Culture - The Daily Lobo

Culture

BioPark volunteers explain traditional healing plants

Lissa Knudsen | November 7

It was a sunny autumn morning, just a few hours after the second freeze of the season. The leaves had started to change color but hadn’t yet fallen, and the ABQ Botanic Garden was especially quiet — the summer tourists had subsided for the season, and the mid-morning hour catered mostly to retirees and parents with small children. Some days, the docents explained, they have to go out into the park to cajole people into listening to their talk but, on this day, that wasn’t the case. Nine people, including a couple of cooing toddlers with their parents, a collection of retirees and a UNM graduate student listened to the docents as they made their way around the looped curandera garden path. The Spanish word curandera refers to a traditional healer that practices a combination of traditional Indigenous and Catholic remedies. Curanderas are called on to provide treatments for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illnesses.

Culture

Nuts about Piñon

Alanie Rael and Andrea Solis | November 7

As the autumn days grow shorter and the nights grow longer, a number of New Mexicans indulge in the picking of pine nuts — commonly known as piñon in the Southwest and pinyon in the rest of the U.S.. Many families across the state take time out of their days to harvest the tree nut between the months of September and November. Bernadette Jaramillo, a youth minister at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, said she usually takes her family out to collect piñon during the years when the tree nut is being harvested.

Culture

Boo at the Zoo offers ghoulish experience for all ages

Caitlin Scott | November 3

Ghouls and gals were welcomed into the Albuquerque Biopark Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Albuquerque BioPark has hosted some type of Halloween event every year for the past 30 years. This year, Boo at the Zoo was a fundraiser and all of the proceeds benefit additions and renovations for the zoo as well as the aquarium and the botanical gardens. There were many activities for all ages to enjoy including trick-or-treating stations all around the central part of the zoo. In previous Boo at the Zoo events, there was small candy tables throughout the zoo. Candy vendors didn’t discriminate — whether people were young, old or anywhere in-between, they were given a large handful of candy.

UNM undergraduate art department hosts open house

Culture

UNM Undergraduate Art gets spooky

Luisa Pennington | November 3

The University of New Mexico’s Fine Arts Department welcomed the public into their building for art, candy and costumes during an Open House. Last Wednesday, undergraduate artists enrolled in art department classes had the opportunity to showcase their work and share their passions with the public. Specific departments included Art Education, Art History, Art and Ecology, Ceramics, Experimental Art and Technology, Painting and Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Arita Porcelain, Graphic Design and Foundations.

Culture

Open Mic Uni Night encourages students to share talents

Daniel Ward | October 28

From singing to guitar, and stand-up to spoken word, the Student Union Building filled with laughter and entertainment at the Open Mic Night of Oct. 25, as part of Uni Night at the University of New Mexico. Monthly Uni Night events are funded by student fees, inviting all students to take a small break from their studies to participate in these social gatherings. This month was the first Open Mic Night for Uni Nights. There was no competition between each performance. Instead, anyone wanting to share a talent was encouraged to do so.

Culture

UNM MFA students showcase artwork

Beatrice Nisoli | October 28

The University of New Mexico’s Master of Fine Arts students opened up their studios to the public to discuss craft and the origins of inspiration last Thursday, Oct. 24. Each studio incorporated immersive lighting and sound techniques to best accompany artwork ranging from photography, needlework, sketches and poetry. The artists' work explored developing themes unique to the students’ backgrounds and identities. The Daily Lobo had the opportunity to speak to four MFA students about their art pieces, as well as their artistic journeys. The event took place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Art Annex and Mattox Sculpture Center. Light snacks and music were provided.

Culture

Three scares for your October

Caitlin Scott | October 28

If you're in search of a couple of chills and thrills now that spooky season is upon us, you've come to the right place. Here at the Daily Lobo, we’ve got you covered with scares for all types of guys and ghouls and anyone in between. Here are the three best-haunted houses in the Albuquerque area:

Culture

UNM holds inaugural s'mores with President Stokes

Daniel Ward | October 27

The dynamic sound of the University of New Mexico Spirit Marching Band paraded through campus on Monday, Oct. 21. They led a crowd of students and staff members to President Garnett Stokes’ house for a S’mores Social to kick off Homecoming Week. The event started at 2 p.m. outside the Student Union Building. As the band played, it attracted students to follow them to goodies awaiting them at the President’s residence. There, the band performed on her front lawn while students and staff members enjoyed a gooey s’mores bar.

Culture

Valle del Oro murals showcase different bosque ecosystems

Daniel Ward | October 21

At the Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge (VDO), five local female artists worked together to make five murals on the different ecosystems of the refuge. As part of the 516 ARTS: Species in Peril Along the Rio Grande Collaborative Exhibition Series, each artist is creating her own billboard-style freestanding mural set up in different parts of the refuge to illustrate what each area is going to look like in the future. Artist, Francesca Searer is the artist who helped create the mural program for VDO, and her mural focuses on the wetland habitat with the sunset in the background. Nani Chacon is painting her mural for the Visitor Center which has a big focus on pollinator gardens with a general overview of the entire refuge. Erin De Rosa is painting her mural on the Storm Water Habitat, Jessica Chao is working on the mural for the Bosque, and Haley Greenfeather English is doing a mural for the Upland Habitat.

Culture

UNM student takes on spooky role in Quarantine

Caitlin Scott | October 21

Bridey Caramagno is a current University of New Mexico student and member of the Quarantine interactive horror show located in Albuquerque. She is a creative, primarily focusing on the performing arts. Caramagno spoke to the Daily Lobo about the details on her role in Quarantine as well as her other artistic ventures. Quarantine is an immersive horror show located on Coal Avenue. Caramagno’s involvement with Quarantine started with one of the playwrights of the show. She got in contact with them via the theatre department on campus.

Culture

UNM tops off Hispanic Heritage Month with Dia de la Raza

Alanie Rael | October 17

As the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, Dia de La Raza was held as one last function put on by the University of New Mexico to help bring Hispanic culture to life. Time Magazine defines Hispanic Heritage Month as “an official celebration of American citizens whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.” This definition applies to the events that have been put on by student cultural groups on campus and El Centro from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Many events included traditional foods and music that celebrated the large Hispanic population at UNM.

Culture

UNM community favorite Richard Perce leaves for new opportunites

Luisa Pennington | October 16

The campus-renowned manager of the Satellite in the Student Union Building walked away from a legacy of iced coffee, warm muffins and University of New Mexico connections, last Friday. Richard Perce, former community staple at the SUB, experienced his last day of work at Satellite on Friday, Oct. 11. Though many people have seen Perce behind the shiny metal counters of Satellite, he has spent many days outside of the SUB, as well. Not only did he manage to help out with last year's Raza Graduation, but he assisted with University events such as Late Night Breakfast and Friday Night Live, as well. Though his prominence and impact on campus life may allude to him being at UNM for decades, he has only been at the SUB Satellite location for seven years. Before that, he had been working for the company, off and on, for 19 years.

Culture

El Centro de la Raza embraces National Hispanic Heritage Month

Alyssa Martinez | October 16

Although National Hispanic Heritage Month is coming to a close, the celebration and cultivation of Hispanic cultures are a constant at El Centro de la Raza, the Latino resource center at the University of New Mexico. Rosa Isela Cervantes, special advisor to the president on Latino affairs and director of El Centro de la Raza, said El Centro has been serving students at UNM for just over 50 years through outreach events, academic help and personal assistance.

News

Grecian festival brings in Albuquerque community to celebrate Greek culture

Megan Holmen | October 7

Opa! Aromatic, authentic Greek food, upbeat lyrical music, the sound of people laughing and heels clacking against the dance floor — thousands came out to the Albuquerque Grecian Festival over the weekend. The festival, located in downtown Albuquerque at the Greek Orthodox Church off of High Street, is held the first weekend of October every year. It features traditional Greek food and dance shows, a craft fair, a children’s carnival area, cooking lessons and dance lessons — all with the aim to immerse the Albuquerque community in Greek culture. Mary Anne Kay, an active member of the community and volunteer, runs a booth at the festival. Kay said she has been doing this for many years and is passionate about it.

Culture

ABQ Zine Fest showcases diversity, art Downtown

Caitlin Scott | October 7

Page-turning text and eye-catching art lined various tables at the National Hispanic Cultural Center this past weekend as the ninth annual Albuquerque Zine Fest (ABQZF) took shape. ABQZF is now the longest-running zine event in New Mexico. Zines are self-published magazine-type booklets. Often, creators will use them to showcase their original artwork and literature. The ABQZF has created a noncompetitive, diverse, queer-friendly and creative environment for such artists for almost a decade. The event is founded and run by women of color and featured 62 diverse artists.

Culture

Burqueños get opportunity to walk on the moon

Natty DeAnna | October 7

On Friday, Oct. 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Natural History Museum of New Mexico (NHMNM) hosted the annual Observe the Moon Night. This event occurs in either September or October, when the moon is around the first quarter – a great phase for evening observing, according to NASA’s website. International Observe, the Moon Night has been held annually since 2010. Each year, thousands of people participate at museums, planetaria, schools, universities, observatories, parks, businesses and backyards around the world. Everyone can participate. Although Friday started out rainy and cloudy, the sky cleared up by the time night fell with only a few clouds scattered in the evening sky by 7 p.m. Telescopes were provided by the museum, and the Albuquerque Astronomical Society also set up telescopes along the observation deck for use.

Culture

Photo Story: SOMOS welcomes thousands in event's new location

Kristina Tanberg | October 3

Thousands of people gathered in Downtown Albuquerque's Civic Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 28 to celebrate the beauty and brilliance of our city. Last year, the event welcomed 25,000 attendees and estimates from event organizers estimated this year’s event brought event more — hence the move to Civic Plaza. The festivities included local games, food and drink, vendors and local music. This year, the musical lineup included Def-I, Whipped Cream, Felix Cartal, Chicano Batman, Fad Vandals and BTSM as the headliner. Additionally, many local musicians and artists got the chance to perform and show off their talent to the public.

Culture

Species in Peril: Downtown exhibit spotlights biological crisis

Megan Holmen and Colin Peña | October 2

Inside of the 516 ARTS gallery in Downtown Albuquerque, the Species in Peril art exhibit aims to bring recognition and acknowledgement to the pressing issue of biological extinction focusing on the Rio Grande watershed. The collaborative project is centered in Albuquerque but has satellite exhibits up and down the Rio Grande watershed. Along the 1,885 mile long span of the river, thousands of species are threatened by human activity directly or indirectly. Human activity often reduces their habitats, threatening them with extinction. These species include large mammals like the American bison, which historically lived on both the river in the United States and Mexico, and the endangered silvery minnow, which used to have an expansive range but has now been reduced to just a few miles in central New Mexico.

Culture

Club highlights vital role of bees in ecosystem

Makayla Grijalva | September 30

Honeycomb glistened with golden morning hues as local beekeeper Bobby “Bee” Blanquez showed off one of his three honeybee hives to the University of New Mexico Beekeeping Club on Saturday. Blanquez and his wife, Camille Cunningham, have been keeping bees since 2012. "My name is Bee. That’s one reason (I began to keep bees)," Blanquez said. "We heard about bees dying, and once the bees go on Earth, you know that’s it. Our food supplies go out. We have bees because we want to support them." The couple doesn’t keep bees for the honey harvest, but rather primarily for their pollination abilities. They haven’t harvested honey from a hive since the spring of 2018 when one of their colonies abandoned the hive, leaving honey behind. "It's not for the honey, it’s for them. We do it for the bees," Blanquez said.

Culture

Ukekopelli Festival features music of the Beatles

Makayla Grijalva | September 30

The 6th annual Ukekopelli Festival kicked off last Friday with a concert featuring the hit-music of the Beatles. “The only festival that was anywhere near here was in Reno, Nevada. So, the local clubs, the local people that I knew, we decided we could have one ourselves,” Gary Wells said, one of the organizers of the festival. The theme was chosen because this year is the 50th anniversary of the Beatles last album “Abbey Road,” which Wells said defined rock’n’roll at the time of release. Performers at the concert included Brooke Adams, who played the entire “Abbey Road” album, and Bete-lele who also performed Beatles covers.