Culture

Culture

Book review: Penghlis delivers inspiration

Skylar Griego | September 9

American novelist James Baldwin once said, “Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” Baldwin’s words perfectly capture the tales told by Thaao Penghlis in his memoir, “Places.” In his memoir, Penghlis, an actor best known for his roles on “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives,” tells the story of a young Greek-Australian man who had no plans outside of working as an Immigration Official at the Commonwealth Center in Sydney, Australia, but dreamed of traveling the world. On the word of a fortuneteller, Penghlis quits his job, leaves his family and begins his journey to climb Mt.

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Culture

Fellowship delivering invites to Christmas Cantata

Lauren Marvin | September 9

Volunteers are spreading a message of hope in Albuquerque with a simple envelope. Joshua Park, director of the International Youth Fellowship in Albuquerque, said volunteers are collaborating with the Christmas Cantata by delivering 50,000 invitations which include information and tickets to the performance. The Christmas Cantata is a musical performed by the Gracias Choir, which will tour the United States for the first time this year, he said.

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Culture

Play review: Picasso, Einstein chat it up at the Vortex

Graham Gentz | September 8

So, Steve Martin wrote a play. Yes, that Steve Martin. And it’s hilarious. It is the imagined meeting of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, each in their early twenties, at a random bar in Paris in 1904.

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Culture

Skimpy bike event tours Central Avenue

Moriah Carty | September 8

Flashing lights, neon tutus and skin-colored leotards lit up Central Avenue for a good cause Friday. Around 25 cyclists rallied at the Duck Pond for a (nearly) naked ride Friday evening to promote sharing the road with vehicles. Lee Ann Ratzlaff, founder of Bikeburque, said bringing people together for a themed ride helps break the barrier between cyclists and drivers on the road. The group rode down Central in various states of undress — although they were careful to not break any laws, she said. “Per the city’s ordinance, there were no main genitals,” Ratzlaff said.

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Culture

Five Finger Death Punch delivers two knockouts

Stephen Montoya | September 8

Five Finger Death Punch is on its way to “the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell” as the group travels to Albuquerque in support of their ambitious double release by the same name. Five Finger Death Punch also found controversy when the band’s bassist, Christ Kael, spoke out against photos of 30 Seconds to Mars band members wearing gloves at a meet-and-greet for their fans, according to noisecreep.com.

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Culture

Review: 'The One I Love' deserves to be let go

Graham Gentz | September 3

Indie film “The One I Love” may have attracted attention at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, but it doesn’t live up to the hype. Instead, this movie clearly demonstrates that the Rotten Tomatoes/Metacritic system is broken. “The One I Love”? More like “The One I Shove” in front of a bus. It’s an abysmal movie; don’t see it. Unfortunately, I did, so I’m going to very specifically and carefully explain how and where it sucked the most.

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Culture

Doughnut donations benefit food pantry

Stephen Montoya | September 3

Hundreds of runners climbed, balanced and went through an obstacle course in order to help less fortunate families that face much harder challenges every day. The inaugural Rebel Donut Dash’s 5K run raised money for The Storehouse so it can continue to support many of Albuquerque’s homeless and poverty level citizens. Carrie Mettling, owner of Rebel Donuts, said she had the idea of hosting a food related fundraiser as she made doughnuts in her local shop on morning.

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Culture

Five and Why: Rachel Williams

Skylar Griego | September 3

Books have the power to reveal who we are, and they also have the power to influence what we do. The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico President Rachel Williams said she feels books have changed her perspective on the world. Aside from being the president of ASUNM, Williams is a senior with a double major in political science and international studies.

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Culture

Southwest Research Center archive holds treasures

Lauren Marvin | September 2

Some of New Mexico’s unique historical artifacts are conveniently located just a few steps from many UNM classrooms — or even as close as a computer. Michael Kelly, director of the Southwest Research Center, said the center’s collection includes rare books, manuscripts, photograph collections and architectural blueprints, with more than 100,000 of these items online in the New Mexico digital archive. “We are constantly putting more and more things online of our unique materials for everybody in the world to find and of course for students to use.” The main purpose of the Southwest Research Center, he said, is to make all the rare materials, more than a million items, available to students and researchers.

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Culture

Q&A: Nu-metal vets form Palms

Stephen Montoya | September 2

Deftones lead singer Chino Moreno joins the remaining members of Isis to form the latest nu-metal supergroup, Palms. The future looked uncertain for three of the five original Isis members after their breakup in 2010.

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Culture

Record & Review: Palms

Stephen Montoya | September 2

Veteran song writers combine forces to create a dense atmosphere of sound layering and slow-burning crescendos in the nu-metal supergroup Palms. Along with Deftones lead singer Chino Moreno, Palms consists mainly of three members from the now disbanded Isis: Clifford Meyer, Aaron Harris and Jeff Caxide.

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Culture

Sandia's cliffs filled beauty, history

Moriah Carty | August 27

The Sandia Mountains have more than just the nation’s longest aerial tramway. They also draw rock climbers to their steep, granite cliffs. Marc Beverly, owner of Beverly Mountain Guides and a UNM Ph.D. student in exercise science, said climbing is unlike any other sport he has tried. “Rock climbing is hard to explain if you don’t experience it,” said Beverly, who has been climbing since he was 13. “It’s like, ‘why be a race car driver?’ but when you’re in the driver’s seat it’s like there’s nothing else, so it’s kind of the same feeling — you get the feeling of freedom, being outside. It’s beautiful.”

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Culture

Five and why: Elisio "Cheo" Torres

August 27

A lot can be said about a person through their book collection. They reveal little secrets about our lives and personalities. Every person interprets a book in a different way, and the connections we form to it are as telling as the written stories themselves. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president of Student Affairs, said he came here in 1995 from Texas A&M University-Kingsville after being nominated for the position here.

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Culture

Column: Certified green chile tips and recipes

Steve “Mo” Fye | August 27

Now more than ever, green chile is the defining flavor of New Mexico. Unfortunately, our most famous crop is being counterfeited by producers across the United States and as far away as China. New Mexico chile production has taken a tumble in recent years because of foreign growers marketing hot peppers as coming from New Mexico or even Hatch — the center of chile production in the state — when it is actually grown hundreds or thousands of miles away. Local chile acreage has declined from about 35,000 acres in 1992 to just 9,600 in 2012, according to the New Mexico Chile Association’s website. In April 2011, Gov. Susana Martinez signed the New Mexico Chile Advertising Act, which outlawed advertising any pepper as New Mexico chile unless it was grown in New Mexico.

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Culture

Art students rapidly fill up student-run gallery

Lauren Marvin | August 26

One of the few free student art space’s in Albuquerque is filling up surprisingly fast. The John Sommers Gallery is in such high demand that there are no current spots available for the academic year, gallery director, Kristin Calhoun, said. “Most other places in town have a fee associated with their space,” Calhoun said.

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Culture

UNM student to produce miniseries

Moriah Carty | August 26

A UNM student has emerged from television extra to the limelight as an accomplished director. Nick Nelson, a fine arts student, moved from an extra in “Breaking Bad” to a producer of his own miniseries.

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Culture

New KUNM open to on-air chats

Moriah Carty | August 25

Radio Free America is trying to change the face of radio by encouraging listeners to join the conversation and air their opinions live through KUNM’s new interactive website. Kenneth Pushkin, the creator of Radio Free America, saw his program operational on the KUNM website, and he said it was rewarding to see his hard work pay off. “It’s been eight years, and today is the day we are finally on the air with Radio Free America,” he said. Pushkin said he feels optimistic about the program.

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Culture

Students spend time 'al fresco' in Italy

Lauren Marvin | August 25

Italian gardens brought inspiration for eight students studying abroad over the summer semester. Teresa Cutler-Broyles, an adjunct professor for film and peace studies, said she created a course, called Writing and History in Italian Gardens, with the help of the Umbra Institute.

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Culture

Film review: 'Frank' fails at the finish line

Graham Gentz | August 25

“Frank” is almost two movies at once. One is lively, silly and snaps along splendidly. The second shakes its finger at the audience for having too much fun, slowing into a clumsy lecture about mental illness being nothing to laugh at. The fact that the movie attempts a serious message isn’t what hurts it; in many ways it would have been fine if the script didn’t inexplicably start to completely suck. There is so much to like about “Frank.” That’s why it’s so unfortunate that it largely left a bad taste in my mouth. We begin with Jon, played by Domhnall Gleeson, an Irish everyman struggling between his white-collar hell and his inability to write music.

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Culture

Concert Review: Injury doesn't deter Friday performance

Stephen Montoya | August 25

Professionalism was the name of the game for Del Castillo at their recent Isleta Resort performance. The show started out like any other as Del Castillo entered the stage on Friday like conquerors of Latin rhythm, sporting a full set of drums and congas, and setting the pace for their show with the anticipatory throng. Brothers Rick and Mark Del Castillo began the first number by wielding their Spanish-style guitars like wizards putting an intoxicating spell over the audience with their Austin-rock-meets-traditional-Spanish playing. Halfway through their second song, though, front man Alex Ruiz tumbled off the stage and into the crowd, hurting his leg considerably. Meanwhile, the stunned yet professional band never missed a single beat while this scene took place.