Culture - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Student org helps Lobos showcase their art

Luisa Pennington | April 1

The University of New Mexico's Arts Entrepreneurship Club was originally started by faculty sponsor Regina Chavez Puccetti of the UNM College of Fine Arts and Anderson School of Management, in collaboration with former President, Miguel Lastra, a Fall 2018 UNM Graduate, to aide students looking to meet art-focused entrepreneurs and broaden their network. "Students in all disciplines of the arts often don't take the time to develop solid entrepreneurial skills. In college, the focus tends to be only on developing their artistic talent,” Chavez Puccetti said. “The UNM Arts Entrepreneurship Club works to help all creative students build their network and find entrepreneurial opportunities... we want to help our graduates increase their chances of success as creative entrepreneurs."

Culture

UNM Department of Art celebrates 90th anniversary

Amanda Britt | April 1

The University of New Mexico’s Department of Art held Art90 last week in celebration of its 90-year anniversary on March 30, with a graduate art exhibition, refreshments and live entertainment in Hodgin Hall. The Art Department has evolved since it first began 90 years ago. In honoring the development of the arts, UNM’s Art alumni were welcomed back to reflect on the history and success of art at the University. Associate Professor and Department Chair, Justine M. Andrews, said that in her experience working in the art department the last 15 years, she has as seen the department develop and grow.

Culture

Five and Why: Psych professor shares favorite movies

Amanda Britt | March 31

Dr. Bruce Smith is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico, focusing his research on clinical and health psychology. His is interested in researching the study of resilience and the ability to bounce back from stress, including the development of interventions that increase happiness and well-being. This potential for stories is what Smith calls the “hero’s journey," something he outlines when sharing his five favorite movies, and why. "Just to briefly define the terms for everyone, positive psychology is about using the science of psychology to become our best self and make the most of our lives,” Smith said. “The ‘hero’s journey’ is a set of stages that Joseph Campbell identified that are common to many of our favorite stories and reflect what we go through in becoming our best self.”

Culture

Food Truck Friday: Differential brewery and curbside pies food truck teams up

Cade Guerrero | March 29

Earlier this year, Curbside Pies and Differential Brewery began their partnership. Owner of Differential, Tino Nellos, and Curbside owner, Steve “Steve-O” Myers, with partners Richard Meyers and Rob Empante, started serving the public last February. Inside each place had a vibe that every student can pick up on. Inside Differential you have an authentic cigarette machine from the 70’s, Wu-Tang Clan beating in your ears and a pool table surrounded with art and a colorful cast of employees ready to serve the brew. On the left side of the building is Curbside, were they built in their own pizza oven inside an old school bus. Alongside Steve-O and Meyers was Meyers' son Raven who helped with taking orders and running food inside to customers. Surrounded by a mixture of pizza ingredients, the first thing that came to my mind was ordering a slice of New Mexico.

Culture

Student org highlights farmworkers

Sophia Sambrano | March 28

Camperinos, a student organization at the University of New Mexico, held its 7th annual Farmworker Awareness Week (FAW) in the SUB Atrium. The three-day event held March 25, 26 and 27 was in support of farmworker justice, coinciding with National FAW and activist, Cesar Chavez’ birthday. The event featured themes on each of the three days, with Monday’s theme being Dia de la Mujer Campesina, Tuesday’s being Farmworker Student Appreciation Day and Wednesday's being Cesar Chavez’ birthday. FAW has a social justice mission, and the intersections of worker justice, gender justice and migrant justice. Their mission pertains to farmworker justice as a whole, something that was emphasized throughout the event.

Culture

Movie Review: "Us" packages social commentary with thrills

Justin Schatz | March 28

It has now become an event whenever a new Jordan Peele movie is released. “Get Out” had resounding success, not only with its competent execution of thrills, but also its ability to incorporate social commentary, something Peele has perfected from his many years as a writer and producer on “Key and Peele.” His entertaining commentary on black and white relations within the U.S. was poignant and unflinching. In “Us,” Peele continues his rise as one of America’s most talented filmmakers and social commentators. The film opens in 1986 at the Santa Clara fair, where we are introduced to a young Adelaide Thomas (played by Madison Curry). Adelaide is at the fair with her parents, before she wanders off and enters a dilapidated funhouse. From there we enter the mind of a director at the top of his game.

Food Truck Review: Street Food Institute

Culture

Food Truck Friday: Street Food Institute

Cade Guerrero | March 27

Food trucks are a common characteristic when visiting a brewery, varying in different fares such as Mexican food, Asian cuisine, you can even find brewery patrons grubbing on fresh pizza. Each truck has a staple specialty and target certain demographics. At the Street Food Institute (SFI), they provide hands on training for people to learn how to run food trucks. A non-profit organization that has developed a partnership with Central New Mexico Community College, SFI gives a curriculum that provides food facilities to students of CNM and to the general public. Lead instructor of SFI, Julian Griego, has a deep background in the culinary arts graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada leading to work in fine dining. As a chef in New Mexico Griego has helped student achieve their passion working in the food truck industry.

Culture

Adam Biederwolf's five favorite albums

Shayla Cunico | March 27

As the election for president of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico gets closer, the Daily Lobo wanted to get to know presidential candidate Adam Biederwolf, and his taste in music a little bit better. Biederwolf said music plays a huge role in his life and considers himself a fan of Hip Hop. He said he is drawn to the conceptual side of the genre, naming artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z and Kanye West as some of his favorites. This was reflected in his answers when asked what his five favorite albums are, and why.

Talking with family and friends about climate change

Culture

UNM holds talk on sustainability

Elisabetta Mackin | March 25

Last Thursday, a talk focused on climate change was held at the University of New Mexico in an effort to encourage students and the University community to acknowledge their collective carbon footprint and learn how to engage in constructive conversations. “The most important thing we can do is talk about it,” said Holly Olivarez, the coordinator of the event. “Even if we are confused and even if we are unsure.” Olivarez, a senior undergraduate student majoring in Earth and Planetary Sciences. She is an aspiring climate scientist, and plans to attend graduate school in the fall specializing in climate change communication.

Culture

El Centro de la Raza celebrates 50th birthday

Shayla Cunico | March 21

Since its founding in 1969, El Centro de la Raza has helped Latino and underrepresented students at the University of New Mexico. This year El Centro is celebrating their 50th anniversary, titled50 Años de Excelencia y Justicia Social. The celebration acts as more of a family reunion, said El Centro's Director, Rosa Isela Cervantes. "We have students coming, (as well as) alumni that haven't seen each other in years," Cervantes said. As El Centro comes up on 50 years at UNM, they wanted to celebrate the milestone in a way that would allow them to continue to support students the way El Centro always has. El Centro provides resources to students, helping them to reach their fullest potential during their years at UNM.

Culture

Luann McConnell shares love of spinning wool

Anthony Jackson | March 5

A spinning wheel here, some fossils there and chunks of rich tradition was found in the halls of the New Mexico State Legislature on Monday, March 4. With wool in her hand undergoing a simple transformation, Luann McConnell traveled as far as Las Cruces, New Mexico to share her values of spinning wool. “I have been spinning for over thirty years and it is so much fun. It’s relaxing and it’s productive,” McConnell said. “It’s also a connection to the past because spinning is as old as civilization — to me, spinning links us to our past.” McConnell said she has volunteered spinning at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum in Las Cruces for more than a year. She said her husband also volunteers there as a blacksmith.

Culture

Prominent sculpture on campus receives refurbishing

Sophia Sambrano | March 5

One of the University of New Mexico’s most visible displays of public art, Luis Jimenez’ “Fiesta Jarabe,” was recently restored, and is a vibrant part of UNM’s large art collection from world-class artists. The sculpture is more commonly known as “Fiesta Dancers” and sits on UNM’s Cornell Mall. It’s bright colors and distinctive style is one of the first public art pieces greeting UNM visitors. Luis Jimenez’ work depicts a strong couple in a jarabe dance, which is traditional to Mexico. The sculpture was installed in 1993 and is an example of one of the many world-class art pieces available for the UNM community to enjoy. Jimenez is known for his fiberglass sculptures that deal with his hispanic and Southwestern cultural heritage that draws on his experience as the son of working-class Mexican migrants. An active artist from the 1960s until his death in 2006, Jimenez’ work is showcased throughout the United States, but his catalog contains a notable presence in New Mexico.

Culture

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck comes to Albuquerque

Shayla Cunico | March 5

This Saturday, the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will be rolling into Albuquerque and settling in the courtyard of ABQ Uptown. The pink pickup will be parked in the courtyard near California Pizza Kitchen from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. As part of Sanrio’s debut food related project, the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck made its first trip around the U.S. in 2014. The truck has traveled to more than 80 locations since its debut, and Albuquerque is next on the list. This year Sanrio added 25 locations to their 2019 tour.

Culture

UNM students celebrate Mardis Gras in the SUB

Katie Monette | March 5

This past Tuesday, Mardi Gras was celebrated in New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean New Mexicans can’t party too. Student Activities hosted a Mardi Gras celebration in the Student Union Building as a way “to get students into the SUB and excited about things,” said event coordinator, Emily Louth. Directly translating in English to "Fat Tuesday," Mardi Gras is an old Catholic tradition made famous by the rowdy parties in New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Also called Carnival, Mardi Gras is a way to let loose before Lent, the practice of giving up a habit in order to relate to Jesus’ struggles leading up Easter Sunday. “You know, it started in Mobile, Alabama. It’s not the famous one; New Orleans took it over,” said Linda Piper, who attended the event. Today, Mobile has a rich Mardi Gras tradition of its own, as well as Galveston, Texas and some places in southern Mississippi.

Culture

Photo Story: UNM celebrates 130th birthday

Danielle Prokop | March 4

Balloons, banners and all manners of birthday paraphernalia adorned the atrium on Thursday when the University of New Mexico celebrated it's 130th birthday.

Culture

"The Bachelorette" offers a witty, raunchy performance

Justin Garcia | March 4

I’ve been describing “Bachelorette” as a raunchier “Bridesmaids” to pretty much everyone who’s asked me about it. In actuality, I should just tell them to go see it for themselves. This rendition of Leslye Headland’s “Bachelorette” was directed by Rashaad Bond. It’s set to run from March 1 to March 10 at the Experimental “X” theater. Headland’s dark comedy of three seemingly shallow women struggling to cope with the anxieties of adulthood was turned into a movie in 2012. The show is being put on by SCRAP Productions, a student organization, as well as the University of New Mexico Department of Theater and Dance.

Culture

UNM's greenhouse flourishes with life

Justin Schatz | March 4

Spring is nearly here, and there is no better time to checkout the University of New Mexico’s Greenhouse located in Castetter Hall. The greenhouse hosts a number of native and nonnative plant species. With the days noticeably longer, many of the cacti have already begun their spring bloom of pink and yellow flowers. The facility is cared for by greenhouse manager, Wesley Noe, who graduated from UNM in Spring 2017 with a degree in biology. The focus of the greenhouse “is mainly research and teaching,” Noe said. Next to the public greenhouse, illuminated by phosphorescent pink LED lights, is another greenhouse dedicated to research. The research greenhouse hosts undergraduate and graduate research projects and is cared for by Noe.

Culture

Food Truck Review: Don Choche

Cade Guerrero | March 1

The Samaniego family started their food truck “Don Choche” from scratch, building up the truck over the course of two years by installing the stoves, furnace, as well as building the connections with local food purveyors. Jorge Samaniego, the father of the business, has been the backbone to Don Choche’s success and is supported by his wife Nancy and daughter Cristina. “Don Choche was my second food truck after my first one got too small,” Jorge said. “Little by little it came together, building up the money and waiting for the customers.”

Culture

Ariana Grande furthers her sound on "thank u, next"

Megan Holmen | February 28

The Italian-American, mega ponytailed popstar, Ariana Grande, took control of her story on Feb. 8, with her most recent album “thank u, next.” Multiple songs are already topping charts. The 12 track record is the 25-year-old’s fifth album and is consistent with the style of “Sweetener,” her previous album released in 2018. “Sweetener” earned Grande her first Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Album earlier this month. Since releasing “Sweetener,” which featured her hit track “God is a Woman,” Grande certainly came into her personal musical style and powerful voice. “thank u, next” is a testimony to Grande’s building musical prowess through contemplative personal assessment on previous romances and trauma while keeping her chin high looking towards her future. Her new album takes on new elements of sound, further develops her style and delivers both the possibility of a new Grande era and classic Grandesque tones.

Culture

Upcoming concerts to see in Albuquerque

Shayla Cunico | February 20

As festival season peeks over the horizon and concerts start rolling into town with Albuquerque being a destination for many musicians. Last year we had a variety of acts visit the Duke City including, TDE front runners Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Japanese Breakfast, Beach House, Cuco, Mr. Carmack and Playboi Carti. 2019 is off to the same start with Vince Staples, Hippo Campus, Washed Out and Still Woozy displaying their talents to their northern New Mexico fans. In the middle of the second month of the year, the talent doesn’t look to be letting up any time soon.