The Web Connecting Earth & Sky

Location: New Mexico Tech University, NM
Client: New Mexico Tech Univesity
Collaborator: Mandy Palasik

To be completed in 2026, the project envisions a gathering space for the university campus. The design was inspired by the creation story about Spider Woman that is prevalent among the original peoples of the Southwest. In the Pueblo culture of New Mexico, she was called Old Spider Woman in daily life but referred to as Thought Woman during sacred ceremonies. Our interpretation of this myth is that Thought Woman is a symbol for knowledge, which she had bestowed upon humans so that they may live in harmony with nature. It is through Thought Woman’s luminous silk threads of wisdom, that we, as humans, have the ability and responsibility to weave together our disparate knowledge of the world into a harmonious web of understanding. The story of Thought Woman, as a metaphor for teaching/education, is especially pertinent to New Mexico Tech and it’s mission of life-long learning, forging scientists, engineers, and leaders for the future, and serving the public.