Culture - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Activist training to rally campus

Eden Silverthorne | October 7

The UNM branch of Amnesty International is a student organization trying to balance changing the world with bolstering group membership. The UNM chapter, according to founder and co-president Jon Dunn, is part of a global effort to mobilize citizens to pressure government officials to stop human rights abuses. Adrian Groenendyk, publicity coordinator, said the group’s first major event of the year is Saturday, and those interested must register by noon today. “We’re hosting Student Activist Training,” Groenendyk said.

Culture

Artists to learn trade secrets

Candace Hsu | October 7

Just because art has aesthetic value doesn’t mean it has monetary value. The CAA Professional-Development Workshop for Artists, which takes place Saturday, encourages artists to market their work in order to make a living, said event director Susan Schear.

Culture

Students join effort to protect wild land

Chris Quintana | October 7

New Mexico is a wild place, but there’s no guarantee it will stay that way. Outside factors like commercial interests and abusive recreation practices could destroy wild land, but it would remain untouched if it were declared official wilderness.

Handmade masks hang from the shelves at Birdland. Owned by Jay Steinberg, the store is inspired by thebusinessman’s love of the Grateful Dead.

Culture

Birdland incubates nostalgia

Alexandra Swanberg | October 5

Since 1994, Birdland and has been “Gratefully Deadicated” to providing unique, quality products for anyone nostalgic about the 60s. Store owner Jay Steinberg said he wanted to start a business that embodied the music he grew up with.

Culture

Beyond books to real, live authors

Gianna May | October 5

Seldom do people meet the authors of books they read. UNM professor Celia Lopez-Chavez teaches an honors class called The Legacy of Writing: Voices, Words and Flavors of New Mexico.

Culture

Graffitti or Art?

Andrew Beale | October 4

Our entire city is an illegal, underground art gallery. Whatever you may think of urban graffiti, a huge amount of effort and creativity is involved in plastering the city with stencils, stickers, lettering and random bursts of black spray paint. Downtown Albuquerque’s 516 ARTS gallery, in conjunction with the ACLU-NM and 23 other Albuquerque-based organizations, celebrates the energy of graffiti with “STREET ARTS: A Celebration of Hip Hop Culture & Free Expression.” The event goes on throughout October and November, and it features a two-part exhibit at 516 ARTS, a pair of documentaries running this month at the Guild Cinema, a series of (legal) murals downtown and a string of other events throughout the two months.

Culture

Technical brilliance shines despite theatrical burnout

Graham Gentz | October 4

“Firebugs” When a play’s got too much metaphorical gasoline, it burns itself down. Such is the case with “Firebugs.” Max Frisch’s script is all over the place.

Culture

'Manhattan' madness descends upon city

Graham Gentz | September 30

Albuquerque is slowly becoming a big deal. From the prolific theater to the booming film industry, there is interest flooding our little desert town.

Costume Designer Anna Avery, left prepares Kristen Buckels for her role as Anna in “Firebugs,” the first stage performance of UNM’s season.

Culture

Rookie leads to light up steel-clad Theatre X

Chris Quintana | September 30

It’s not just another hastily slapped together production. “Firebugs” is directed by Paul Ford, and as with any plan, he said he hopes it goes well.

Culture

Political art speaks of revolution

Andrew Beale | September 30

“La lucha sigue” reads the graffitied wall in Oaxaca, Mexico. “The fight continues” this month, as the struggle for justice in Oaxaca continues at UNM. Now through Oct.

Culture

DanceFest broadens 'insular' attitudes

Alexandra Swanberg | September 30

Undulating across distant water and land, contemporary artists from all over the world are coming to Albuquerque’s N4th Theater for Global DanceFest. The cultural immersion takes over the city four weekends in October, and it will feature a medley of media including film, theater and dance.

Culture

NM's Oktoberfest to feature local brews

Shaun Griswold | September 30

Bring out your pint glasses, dust off your beer goggles and tap into your inner Bostonian. Fourteen microbreweries, including nine locally owned ones, will offer beer directly from their tap room during the inaugural New Mexico Brew Fest taking place Saturday at Expo New Mexico. “It’s our Octoberfest,” said Aaron Moore, Marble Brewing sales manager. The event is presented by Local IQ Magazine and sponsored by Marble Brewing Company and the Santa Few Brewing Company.

Culture

Irish dance troupe finds its footing

Antonio Sanchez | September 28

Jenny London and Kim Coleman have the luck of the Irish on their side. Once just two dance instructors for New Mexico’s McTeggart School of Irish Dancing, the sisters formed their own dancing academy after their program was dropped in September from the McTeggart company.

Culture

Playwright puts gay rights in spotlight

Alexandra Swanberg | September 28

Imagine staring down the barrel of injustice because your lifestyle instantly sets you apart. Or just see Tim Miller’s performance at Rodey Theatre and hear about his firsthand experiences. In “Glory Box,” Miller reflects on his personal episodes as they relate to situations gay, lesbian and bisexual people find themselves in.

Culture

War novel falls short of classic

Kevin Jackson | September 28

In the past decade, war has again become an important part of the reality of American life. Despite its atrocities, many authors have used war as a useful tool to examine the beauties of humanity.

Charles Ellis’ artwork hangs in the lower level of the SUB. The collection aims at displaying surreal scenarios using colors commonly used in video game graphics.

Culture

Artist Ave--Charles Ellis

Andrew Beale | September 28

The artwork adorning the walls on the lower level of the SUB is intended to make the viewer uncomfortable, artist Charles Ellis said.

Sharon Cantrell, outreach director for Peacecraft, rearranges baskets made from telephone wire. The Nob Hill store is a nonprofit business that raises money for underdeveloped countries.

Culture

Shop asks businesses to play fair

Rebecca Gonzales | September 28

World cultures converge in a store in Nob Hill, yet most people pass without giving it a second glance.

Culture

¡Globalquerque!

Chris Quintana and Andrew Beale | September 23

Festival won’t be fenced by borders ¡Globalquerque! comes but once a year, and this weekend, ’tis the season to hear music from all over the planet. The music and culture festival enters its sixth year and is unique in the Southwest, said Tom Frouge, ¡Globalquerque!

Culture

Nicotine a killer for worldwide bee population

Nathan Levick | September 23

It seems safe to say that filmmaker Kevin Hansen has quite a bee in his bonnet. His 2010 documentary short “Nicotine Bees,” showing at the SUB’s Southwest Film Center from Thursday-Sunday, exposes the root of the pandemic bee population decline that created a buzz in the news a few years ago.

Culture

Albuquerque band mixes melody and metal

Andy Beale | September 23

Despite having a great name, I really didn’t think I was going to like Music is the Enemy. Take any random track from the band’s new CD, Mr. Murdoch … We’re Ready For Our Target Audience, and the first thing that assaults your ears is a wall of death-metal sound.