Support THE LENA WALL- Wheatpaste art in Santa Fe

Matthew Chase-Daniel here. For the past several years, I've been curating, coordinating, and installing a revolving exhibition of wheatpasted artworks on The Lena Wall in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

For the current installation, I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with jetsonorama (Chip Thomas). Chip was working as a doctor on a remote area of the Navajo Nation for the past 36 years, and making compelling and important wheatpaste installations for fifteen years. He began these on abandoned roadside buildings across the Rez, but has gained more and more exposure and recognition in the past years, and now travels to make work in places far away from his home (Brazil, California, Colorado, Ohio, North Carolina...). Last year Chip retired from his job at IHS, and is now making art full-time.

Chip was in Santa Fe in July/August of 2024. installing a large piece on The Lena Wall. The piece is about the promise vs. the reality of nuclear energy and weaponry, and serves as a critique of the bomb factory being built in Los Alamos, and a call-to-action for the Santa Fe community to rally together in opposition to this imminent reality. Incorporated into Chip's artwork, the Lena Wall presents information from The Los Alamos Study Group , providing information on how people can take action towards a better future for our community, locally and planet-wide.

Come by and see, at the corner of Lena St and Second St in Santa Fe (1805 Second St).

Until now, all the labor and materials involved in presenting artwork at The Lena Wall has been donated by myself, the building owner, and the building renter. We are now raising funds to help defray the project costs- most importantly paint, glue, printing, and an artist honorarium, but also remuneration for the labor of organizing, curating, installing, deinstalling, and painting. If we exceed our goal, funds will be used for future installations at The Lena Wall.

Thanks for your support!

-Matthew Chase-Daniel

The Lena Wall