 West Texas Street
Phone: (575) 746-2122
Website: http://www.artesianm.gov/
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As you drive down Main Street one of the things that will catch your eye is the giant Marquee at the Land of the Sun Theater. The theater was opened in 1947 and was owned and operated by the local Bartlett family. They eventually sold it to Carmlike Cinemas. By 2001 the condition of the theater had deteriorated markedly. An agreement was reached between Carmlike and the local Main Street Corporation to renovate the theater. Today the theater looks very nice and the marquee has been restored to give it some of the glamor that it had in the 1940's. The theater plays first run movies and is open for community events.
Written Feb 15, 2012
Address: 418 West Main Street
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The third and final sculpture in the Cattle Drive series is called the Rustler. The rustler was a frequent occurrence on cattle drives looking to steal the animals of legitimate ranchers for his own profit. The sculpture depicts him hiding and looking for his opportunity to steal cattle.
The Rustler was created by Mark Hamby and unveiled in July, 2009.
Written Feb 14, 2012
Address: Second and Texas Streets
The Vaquero is Spanish for cowboy. The sculpture depicts this Vaquero with his chaps, lariat and saddle as he tries to intercept a rustler who is trying to steal cattle. The detail on this sculpture is great and the emotion on the face of the Vaquero is apparent as he tries to fend off the rustler.
Written Feb 14, 2012
Address: Corner of Second and Main Street
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This is the first of three sculptures that depict the Cattle Drive. It is called the Trail Boss. It was created by Vic Payne, a noted sculptor from Cody, Wyoming. In this bronze sculpture he shows the intensity of the work of the trail boss in the cattle drive. It does a great job of showing the intensity that the trail boss had to demonstrate in driving cattle across the Southwestern Desert. It is the first sculpture you notice as you are driving in from Carlsbad and is located at the corner of First and Main Street.
Written Feb 14, 2012
Address: Corner of First and Main Streets Artesia
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The Cattle Drive is the name of a series of three bronze art pieces that are found in a three block area of downtown Artesia. The art pieces were constructed to celebrate the cattle industry and specifically the cattle drive. The cattle drive played an extremely significant part of the history of Southeast New Mexico and Artesia beginning in the late 1800's. The three pieces were also made to focus on the major personalities that were integral in the cattle drive.
Other reviews will focus on the three specific pieces.
Written Feb 14, 2012
Address: 1st and Main; 2nd & Main and 2nd & Texas
Website: http://www.artesiachamber.com/vi/ArtesiaWalkingBro.pdf
Although unfortunately close to an oil refinery, the town of Artesia has done an excellent of sprucing up their Downtown area. There are shops, restaurants and several public spaces in the space of about three blocks along Main Street (US 82) west of US 285.
Written Jan 14, 2008
Address: Main Street
38 Opinions
40 Opinions
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Fondest memory: All I saw of Artesia, while driving through, was a large woolen factory, and a fabulous thunder storm. I love approaching storms, and will always remember the one in Artesia.
Written Aug 25, 2002
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