New Sculpture will become focal point of Healing Waters Plaza

Increasingly Truth or Consequences is being recognized for its quality and abundance of art. Whether it’s our many art galleries, scores of murals, or growing list of resident artists, we are surrounded by the inspiration and beauty they provide. Well, now we can add one more piece to the collection. And it’s impressive. You may have noticed some activity going on at the Healing Waters Plaza this first weekend in February. The Sierra County Arts Council is erecting a large sculpture titled “The Tower of Her Sun” by Kendra Grace Brock. It’s a magnificent memorial tribute to the late Carol Lynn Plec.

Carol Plec was a local artist who made Sierra County her home where she excelled as a painter, quilter, and fiber artist. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 78. Carol, along with her husband Robert, was a long-time supporter of the Sierra County Arts Council (SCAC). Her residence and studio was “out at the lake” in Elephant Butte but her work was exhibited in Santa Fe as well as TorC.

Late last week, SCAC board member Andy Underwood (right) loaded the sections of the sculpture created by artist Kendra Brock (left) at her Albuquerque studio and delivered them to Healing Waters Plaza.

Now through the efforts of the SCAC, a committee spearheaded by board member Susan Buhler, is recognizing Carol’s impact on our city and its art. Susan and her committee of board members has spent several years planning, researching and supervising the creation of this new work — but it required the help of many others. The SCAC worked with members of the Carol Plec family, the City of Truth or Consequences, the Public Art Advisory Board, and the Truth or Consequences Lodgers Tax Board to get the job done. The SCAC is extremely grateful for their cooperation, assistance and support. All that effort has finally paid off.

Kendra Brock spent three days at Healing Waters Plaza over the weekend preparing the site, and with the help of a small crew assembling the myriad pieces, that would become “The Tower of Her Sun”, the sculpture memorializing the late Carol Plec.

To create the final sculpture — which was inspired by one of Carol’s fiber art works — the SCAC connected with Albuquerque artist and Plec family friend Kendra Grace Brock. The art connection between Kendra and the Plec family is evident in Kendra’s art pieces in both sculpture and fiber (Carol’s specialties) where she works in clay, cast iron, and steel — often incorporating photography in her fiber art. She received her BFA from East Carolina University and lived and worked in the Carolinas as well as the Pacific Northwest before returning home to New Mexico. But it was Kendra’s lifelong connection with Carol Plec’s daughter Emily that made her the obvious choice to create this tribute.

The finished piece “The Tower of Her Sun” stands 11 feet tall — and it’s even more impressive on its raised pedestal — and incorporates a variety of metals that blend texture, color, and form resulting in a landmark sculpture that will immediately become a focal point of Healing Waters Plaza. While its purpose is to recognize the gratitude and respect we have for a great local artist and supporter of the arts, it will also stand as a tribute to the city for recognizing the value art and artists play in this community.

Left to right: sculptor Kendra Grace Brock with Sierra County Board members Susan Buhler (project leader) and Andy Underwood with the partially installed “The Tower of Her Sun” sculpture in Healing Waters Plaza.(Photo courtesy Susan Buhler)

This past week SCAC board member Andy Underwood made the trek up to Kendra’s studio with his flatbed trailer to transport the pieces of the sculpture down to TorC. Kendra followed and spent three days here putting the final touches on the installation. In the spring, when the Plec family can make it down to TorC, there will be an official dedication. The Plec family and the SCAC hopes the community can be there too. In the meantime, you can view this powerful new piece of community art yourself on the McAdoo Street side of Healing Waters Plaza in the heart of the Historic Hot Springs District.

Content for this article was provided by the Sierra County Arts Council. The author is Sierra County Arts Council Board President.

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John Johanek
John Johanek

John Johanek spent 40 years in publishing including four years as art director for Popular Mechanics in New York. He then founded his own design consulting firm with clients worldwide. His firm earned the highest awards in magazine design excellence. He’s written numerous articles on the fine points of magazine design in leading industry magazines and presented hundreds of design seminars and workshops for major trade conferences, publishing organizations and private publishers stateside and internationally. He and his wife Durrae have authored two books on Montana (his home state): Montana Behind the Scenes and Montana Folks. For the past several years John has pursued his passion for art and now he and Durrae operate Zia Gallery in Truth or Consequences to showcase their work. He is a member of the board of directors of the Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project.

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2 Comments

  1. So many people in Elephant Butte and T or C made this place feel like “home” for my parents when they retired. I hope this sculpture reminds you all of how important community is, how vital neighborliness is, and how much our shared values unite us even when our politics may divide us. My mother, the daughter of farmers in rural Michigan, could never have imagined she would be remembered in this way and we are so honored that you have done so. Thank you, Sierra Arts Council and thank you Sierra County residents for who you are and all you do to keep NM enchanted!

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