Editor,
I would like to use my right to respond to the Sub Culture article recently published in the Daily Lobo.
I have to admit that I am rather offended by it. First, it has to be noted that the coverage of the event was unprofessional.
The photographer that the reporter, Chris Quintana, brought was quite pleasant and seemed interested in covering the event from a media standpoint. He took pictures, asked me for names and even talked with me about the event. To be fair, I cannot see everything, but it seemed to me that Quintana was joining in the show’s festivities as much as the next person and left his notebook at home.
He didn’t seem to make much effort to give it proper journalistic coverage. I am glad Quintana got to experience our event, but I am astounded at some of the things I saw written in the article.
The coverage barely skimmed the surface and made some outrageous statements. It should be said that he never once contacted me for an interview.
Sub Culture is run by a volunteer crew that works hard every month to create an event that celebrates cutting-edge art and music, and the group deserves recognition.
Most of the featured art is made by UNM students and alumni, which I am sad to see was never mentioned. Peter Pan, aka. Casey O’Neal, is an accomplished juggler, and has been a featured performer at our event since the beginning.
It has been in our mission from the start to never ever be a rave.
We are offended at the use of the term in the article. We are a growing and living art experiment.
Regarding the acid in the parking lot: Our events are strictly drug-and-alcohol free. It says so on all our promotional material. They always have been and always will be.
We don’t believe you need the aid of these substances to have fun and enjoy art. This is strictly enforced at the door. We take this issue seriously.
We cannot control what people do on their own accord. If we can tell a person is intoxicated, we don’t allow them into the event.
People were denied entrance to the event based on intoxication, hence their presence in the parking lot. It is shared with several businesses, and we cannot legally make them leave a public space.
It is unfortunate that Quintana sought that kind of person in the parking lot. I think it speaks to Quintana’s character that these are the people he chose to associate with, to interview, and even more so that he would publish it so lightheartedly.
Does he think this is joke? There is a lot on the line, and he may have cost us dearly.
Dylan Sheriff
Sub Culture business partner
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Editor’s Note: Quintana did, in fact, bring his notebook and wrote a well-detailed story about what he witnessed at the event. He conducted an interview with Sheriff’s business partner, Shawn Marron. The term “rave” was never used in the piece. We encourage readers to visit the article online and form their own opinions.
