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Culture

‘Swiftie-nomics’: First Lobo Living Room of the year

Elizabeth Bolke | February 3

On Thursday, Jan. 30, the University of New Mexico Alumni hosted 2025’s first Lobo Living Room — a series of events that will showcase distinguished UNM alums engaging in discussions, demonstrations and performances related to their fields of expertise. The first event, called “Swiftie-nomics: The art, industry, and influence of Taylor Swift,” was held in George Pearl Hall.

Culture

The Guild gets to the meat of the matter with ‘The Jungle’

Addison Fulton | January 31

On Jan. 23, Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema hosted a showing of Matt Wechsler’s new documentary, “The Jungle,” which dives into the problems with and history of the modern meat industry. The title comes from Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel, which first exposed corruption and contamination in the meat industry. The free screening was put on by the New Mexico chapter of Food & Water Watch, an organization that pushes for policies to help curb climate change.

Culture

BioPark hosts Penguin Awareness Day

Elizabeth Bolke and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 27

On a day when most other animals chose to be indoors, the Albuquerque BioPark hosted an annual event for Penguin Awareness Day. The event, which took place on Friday, Jan. 24 was in the Penguin Chill building, which mimics the penguin's typical habitat. This event offered guests a chance to see three types of penguins that live in Penguin Chill. While the BioPark does host a fourth species, the little penguins are not part of the chilled habitat. The little penguin enclosure is part of the new Australian exhibit, but the colder weather didn’t permit them to be outside.

Culture

Snapdragon fundraiser brings awareness to local animal shelter

Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch | January 27

On Saturday, Jan. 25, Snapdragon Tea, located in the Brick Light District near the University of New Mexico, held a fundraiser for the Roots Animal Sanctuary. This was the second and last weekend the event was held. The Roots Animal Sanctuary, located in Tijeras, is a nonprofit that “provides a safe and loving forever home for those who have come from a difficult background,” according to its website. The fundraiser was done in the style of Snapdragon’s frequent tea parties, where patrons can indulge in a three-course meal that is specially curated for the specific event. Reservations had to be made online in advance for the full tea party menu, and 10% of the proceeds from the tea party sales and any of Snapdragon’s vegan sandwiches purchased during the fundraiser went to Roots.

Culture

Stars from ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Twilight’ and more attend Albuquerque’s Comic Con

Maria Fernandez | January 20

The Albuquerque Comic Con held its 15th annual gathering at the Albuquerque Convention Center this past weekend. Featuring celebrity panels, meet and greets and multiple areas for vendors to sell artwork and memorabilia, the Albuquerque Comic Con sold out of tickets for its Saturday events. Celebrity guests and fans alike were excited to be in attendance, including “Better Call Saul” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” star Patrick Fabian, who made his first Albuquerque Comic Con appearance. He said he was surprised by the large turnout.

Culture

Guild Cinema screens documentary on the science of reading

Addison Fulton and Elijah Ritch | January 20

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema hosted a screening of the documentary “The Right to Read.” The event was presented by the May Center for Learning and the International Dyslexia Association-Southwest Branch. The proceeds went to benefit May Center students. The May Center, which is located in Santa Fe and led by Executive Director and co-founder Amy Miller, is an organization that is focused on empowering “students with learning differences to be successful, confident learners,” according to the mission statement on its website. The organization has multiple programs, including the May School, which serves students through 8th grade with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD and language processing disorder.

Culture

Sci-Fi and Sci-Fact exhibition explores how science fiction has shaped our world

Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch | January 20

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque is presenting the Sci-Fi & Sci-Fact exhibition until June. The exhibit “explores the ways that science fiction and scientific fact overlap and help create our modern world,” according to the museum’s website. The exhibit is on loan from the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, where it initially debuted in December 2023. The exhibit explores the relationship between science fiction, scientific inventions and the future via displays that include memorabilia and props from books, films and television shows. Information plaques on the walls throughout the exhibit provide additional context on how science fiction has shaped reality and opened “doors for tomorrow’s creators.”

Culture

Native American Student Art Show highlights Indigenous youth creativity

Elijah Ritch | January 13

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque is currently hosting the 44th Annual Native American Student Art Show. The art show features the works of Indigenous youth from kindergarten through 12th grade who attend schools all across New Mexico. The exhibition opened on Nov. 23 and can be seen through Feb. 6. This year, the show’s theme is “Water is life.” “For Native American youth in New Mexico, this year’s exhibition activates a responsive avenue to channel their understandings of the vitality and sustaining force of water into innovative and artistic expressions,” a placard in the exhibition room reads.

Culture

1920s-themed musical ensemble performs at Wheels Museum

Addison Fulton | January 13

On Saturday, Jan. 11, the Wheels Museum in the Albuquerque Rail Yards hosted a show by 3 On A Match Kabarett, a 1920s-themed musical duo comprised of lead singer Tina Panaro and pianist Brad Clement. The duo provided an immersive historical performance, embodying two performers in a German cabaret club around the 1920s. Both were dressed in era-appropriate costuming and the set was decorated with 1920s paraphernalia and red curtaining. The songs included only live vocals and piano accompaniments and were all roughly period-accurate lounge jazz songs in English, German and French.

Culture

Albuquerque’s art community comes together at Lost Cultures Tea Bar

Emmett Di Mauro | January 13

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Lost Cultures Tea Bar in Albuquerque hosted another Open Art Night: an evening occurrence from 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. every Tuesday. On these evenings, local art is combined with the social atmosphere of the tea bar. Open Art Night is a community-based art event. Anyone may stop by Lost Cultures Tea Bar and bring their own art projects from home or begin a new one. The tea bar website describes the event as a place to “connect and grow the local art scene over some pots of tea or non alcoholic beverages.”

Culture

Guild Cinema January preview

Elijah Ritch | January 13

Here are a few of the exciting films that Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema will screen during the remainder of this month. Over the past 93 years, horror maverick Tod Browning’s 1932 classic “Freaks” has built a reputation as one of the most notorious films of all time. Set in a run-down traveling circus, the film follows a group of disabled carnival workers who must contend with abuse and exploitation from their employers, the ableism of their able-bodied coworkers, and the cruel jeers of circus attendees.

Culture

Guild Cinema December preview

Elijah Ritch | December 11

Here are some of the noteworthy films screening at Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema this month. From Dec. 17-19, the Guild will present a double feature of films by renowned French animator René Laloux. His seminal 1973 masterpiece “Fantastic Planet” will be presented alongside a new restoration of the original version of his 1982 film “The Time Masters.” A wild sci-fi vision from the future, “Fantastic Planet” is set on a planet where humans, called Oms, are the pets of giant blue humanoids called Draags. The film has been a midnight movie staple for 50 years — thanks to its outlandish psychedelic animation and bold countercultural message as an allegory of the evils of authoritarian governments.

Culture

The history of graduation traditions at UNM and beyond

Elijah Ritch | December 9

In American society, graduation has become a momentous signifier of the end of one period in life and the beginning of another. Whether this be from high school, college or any place else, the event of graduation has brought about an entire culture of traditions. With the University of New Mexico’s graduation ceremonies beginning on Dec. 11, here’s a look at the origin of some graduation customs. The tradition of wearing a cap and gown while graduating can be traced back to the 12th century, though at that time they were primarily worn to keep grads warm, according to the University of Illinois Chicago. The designs of typical graduation gowns were determined by the Intercollegiate Code of 1895, which the majority of universities follow to this day, according to UIC.

Culture

Keynote commencement speakers to note

Addison Fulton | December 9

Starting Thursday, Dec. 12, the University of New Mexico will host its commencements for students graduating during the fall semester. The two ceremonies will each feature a keynote speaker: entrepreneur Doug Campbell and St. Vincent Regional Medical Center CEO and President Lillian Montoya. Campbell is the keynote speaker for the undergraduate ceremony. Campbell, a UNM alum, has a background in engineering and now works as an entrepreneur. Campbell is a self-described “start-up veteran,” having founded and worked with several tech start-ups such as Solid Power, which makes solid-state rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, according to his website.

Culture

Artist collects bad photos of the moon

Addison Fulton | November 25

In August 2022, astrophotographers Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne posted to Instagram what is widely considered to be the best photo of the moon ever taken. On Nov. 1, 2024, artist Ariel C. Wilson displayed a collection of some of the worst. In her exhibit at the Sanitary Tortilla Factory in Albuquerque, Wilson showcases crowdsourced “bad photos of the moon” — low-quality images of the moon taken on cell phones by ordinary citizens. The gallery’s website explains that the exhibit is meant to explore the blur between professional and amateur artists, as well as investigate human relationships with photography, permanence and the moon.

Culture

Exodus Ensemble breaks the fourth wall

Addison Fulton and Nate Bernard | November 25

From Nov. 6 to Nov. 24, Santa Fe-based theatrical group Exodus Ensemble went on tour in Albuquerque with its interactive, immersive sci-fi theatrical production, “ZERO.” The Exodus Ensemble, which typically specializes in immersive theater with a focus on audience interaction, held its shows at the Downtown venue Chatter. ZERO follows four characters — or players — who have been placed into a game by a sentient, murderous, humanoid artificial intelligence named Daisy. Only one will make it out. At the beginning of the show, audience members pick a player to support, then compete in simple mini-games to win points to help their character be the one to survive.

Culture

Wheels Museum hosts reading on ‘The Horse of the Sidewalk’

Addison Fulton | November 25

On Saturday, Nov. 23 the Wheels Museum hosted a talk with author Baker H. Morrow about his most recent anthology, “The Horse on the Sidewalk.” The anthology discusses Albuquerque’s place as a post-World War II “boomtown.” “You get the facts and figures, so many miles of roads, so many new houses, so many subdivisions,” Morrow said. “But one thing that struck me, having spent a fair amount of time when I was a kid out there, was what life was like for the kids themselves.”

Culture

Los Poblanos hosts lecture on migratory birds

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | November 25

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Laura Banks, president of the nonprofit Bird Alliance of Central New Mexico, spoke about migratory birds to a nearly full audience at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. Banks told the Daily Lobo that during this time of year, the most visible birds in New Mexico are sandhill cranes, Canada geese, waterfowl and different species of ducks. Migratory birds almost double their body weight during migration season to store fat, which they use as fuel while flying, according to Banks.

Culture

Inaugural Space Day brings UNM’s space community together

Leila Chapa | November 18

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the University of New Mexico’s first Space Day was held at the Student Union Building Ballroom. The event welcomed all space enthusiasts from on and off campus. The Space Sustainability Research Grand Challenge and the Center for Advanced Sample Analysis of Astromaterials from the Moon and Beyond, aka CASA Moon, supported and organized the event. Both programs are centered at UNM. Charles Shearer Jr. and Maryam Hojati are UNM professors and members of SSRGC. They were the lead organizers for Space Day. “We are trying to make sure that New Mexico can be one of the leaders in space technology and space science in the future,” Hojati said.

Culture

Explora hosts night full of fungi and fermentations

Paloma Chapa | November 18

On Friday, Nov. 15, during Explora’s Adult Night, local fungi and fermentation vendors gave visitors a taste of mushrooms, mold and fermented foods. Visitors could taste kombucha and koji, enjoy local beer and wine, and take home a sample of fermented vegetables while also enjoying the science activities Explora offers. Explora partnered with the Fermentation and Fungi Fest to bring several vendors, including Enchanted Farms Mushrooms, Ecologica, New Mexico Ferments and Sheehan Winery to the “fermentastic” night.