Painting the Village: Artist Samantha Odom

Cloudcroft gets colorful with a refreshing new project called "Paint the Town" 2023-2024, featuring large public murals by local artist Samantha Odom.

{CLOUDCROFT FACES & PLACES}

A series of murals are underway and planned for Cloudcroft through a grant from the New Mexico State Economic Development Department's Creative Industries program. Local artist and entrepreneur Samantha Odom discusses her first mural for the project, located on the south-facing wall of the Burro Street Exchange. Interview by Hannah Dean, lightly edited for grammar and readability

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(My first mural for this project) is titled "Greetings from Cloudcroft." This piece is a celebration of our unique mountain town. [Phyllis Turner] and I wanted to highlight the elements that make so many folks want to call Cloudcroft home and warmly welcome our ever-growing tourist population. Huge block letters sit atop the signature [Mexican Canyon] trestle with a glorious sunset backdrop. 

Each of the ten letters that spell Cloudcroft will be painted with amped-up colors and contain 'local loves.' There will be all the vibes: hiking, wildlife, mountain biking, golfing, camping, snow tubing, shopping and more. It's [intended to] be a colorful beacon, seen right as you enter town. I love to encourage interaction with my murals, so written in the sky above the block letters will be "Greetings from" Cloudcroft so people will take pictures with the mural…I also plan to add an oversized hummingbird to the lower portion, drinking nectar from the selfie-taker's head! 

This is the first of many commissioned, interactive murals [the Village of Cloudcroft] will be creating in the next year. I'm thrilled to share that this mural is funded by a grant from the New Mexico State Economic Development Department's Creative Industries program, the Village of Cloudcroft, and Phyllis Turner. Other projects commissioned by this grant for the "Paint the Town" project include a large-scale mural in the Cloudcroft High School and two more murals that will be student-led at the Village's public facilities. 

I have been putting this program together for years, so when the grant application was brought to me as the commissioned artist, I just smiled, as I knew it was from God. I immediately gave the application to my good friend and seasoned grant writer Lauren Groesbeck, who beautifully wrote the grant application, including my design proposals and mural program. Mayor Denney was instrumental in helping us meet the tight deadline for the grant. 

A while back, our beloved school asked me to consider working with the older art students. After earning my undergraduate degree, I served three years as an apprentice under a master muralist. Daily hands-on practice taught me how to monetize my art. For years, I have wanted to share my knowledge and experience with fellow artists, young and old. I want to encourage them to know their worth and pursue their art dreams, so when the school asked me, I was excited! Little did I realize the amount of work teachers put in…they are amazing! I can "do" art, but articulating my process was a lot of work. I developed a curriculum to teach students about starting and managing a commercial art business. 

Nine students have signed up to work with me on this first mural. They have gone through the entire process, from initial client intake meetings, presenting their designs for the mural, commission contracts, and painting on-site, where our small design on paper is currently on a 24-foot wall. I'm not teaching students art; instead, I'm having a long conversation with them about how to operate an art business.

I have been a pencil, paper, paint, and canvas girl all my life. My students got me into digital art, so for the first time, I used technology to finish the "Greetings from Cloudcroft" mural design!  

Color makes me happy. I like to paint straight out of the tube. Everything takes on a brighter, happier version of its earthy self in my work. I like to wear bright colors—I feel happier when I do. I also enjoy hanging out with children, mine and [others], and asking them for ideas to get my creativity going. They inspire me and remind me to go with what I like. Hot pink shades and turquoise skies work their way into every painting. 

And gratitude. If gratitude were a color, I think it would be a pallet favorite. Have you ever seen the birds stop and acknowledge the sunset, perching on high-line wires and just feeling grateful? I want to be like these birds who aren't worried about tomorrow but just thankful for the moment of today. 

Well, I will say I love a new dress. And that is what these murals are for Cloudcroft! Like a new outfit, these murals will brighten and enhance our growing Village. 

To be a part of the stepping stone for these young, blooming creatives as they [find] their purpose is such an adventure and just the beginning of a hopefully life-long mentorship. Of course, I am ecstatic to be commissioned to paint a part of the place [my family and I] love so much. We settled here fourteen years ago when I was pregnant with the first of our four boys. It is a joy to live on the mountaintop with our tight-knit community and get to do what I love.  

—Interviewed by Hannah Dean, November 2023