Let the light shine on annex

The gift of $4 million toward transforming a squat brick building into a sleek contemporary museum designed to catch the light is a giant step toward the dream of creating an annex for the New Mexico Museum of Art.

The donation, from Robert and Ellen Vladem of Santa Fe, is the single largest gift in the history of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation — and it puts Centennial Campaign organizers close to their goal of $10 million for the annex. Now, there is $7.7 million in the pot to make over the old Halpin Building, the now-abandoned state archives location.

At the corner of Guadalupe Street and Montezuma Avenue, the vision of the building — with glass, space and plenty of contemporary art — will be a welcome change from an empty structure in a weed-infested lot. Only a few blocks from the train station, the museum has the potential to serve as a first impression of Santa Fe for many; and it would be spectacular, judging from artist renderings of the design by DNCA of Albuquerque.

What a wonderful thing for Santa Fe that the Vladems have embraced their new home with such gusto and generosity. The annex will be named Vladem Contemporary, a fair trade — the donations for naming rights, in other words, much as happens in the sports world regularly. We do trust that in the annex, there will be a nod to Joseph Halpin. He is the state archivist honored for his long service to this state in the name of the building, and it would be right to remember him. (Some are questioning whether a building can be named after a donor because of the state’s anti-donation clause; that issue did not stop the naming rights for The University of New Mexico’s basketball arena, but we’re sure this will be examined more closely.)

The annex planners also have to figure out how to preserve the historic mural by Gilberto Guzman. It is a beloved part of this building and if it can be saved, it should be. It would ill become a museum to eliminate a historic piece of art. After all, the Museum of Art has been a critical center for the arts as a place to display pieces but also to attract artists and art lovers. Its programs that drew artists and created conversations around the arts, helped create the perception — which became reality — of Santa Fe as the place to see and make art. Its contributions to the cultural life of this town cannot be overstated.

Now, with a 15,000-square-foot annex, the New Mexico Museum of Art will expand its possibilities for showcasing more contemporary works. We remain uneasy about how an always cash-strapped Department of Cultural Affairs will pay for the running of what is essentially another museum; and, of course, a new display space means more pressure on the foundation to raise money for exhibitions. We hope to see more conversations about how money will be found to run and maintain all of New Mexico’s cultural sites.

Operational budgets, after all, are recurring expenses, and money must be found even in those years when the price of a barrel of oil plummets. The cost of reworking the building, though, seems to be within reach — if, that is, project costs are realistic and the project can be completed in a timely fashion. An efficient, well-run remodeling would be a plus for that area of Santa Fe.

To the Vladems, who say that Santa Fe inspires them, we say thank you. Their generosity should inspire all of Santa Fe.