by Glen Rogers

My sculpture, Aleteo, which translates to "the fluttering of wings" in Spanish, sits serenely in a circle of trees at El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden. You can sit and peer down to the presa below from Her elevated perch. The chosen spot was leveled and stone steps were added to create an invitation to come and sit. She's a throne after all – a special seating dedicated to Mother Earth. The design, with images of birds and plant-life cut into the sculpture, reflects the natural setting and provides an opening to different views.The rusted steel patina lends an earthy quality. Flowers and seeds, a graceful egret and hummingbird hold space with symbols like the spiral, water and flames with reference to the four elements earth, air, water and fire. The two large "wings" surrounding the seat also mimic large leaf shapes. I have worked with this nature-based symbolism throughout my career in my paintings, prints and sculpture.

Aleteo is there today as a result of a lot of dreaming and visioning; much persistence and perseverance;and a little magic. One of my favorite mantras is plant the seed and watch it grow. The seed for this sculpture was planted many years ago when I was living in Mazatlán. Actually, the initial specifications were quite different – cast bronze, 10 feet tall, a circular structure split into 4 seats – but the design of the panels with my drawings of flora and fauna holding a bench remained the seed of the idea. That project came very close to being built in Mazatlán with the support of the mayor, the Department of Tourism and the Projecto Centro Historico – until the administration and direction changed. Oh, that was a real heartbreaker.

When I moved to San Miguel de Allende eight years ago, I discovered El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden as a special place to walk the trails, commune with nature and write in my journal. I found inspiration and tranquility in this beautiful high desert landscape. And so, as I hiked around, I began imagining my sculpture along the paths. This design would be simpler, using rusted steel and a mesquite wood bench to fit into the natural setting. The decision to revive the project was an easy one for me. But the process of getting a green light to fabricate and install Aleteo in the park was a different story – one of time, communication, and collaboration. It is a typical story for public art, one I know from first-hand knowledge. My exterior sculptures can be seen throughout northern California, including Beacon in Campbell, Three Wings in Stockton, Spirit Gate in San Jose, and Web of Life in Chico. I also collaborated with schools, communities, and architects designing more than 25 public artworks in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of an Art & Architecture project. In 2020, my sculpture, Throne for a Goddess was installed in Austria – after working remotely with a metal artist there for over a year. So it's truly exciting to see my first installation in Mexico, my adopted country for over 20 years.

As a public sculptor, I design the structure and have others fabricate the piece. I'm the project manager that makes sure all the elements come together. In this case, I created the original full size images for the panels in the monotype process on my etching press. They were then photographed and translated into computer generated designs by a graphic designer. For Aleteo, I worked with a metal workshop in Queretaro that used laser-jet to cut the images and do the welding and final fabrication. It all came together beautifully.

Aleteo is a gift to El Charco and the community rather than a commission. I feel lucky to have had my dream supported by a small group of patrons. Everyone was invited to send a prayer honoring a loved one or a blessing for Mother Earth which we buried in a small earthen vessel beneath the foundation. This was a way of grounding the sculpture with positive intentions.

Art can be a lonely endeavor, so for me, it's important to acknowledge our successes and celebrate with friends and supporters. In January, we held a dedication presided over by Alicia Mayo, a revered teacher who held the full moon ceremony at El Charco for over 25 years. This was a beautiful occasion that signified - Hey, she's installed! Come and enjoy! So with Aleteo done and this chapter closed, I can now envision and dream more sculptures into being in Mexico.

To enjoy Aleteo, take the path to your right as you leave the visitor center towards the conservatorio/greenhouse.

El Charco del Ingenio

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Glen Rogers is an internationally exhibited artist whose work includes paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture. She has lived in Mexico for over 20 years, in San Miguel since 2017. Glen has two publications: her book, Symbols of the Spirit: A Meditative Journey Through Artand Spirit Cards oracle deck, and her upcoming Sacred Feminine Wisdom oracle. She will have a solo show at Amarillo Gallery, San Miguel and Museo de la Mujer, Mexico City in April 2024. Glen is the organizer/curator of Plastic Madness/Locura del Plastico traveling exhibition since 2016 which traveled to Cartagena, Colombia in 2023. She is the founder of Calling the Circle: A Sacred Feminine Women's Gathering, www.sacredfemininecircle.com. You can visit her studio in Colonia San Antonio by appointment.

Website: www.glenrogersart.com
More public sculpture: www.glenrogersart.com/sculpture-

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