Ojos Diferentes

A new way of exploring the art ad history of Santa Fe

Seeing Santa Fe through New eyes

Ojos Diferentes is a Webby-nominated Snap AR project commissioned by the City of Santa Fe Arts & Culture Department, bringing the work of ten New Mexican Indigenous, Norteño, and Chicana artists into the streets of downtown Santa Fe. Each artist reimagines a historic site, monument, or overlooked corner of the city, transforming familiar places into living portals of story, culture, resistance, and imagination.

Grounded in the research of City Historian Valerie Rangel, the project pairs rigorous history with contemporary artistic vision. Guardians towering over the plaza. Ceramics open into Indigenous futurist worlds. Drag performers guide visitors through layered pasts.

Spread across eight locations, Ojos Diferentes invites anyone walking through Santa Fe to experience the city through the artists’ eyes, and brought to life through immersive, site-specific Snap AR.

“This is an important moment in time for the United States as a nation as well as the city of Santa Fe and the state of New Mexico, to reflect on the historical context which has led to present day conditions and recognize that people’s lived experiences are not always found in textbooks, but are also key to this understanding. “


— Valerie Rangel, City Historian

  • Black and white photo of a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a large halo, located outdoors near a church and utility poles.

    Nuestra Madre

    NATACHE MOMADAY GRAY

    An exploration of motherhood through Our Lady of Guadalupe

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  • A colorful amusement park rocket ride launching into the sky with smoke and fire at its base.

    A River Through Time

    EHREN KEE NATAY

     A sci-fi immersive journey through the history of the Santa Fe River, including a Ketoh (Navajo Bow Guard) time machine, and Indigenous spacecraft taking off from the Santa Fe Plaza. 

    See full project
  • A transparent, reflective sculpture of a woman with a unicorn head, standing on a sidewalk and waving, placed against a brick wall in an urban area.

    Watch How Godzilla Aunt Eats the Cowboys

    ARTEMISIA ROMERO Y CARVER

    A poem by Santa Fe’s Youth Poet Laureate that explores themes of colonization and manifest destiny, while presenting an anti-colonial figure to watch over the city.

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  • A digital illustration of two figures made of glowing particles standing outdoors at night. One figure is green and appears to be casting a fireball, while the other is red or orange and appears to be holding a shield. There is a building and some trees in the background, with a clear dark blue sky.

    Nawitlanpa Teotl

    PAZ(MAPITZMITL) AND CRYSTAL XOCHITL ZAMORA

    In a dance of energy and light, the artist and his daughter perform a Mexikayotl invocation to the 4 directions.

    SEE FULL PROJECT
  • A woman in a blue dress standing beside a horse-drawn carriage with traditional buildings in the background.

    DRAGing Time Travel with Lady Shug

    LADY SHUG

     Explore the history of La Fonda with your time travelling tour guide, Lady Shug. 

    SEE FULL PROJECT
  • Museum display case with informational posters and photographs about a historical event.

    Plight of the Recon Watchmen

    VIRGIL ORTIZ

    A portal through historic ceramics to the Indigienous futurist world of the Recon Watchmen.

    SEE FULL PROJECT

  • Jornada Del Muerto

    OLIVIA ROMO

    A poetic exploration of Oppenheimer's secret war post in downtown Santa Fe. 

    SEE FULL PROJECT

  • MuggZ's Plight

    CLIFF FRAGUA

    A contemplative, playful reflection by the artist on the relationship between Po’Pay (leader or the Pueblo Revolt) , St. Francis, Cliff himself, and his pug, MuggZ.

    SEE FULL PROJECT

“I’ve worked with Refract on three projects now, and each time I was able to push the boundaries of my artistic expression. I love working with them because they match my enthusiasm in creating something that has never been done before. Everything we’ve done has felt like an adventure and a communal exploration.”


— Ehren Kee Natay, Collaborating Artist

Working With Artists: Our Process

  • Hand-drawn illustration of a teepee tent with a star shape at the top, inside a lunar scene with clouds, moon, and stars.

    Step 1: Artists Concept

    FROM NAPKIN SKETCH TO FINAL IDEA

    To start, we work closely with the collaborating artist to realize their vision. This might involve them giving us napkin sketches, maquettes, acting things out, whatever it takes to understand how they want to see their work broguht to life.

  • 3D wireframe model of a teepee or tipi tent, shown in green, set on a grid, with measurement data and coordinate axes visible.

    Step 2: Development

    BUILDING THE WORK

    Once a concept is finalized, we started on development. this might involve motion capture for dancers, 3D scanning ceramics or sculptures, 3D modelling, illustration, recording sessions for poets, whatever is needed to bring the artists concepts to life.

  • A rocket launching with flames and smoke at the bottom against a clear blue sky.

    Step 3: Implementation

    BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

    Once development is done, we moved to implementation, ensuring that pieces worked in all lighting situations, and fits the artists vision for their piece.