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Culture

Silent Lights set to illuminate Smith Plaza

Spenser Willden | September 13

This Thursday, Sep. 15, “Silent Lights” will once again light up Smith Plaza as the University of New Mexico’s annual silent disco, free of charge for students and a plus-one. Silent Lights is an annual event put on by the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico, Lobo Spirit, Student Special Events, and University Communication and Marketing. When they enter the event, students will be given wireless headphones that they can use to tune into one of three DJ stages playing different genres of music through the night. According to organizer and Student Special Events executive director Devin Padilla-Munson, the goal is to create an event where all students can have a good time.

Culture

Southwest Film Center reels in film lovers across campus

Maddie Pukite | September 12

Located on the first floor of the Student Union Building, the Southwest Film Center offers free movie screenings and other events throughout the semester to all University of New Mexico students. The center provides film fanatics, like newly appointed SWFC executive director Rylee Norman, a voice within the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico. The SWFC offers students on campus a venue to enjoy arthouse films that may not be showing on other big screens near them, according to Norman. Not only that, but the center also helps to showcase student work.

Culture

5 and Why: 5 yummy places to eat around Albuquerque

Alizay Chavez | September 12

Albuquerque is a large city filled with amazing places to dine. According to University of New Mexico junior Evan Anaya, these five restaurants around Albuquerque are unmissable when considering a place to grab a bite with friends, on a date or alone. His suggestions might provide you with your next restful break from studying.

Culture

Thriving business, UNM present at Artwalk

Annya Loya | September 6

Despite bad weather, downtown Albuquerque continued with their traditional Artwalk on the month's first weekend on Friday, Sept. 2. Local artists decorated Central Avenue by 5 p.m. but started to clear out less than two hours later. While there was no more threat than gray skies and counted drops of rain, the slight wind was enough to run some vendors and buyers off as products began falling down or flying away.

Culture

REVIEW: John Boyega shines in tragic thriller ‘Breaking’

John Scott | September 6

In July 2017, former Lance Corporal Brian Brown-Easley entered a Wells Fargo bank in an Atlanta suburb and informed employees he had a bomb in his backpack that he would detonate if the Department of Veterans Affairs office did not provide him with his monthly disability payment. “Breaking,” released wide in the U.S. on Aug. 26, depicts that fateful day with a sympathetic eye, providing audiences with a taut and hard to watch thriller. The film, which marks the feature-length debut of director-screenwriter Abi Damaris Corbin, documents the unfolding of the robbery, only occasionally breaking off into flashbacks to establish Brown-Easely’s family life, military service and the events leading up to present day.

Culture

OPINION: 74th Primetime Emmy Awards predictions

John Scott and Spenser Willden | September 6

On Sunday, Sept. 12, television’s best and brightest will gather at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the 74th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Back in Albuquerque, New Mexico, two Daily Lobo editors have compiled a list of what they think will win and should win in seven of the award categories.

Culture

Loboscopes: September general predictions

Zara Roy | September 6

The dwindling summer months will see Venus, the planet of love and harmony, and Mars, the planet of sex and agression, harshly juxtaposed in the signs of Virgo and Gemini, respectively. This placement generally advises against spreading yourself too thin — Mars in Gemini wants a hand in all the pots, Venus in Virgo seeks comfort in honing in on mastery. These placements will only be made more hectic by Mercury, which goes retrograde in Virgo and promises mayhem and mishaps in its wake. How will your own plans fall into place this autumn? Read on to see how.

Culture

Local cinema owner showcases independent finds

Zara Roy | September 5

Tucked away in Nob Hill lies a safe haven for Albuquerque cinephiles and subculturists alike at the city’s only remaining independent art house cinema. Keif Henley, owner of the Guild Cinema, retains the theater’s tradition of showcasing an alternative to the mainstream selections of most theaters. The Guild Cinema first opened its doors in 1966, quickly shifting their offerings from independent art films to much more lucrative pornography showings. The theater traded hands in 1971, beginning again as a revival cinema before shifting back to its independent art house roots which persist to this day.

Culture

Art trio ‘The Mothership ABQ’ thrives at Artwalk

Annya Loya | September 5

From cute, chunky and fluffy bags to witchy bones that capture the attention of any passerby, the trio has something for everyone. Golden, psychedelic and strawberry-like art adorned the table of arts trio The Mothership ABQ at the Albuquerque Artwalk this past Friday, Sept. 2. The Mothership ABQ has participated in Artwalk for only two months, but has already found its place within the artistic community.

Culture

Pink Rhino owner helps keep Albuquerque unique

Maddie Pukite | August 29

The Pink Rhino and Red Velvet Underground offers a unique thrifting experience in a basement location on Central Avenue in the Nob Hill area of Albuquerque. The store, while upon first glance looks quaint, is in fact a sprawling shop with hundreds of clothing items and many art pieces both curated and crafted by owner Dori Martain, a longtime creative, entrepreneur and Renaissance woman of punk.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘A League of Their Own’ (2022) isn’t quite a grand slam

Sierra Martinez | August 29

On Aug. 12, 2022, Amazon Prime released their eight-episode adaptation of the 1992 film “A League of Their Own,” originally directed by Penny Marshall. Unlike the original film, the 2022 adaptation, directed by Jamie Babbit, focuses heavily on queerness and self discovery. While the series does a good job of discussing gender, race and sexuality-based disparities, there is still a lot that could have been done better to make it a more enjoyable show.

Culture

REVIEW: “Hustle” proves to be a safe but secure bucket

Spenser Willden | August 29

The sports movie is a surefire way to grab and hold an audience; take an underdog story and add unmatched athleticism, and you’ll wind up with something safe and satisfying that most audiences will have a great time with. Jeremiah Zagar’s 2022 feature “Hustle,” starring Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangomez, is no exception to this rule, providing viewers with a heartfelt and impressive film, if from the free-throw line.

Culture

Spirit Marching Band marches into a new season

Elizabeth Secor | August 29

A week prior to the fall semester, members of the University of New Mexico Spirit Marching Band arrived on campus for band camp. Their practice kicked into high gear as the band began preparing their pregame and halftime shows for their upcoming season. The UNM Spirit Marching Band is one of UNM’s primary music ensembles, featuring about 110 members for this season, according to drum major Damon Hess. The band is open to both UNM and Central New Mexico Community College students and performs at all home football games throughout the season. In October, they will be hosting the 44th Zia Marching Band Fiesta for New Mexico high school bands.

Culture

IATSE Film & TV Expo invites New Mexicans to go behind the scenes

Spenser Willden | August 25

This Sunday, Aug. 28, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is hosting its first-ever New Mexico Film and TV Expo at the training center for the Local 480 union chapter. This expo, which allows audiences to step behind the scenes and get to know the operations of a working set, serves to lower the barrier of entry into the film industry by educating New Mexicans on what goes into making a motion picture.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘Funny Pages’ colorfully subverts coming-of-age genre

John Scott | August 25

One could argue that established artistic rules and conventions only exist so that we may praise works that break or subvert them; in the opening scene to writer-director Owen Kline’s debut “Funny Pages,” we see our fresh-faced protagonist Robert (Daniel Zolghardi) receive this exact lesson from art teacher Mr. Katano (Stephen Adly Guirgis). It seems Kline was an astute student of his own fictional teacher’s teaching, presenting us with a delightfully subversive and dark take on the coming-of-age tale.

Culture

UNM senior comes on as newLoboTHON executive director

Spenser Willden | August 23

As the new school year kicks off, University of New Mexico senior Kasey Lenning is preparing for a year of fundraising and outreach as the new executive director of LoboTHON, UNM’s largest student-run philanthropy organization. Throughout the year,LoboTHON raises funds for UNM Children’s Hospital which culminates in a 31-hour dance marathon for students, patients and families to unwind and connect the year’s efforts in a final fundraising push.

Culture

UNM professor traverses borders through movement

Zara Roy | August 23

UNM instructor and alumnus Juli Hendren has recently returned to the United States after a trip to Krakow, Poland in which she worked with Ukrainian refugees to stage a performance telling stories of life in crisis and finding identity outside of home. Early in her theatrical career, Hendren made connections with experimental producers and directors involved with theater movements in Eastern Europe and Poland specifically, which first drew Hendren toward the community. Through this, she also became interested in physical theater, which prioritizes the use of movement to tell stories. She is especially drawn to the visceral and unknown nature of allowing the body to lead the performance.

Culture

New Mexico Shakespeare Festival presents free performances of canonical works

Spenser Willden | August 22

On Aug. 5, the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival opened its 2022 season at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Park in collaboration with Vortex Theatre and the city of Albuquerque, bringing Shakespeare to New Mexico in an accessible fashion with free tickets and local talent. This season includes performances of “As You Like It” and “King Lear” and will run until Sept. 3.

Culture

SUB comes alive for Friday Night Live

John Scott | August 22

On Friday, Aug. 19, Lobos flooded the Student Union Building at the University of New Mexico for Friday Night Live, a one-night activity event kicking off Welcome Back Days. Laser tag, casino games and free food were just a few of the highlights from the late-night caper. This event was only the first in a series of events called Welcome Back Days, aimed at welcoming students back to campus after summer break — other planned events include the Class Crawl, Movie on the Field, President’s Ice Cream Social and UNM Communities Day.

Culture

REVIEW: ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ stacks up the schlock in satirical slasher

Spenser Willden | August 22

This review contains spoilers A24’s new satirical slasher “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” directed by dutch actress Halina Reijn, seemed awful by the first trailer — a typical thriller told through the gimmick of influencer culture. To my pleasant surprise, the actual movie offered up a strong visual identity, intelligent humor and a passable story to tide audiences wary of hearing the same generational jokes we’ve heard thousands of times before. Though still gimmicky, and in many ways unoriginal, “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is an entertaining and aesthetic ride.