Incarcerated teen heart-works take over Inhabit Galerie in Corrales

CORRALES — This Valentine’s Day will be bursting with love, but Corrales’ Inhabit Galerie is taking a different approach to the holiday.

Starting Valentine’s Day, the open courtyard in front of the gallery and Corrales MainStreet will be filled with hearts as part of the “Field of Hearts” exhibit, gallery owner Marisa Ravalli said.

The project consists of approximately 180 “Heart-works”, created by local, New Mexican teens from varied backgrounds ages 12-19.

“The majority of the project was done together with teens currently in incarceration and/or serving sentences at the Bernalillo County Juvenile and Youth Detention Center,” Ravalli said.

The teens were asked to participate by choosing one word which best describes the encouragement which brought them out of their darkest/lowest moment in life.

“We hope that this public project will serve as an inspiration to others and that it stands as a reminder (especially during this Valentine season), that hope is alive, even in the darkest places,” she added.

The display will be open until March 2 and is open to the public.