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Culture

Hamilton hits different on screen

Daniel Ward | July 10

Because the original soundtrack to this play was released in 2016, this review contains spoilers. After watching a recording of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” which won 11 Tony awards in 2016, I’m not sure I will ever be satisfied. On July 3, the streaming platform Disney+ released a recording of the play with the original cast performing live in New York at Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2016. Like every other Hamilton fan, I was excited to see the recording of a play and have listened to the soundtrack non-stop. But after sitting through the nearly three hour-long play, I couldn’t help but want more.

Culture

Performative social media actions amidst BLM resurgence not enough, activists say

Beatrice Nisoli | July 6

Since George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests have been revived across the nation to advocate for racial equity and an end to police brutality. In addition to voicing their opposition on the streets, individuals of all ages and races are utilizing social media as a platform to educate their followers and publicize their opinions. African American Student Services (AASS) representative Dannelle Kirven said social media can be a vehicle for social justice due to its capacity to efficiently share information. “There are several posts being shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., telling people exactly what they can do to show support and uplift the Black community, from supporting Black-owned businesses in their area to providing numbers to dial to demand justice for those who have been victims of police brutality,” Kirven said.

Culture

AMP Concerts sustains local entertainment industry on life support

Cameron Ward | July 6

While most live concerts have been on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, AMP Concerts has been reaching out to local artists and bands to provide work and entertainment for the community. AMP — a New Mexico-based nonprofit organization — has presented over 200 concert events every year since 2004, but operations have come to a halt due to safety concerns. Because the CDC has labeled large gatherings as “high risk,” AMP is using its money to go toward new ways of entertainment such as drive-in concerts and live streams. Before the pandemic hit, AMP was hosting concerts at Albuquerque branch libraries funded by Friends of the Public Library, the Santa Fe Opera, parks and many more. Now AMP has officially moved toward free livestreams on Facebook and YouTube.

Culture

Little Free Libraries inject literature into reading-starved community

Daniel Ward | July 6

It’s always exciting to come across a miniature library box at a park or on a trail with the words “take a book, leave a book.” While public libraries and bookstores had to temporarily shut down to prevent spread of the coronavirus, a nonprofit organization known as Little Free Library (LFL) is thriving as an easy way to get literary resources in the Albuquerque community. With over 60 registered boxes in town, people of all ages can find something enjoyable to read, especially during the extended pandemic. LFL recently partnered with the City of Albuquerque and hopes to expand in the near future.

Culture

Couponing: The do’s and don’t’s

Angelina Pompeo | July 6

College can be one of the most financially stressful points in your life. You have to balance classes, pay thousands of dollars for tuition and even more for a place to live. Suddenly, a job is necessary to help with the financial burden that is almost instantly placed on your shoulders in the transition to adulthood. If you’re not on a college meal plan, you’re left trying to keep your belly full with limited funds. My solution for this is an efficient couponing process. There are a few apps from different grocers that try to help with saving, but which of these different apps are actually helpful, and which should you steer clear of?

Culture

Fourth of July draws controversy during pandemic, protests

Megan Gleason | July 6

As fireworks lit up the sky on the Fourth of July, so too rang out shouts of injustice in the night amidst a resurgence of controversy surrounding the holiday. A social media call for opinions about the Fourth brought down a wave of vastly different answers, all strongly opinionated for one side or the other. “I don’t celebrate the founding of an ongoing genocidal, violently oppressive, white supremacist empire,” Nicholas Jacobsen said on Instagram. The necessity for equality was a large factor for many in their decisions not to celebrate this year.

Culture

Electric Playhouse’s summer coding camp stimulates young minds

Cameron Ward | July 3

A new generation of creators, artists, coders and engineers in the making have a unique opportunity to learn the basics of coding during lockdown. Albuquerque’s young superstars aged 6-12 are welcome for the ongoing summer and educational camp at Electric Playhouse, which styles itself as a “all-ages dining, gaming and recreation wonderland.” “Electric Playhouse produces creative worlds for immersive and interactive experiences including games, dining and special events for all ages,” according to the company’s website. The playhouse has a motion-sensitive interactive course that doesn’t require visitors to touch anything, which is perfect for staying six feet apart due to coronavirus safety guidelines.

Culture

African American Student Services discusses future steps for BLM activism

Beatrice Nisoli | July 3

What will happen to keep the positive momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement going and ensure social justice efforts continue when the media shifts its focus away from it? “When the Hashtag Stops Trending,” an online Zoom event hosted by African American Student Services (AASS) on June 25, asked precisely that — and the query resulted in a litany of answers on concrete actions Black activists and allies can take going forward. The event was a part of an online video series that discussed contemporary issues faced by the Black community.

Culture

“The Hate U Give” still relevant in a racist justice system

Megan Gleason | June 29

“I can’t breathe. I can’t. Breathe.” Those were the words George Floyd gasped before he was murdered at the hands of a police officer on May 25. Those are also the words from Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” — a book that was released three years before Floyd’s death. Thomas takes the reader to the world of sixteen-year-old Starr Carter, a Black girl living in a poor Black neighborhood while attending a wealthy white school. Only two chapters in, Carter bears witness to her friend Khalil Harris’ murder. The two are in the car together when Harris is pulled over by a white police officer for no obvious reason. After Harris questions why he was pulled over, the cop yanks him out of the car and pats him down three times in an attempt to find something to pin on the teenager, to no avail.

Culture

Brillo the 10-foot-tall snail visits Albuquerque

Megan Gleason | June 28

Brillo, a ten-foot-tall puppet snail, has been making its way around Albuquerque to visit families and children in quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic. Creator Ashleigh Abbott is an Albuquerque local that attends the University of New Mexico. People can leave virtual “rainbows” to request a visit from Brillo. Currently, the snail is mainly visiting around the UNM area. Diliana Ovtcharova, Abbott’s sister-in-law, is the author of “Brillo the Snail on the Rainbow Trail,” a short children’s story that explains the concept of the coronavirus in a way that children will understand and what Brillo does in response. Daniela Ovtcharov, Abbott’s mother-in-law, will illustrate the story in the future.

Culture

Readers dive into emotions in Gigi Bella’s ‘Big Feelings’

Liam Debonis | June 28

Fast-paced slam-style poetry along with intimate sonnets immerse Gigi Bella’s audience as she moves through key emotions in her own experiences with loss, pain, healing and love in her newly-released poetry book “Big Feelings.” A born and raised New Mexican, the 26-year-old Bella is an internationally recognized poet with a multitude of writing and slam poetry competition awards. In 2017, she was ranked 10th in the world at the Women of the World Poetry Slam. After a lengthy hiatus from higher education, she’ll also finish her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a focus on American studies at the University of New Mexico in the fall.

Culture

UNM professors analyze Black community in media

Beatrice Nisoli | June 25

With the current Black Lives Matter movement garnering increasing international attention, the portrayal of Black people in the media has become more relevant than ever. Dr. Myra Washington, UNM Communications and Journalism professor, said anti-Blackness in the media is one of the many products of systemic racism, which she described as institutions — such as families or educational establishments — that hold all racial power. Washington said one-dimensional depictions of people of color often originate from lack of resources, which is a byproduct of how anti-Black institutions operate. “If an Indigenous student wants to go into screenwriting, and he doesn’t have any Indigenous classmates or Indigenous professors, then he won’t write about his family because others in his space wouldn’t understand,” Washington said. “So he’ll end up writing about the same things as everyone else and well-rounded representation won’t happen.”

Culture

Simple call for staying United: Noé Barnett’s new mural keeps soccer in view

Cameron Ward | June 24

For some, the season for Albuquerque’s New Mexico United might be over, but artist Neo Barnett hopes to keep the team’s presence alive with his new mural for the club. The New Mexico United mural is displayed on Second Street and Coal Avenue and was made by Barnett in just ten days. Due to the pandemic, the team had a delayed start to the 2020 season and was forced to shut down on March 12, according to Peter Trevisani. United Creative Director Josh Lane said United will start back up again on July 11 for a brand new season.

Culture

Skaters come together in peaceful BLM protest

Megan Gleason | June 23

Go Skateboarding Day took place on June 21, bringing not only joy to skateboarders around the United States but also a peaceful skateboarding protest to Albuquerque. The protest, entitled “Push for Peace,” started with a voter registration drive at the University of New Mexico’s Smith Plaza and ended with a skate down Central Avenue to Civic Plaza. “When you have a skateboard and you’re skating, you’re treated how I think everyone should be treated,” local skateboarder Tyniesha Thompson said. The event was promoted by Grandma Skateboards and organized by Andrae Satcher, Jake Alsept and Noah Cook.

Culture

Easy recipe for New Mexico state cookie

Ellie Aikman | June 23

Are you a true New Mexican? Put yourself to the test by making the New Mexico state cookie, the bizcochito. Bizcochitos are cookies with origins in the Spanish colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo México flavored with anise and cinnamon. Traditionally, the cookies are cut into the shape of crescent moons and stars. They can be seen made for holidays and events such as weddings, and it is often served alongside a cup of hot chocolate. Developed centuries ago, the bizcochito was brought to New Mexico by Spanish colonists and by immigrants from other Hispanic countries. It was also greatly influenced by local and Indigenous customs.

Culture

Black Lives Matter at UNM African American Student Services

Megan Gleason | June 23

"To think about the most ideal world means that we have to unthink our own knowledge we currently have ... to try to unthink all bias, unthink all racism, unthink all 'isms' and think about what is that utopian world that we're looking at," Brandi Stone, the director of African American Student Services (AASS) at the University of New Mexico, said about the Black Lives Matter movement. Protests for the movement began anew after George Floyd's murder at the hands of a police officer on May 25. Stone said that this was a tipping point for the white community but "Black and brown bodies-- we've already experienced the tipping point."

Culture

Digital artists weave technology and fashion to transcend physical limitations

Joseph McKee / @josephdmckee / Daily Lobo | June 19

Fashion has always been a medium that allows both designers and models alike a physical outlet of expression. As we advance further into the 21st century, pairing the need for expression with the limitless bounds of digital software and the internet has become a must. In 2020, we have already entered a new space for fashion through Computer Generated Imagery (CGI). CGI allows the entire fashion industry to be revolutionized, from designers to models to advertisements. By using digital software programs like Adobe, CLO 3D and Daz, 3D artists are now able to explore the medium of fashion outside of physical limits.

Culture

Hooked on Depop: Tips and tricks to create a small business right from your phone

Cameron Ward | June 17

Decluttering during quarantine might not be a bad idea after all if you’re looking for some extra cash. Depop, an online marketplace for buying and selling used and upcycled clothing, has opened the door for local designers and entrepreneurs to start their small business with just a smartphone. Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of changing something you already own into better quality or more valuable to your liking.

Culture

Socially distanced Pride parade celebrates intersectionality and inclusion

Mike Sandoval | June 17

Despite the cancellation of the Albuquerque Pride Parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, Central Avenue became home to an “unofficial” celebration of the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Black rights on June 13. In honor of Pride Month, which spans the month of June, the parade route stretched down Central Avenue from Fifth Street to San Pedro. This was no regular parade with people marching up and down the streets: This parade was similar to the modified birthday and baby shower parades that we have become accustomed to during this pandemic.

Culture

Best Buddies Friendship Walk goes virtual

Beatrice Nisoli | June 17

In response to the continuing COVID-19 crisis, Best Buddies recently announced that its annual Walk For Inclusion would be transitioned to a virtual format on June 20. Best Buddies creates opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through a network of volunteers. This goal is accomplished through a plethora of celebratory events — the most notable being the organization's annual Walk for Inclusion — and by assigning registered members a "buddy," or an individual who lives nearby that has an IDD, to develop a friendship with.