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Future of ArtsCrawl takes center stage at city meeting

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Monthly event faces concerns over art authenticity, non-local participants

Of the various agenda items reviewed Oct. 23 at the Gallup City Council regular meeting, the future and continuation of ArtsCrawl Gallup generated the most discussion.

Lynn Huenemann, who spoke for the item, requested the discussion be added to the agenda in an Oct. 15 letter, which stated Coal Avenue business owners and community members were concerned about the future of ArtsCrawl, a monthly art event put on by gallupARTS and held at galleries and restaurants downtown.

A Sept. 7 press release states the 2018 season would be gallupARTS’s last to host the event. The release states ArtsCrawl is now well established and ready for a new entity to carry it forward.

During the Oct. 23 meeting, Huenemann cited two primary concerns about the event.

The first concern came from folks who are against ArtsCrawl, Huenemann said, one of whom mailed a message to Mayor Jackie McKinney, which was read during the meeting.

The consensus of this opposing group is that an event called ArtsCrawl should promote authentic Native American arts and crafts more than the event currently does.

Huenemann said this group believes too many non-locals have tried to sell their wares during ArtsCrawl, when the focus should be on Gallup vendors and businesses.

The second concern about the monthly event involved uncertainty over its transition from gallupARTS. As of Oct. 23, no other entity had agreed to take over the event.

But there have been individuals who have stepped up to volunteer for the position, such as Rhonda Quintana, one of the owners of Quintana’s Music and Indian Jewelry at 223 W. Coal Ave., who also spoke for the item at the meeting.

Quintana said she created a petition to keep ArtsCrawl going, “because of what ArtsCrawl means to me.”

She said each Saturday event has been a great experience for her business and its visitors, and the petition currently has over 200 signatures.

Mary Walker, owner of Weaving in Beauty at 233 W. Coal Ave., reiterated the event is important for visitors. She said her store has attracted customers from as far away as New Zealand who are interested in what happens during ArtsCrawl.

Each of the speakers agreed the event’s location on Coal Avenue — and the resulting support of business owners on that street — has been crucial for ArtsCrawl’s success.

The event has helped improve the overall image of downtown Gallup during ArtsCrawl, according to Huenemann.

“It creates a better place for the youth to be,” he said, acknowledging the number of local students who see the event as a positive outlet for social interaction and personal expression.

While the council had the item on the agenda for discussion only, each member took the opportunity to voice their support, echoing the sentiment that ArtsCrawl brings people together and is positive for the city.

“It’s good for Gallup, and we’re always looking for something that’s good for Gallup,” District 2 Councilor Allan Landavazo said.

The event draws in around $80,000 annually, according to gallupARTS, and downtown businesses have reported performing 30- to 40-percent better on ArtsCrawl Saturdays than regular Saturdays.

“The community has spoken, and it’s loud and clear,” District 1 Councilor Linda Garcia said, acknowledging the room’s general support for the event.

Other items discussed at meeting:

The adoption of a new City of Gallup zoning map and the repeal of the current map was intended to eliminate all previous zoning district designations and in favor of new ones. This would reduce the number of districts from 22 to 13, and the repeal can be made once the 30-day period is up. The new maps can be viewed online at the City of Gallup website. The item was approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

Ordinance No. C2018-14 would establish a schedule of fines and a procedure for collection of payments that applies to the municipal court based on the New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance. City Attorney Curtis Hayes said this would allow the city to have its own schedule of fines based on the municipal court. The item was approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

Budget adjustments to the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 involving personnel, operations, capital outlay and transfers in and out of each fund were approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

Resolution R2018-31, which requested temporary water service outside city limits for Oscar Renda Contracting, Inc. for work on NGWSP Blocks 9-11, was also discussed. Water and Sanitation Director Dennis Romero said the move would mean additional revenue, between $650-$4,000 monthly for the next 12-18 months, for the water enterprise fund. The item approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

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