Culture

Culture

Business owner nurtures butterflies to maturity

Makayla Grijalva and Shayla Cunico | May 2

Tatia Veltkamp, owner of Wings of Enchantment, looked over her growing butterflies as a trio of breeding monarchs fluttered around their mesh enclosure.  Wings of Enchantment is a butterfly farm in northeast Albuquerque that ships butterflies to consumers across the country. What once started out as a fun hobby 18 years ago, has grown into a business farming butterflies for the last nine years.  “When my kids were little, I read an article in a magazine about how to go find caterpillars and eggs, but I didn’t know what milkweed was, so we had to figure out what milkweed was first in order to go find them,” Veltkamp said.

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Culture

El Paisa showcases Mexican heritage

Aaron Mendoza | May 2

The Institute of Mexicans abroad reports there are more than 36 million people with Mexican heritage living in the United States. In addition they reported that there are more than 24 million people that are Mexican-born and living in the United States.  The city of Albuquerque is one of the most diverse cities in the country. Hundreds of Mexican families have settled in the largest city in  New Mexico. Southwest Albuquerque has become a point of concentration for the Mexican community.  Bridge Boulevard is brimming with local restaurants that bring a bit of  Mexico to the Duke City for  those who have had to leave their country.   

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Culture

Local woman works to rescue dogs

Danielle Prokop | May 2

Veronica Garcia Ortega hadn’t had breakfast yet, because the motto in her home is that “the dogs eat first,” she said in Spanish.   The dog food clatters into the baby swimming pool, and Garcia Ortega tries to step back as dogs scramble over each other to wolf it down. She scoops up the dogs for their photo shoot, navigating muddy paws and eager face-licks. They are under consideration for adoption in the United States, to be taken in shelters as far away as Salt Lake City, Utah.  Mary Tovey from Albuquerque and Alma Morfin from Juárez are partners in the nonprofit Planned Pethood de Juárez — an organization which is mainly focused on animal welfare education and spay/neuter efforts in the city and surrounding area. 

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Culture

New Mexicans trek miles for pilgrimage

Danielle Prokop and Anthony Jackson | May 2

There are many traditions in New Mexico -- green chile harvesting, lighting luminarias -- but there is nothing that attracts people from all over the world like the pilgrimage to the Santuario de Chimayo.  Located at an elevation of more than 6000 feet and east of Espanola, thousands of people visit a Spanish mission tucked away in the mountains during Holy Week. Most walkers start near the village of Nambe, others start in Santa Fe and a select few begin their trek in Albuquerque, more than 80 miles away.  Along the way people carry crosses with the names of loved ones. Some walk their dogs and others push their loved ones in a wheelchair through the pastel colored desert and the rising hills. Some people carry their burdens for their God to absolve them. 

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Culture

Lopez Farms thrives despite the heat

Justin Schatz | May 2

Dry soil cracked beneath worn soles. The sun was still behind the mountains to the east.  Dew clung to wheatgrass. Chris Lopez surveyed his farm with a look of pride and concern before climbing into his Ford to start the day. Lopez has been farming this piece of land his entire life. His grandfather left behind mining in Magdalena and purchased the original piece of land over fifty years ago.  Despite the increasing aridity of the southwest and risks of ranching, Chris’ grandfather relocated his family to the fertile middle Rio Grande valley.  From an original few acres, Lopez Farms expanded to encompass nearly 700 acres. They grow  expansive fields of winter wheat and the hottest green chile in Central New Mexico.Several acres are designated wildlife habitat.

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Culture

Faces in the crowd at Fiestas

Justin Garcia | May 2

The mass of human bodies swayed back and forth to blaring electronic beats below a flashy stage. Heat generated from those bodies rose into a damp night sky flooded by pulsing yellow, blue and green lights. The crowd moves as one unit, pushing itself closer to the stage like a child yearning for its mother.  This is Fiestas, an annual music festival hosted by organizations within the University of New Mexico. It’s attended by thousands of people including students and community members from around main campus and Albuquerque. While the mass around the stage seems to be homogeneous, it is actually a motley collection of individuals moving as one. Each person, swaying and turning to the music, is lost in themselves and obsessed with the one foot of space there bodies have occupied.

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Culture

KIVA Club wraps up week-long celebration on Johnson Field

Anthony Jackson | April 30

The 64th Annual Nizhoni Days Powwow wrapped up their week-long event with a gathering on Johnson Field at the University of New Mexico on Sunday, April 28. Crowds formed a circle under the sun around indigenous dancers, drummers and singers.  A small market of more than 70 bright blue, white and red tents sold clothes, food and provided information on Native American causes and programs among others, under the shade.  Some dancers were local to Albuquerque, but Dan Nanamkin came as far as Washington from the Colville Indian Reservation. He heard about Nizhoni Days through a relative. 

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Music

Concert Review: Superorganism visits Meow Wolf, rocks the stage

Luisa Pennington | April 29

Meow Wolf welcomed English indie-pop band Superorganism last Thursday to their flashy stage. With a colorful set decorated by the band in glitter face paint, hooded cloaks and projections of prawns, they brought an engaging and entertaining show. Though the eight-person group seemed organic on stage, they did not always preform together. In fact, the band is an amalgamation of musicians from across the world. 

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Culture

Gathering of Nations celebrates Native culture

Anthony Jackson | April 29

The annual Gathering of Nations kicked off on Thursday, April 27, with the 36th Miss Indian World pageant held at the Albuquerque Convention Center.  Native American women from tribes throughout the country competed for the title of Miss Indian World. Contestants were asked to display knowledge of their culture, public speaking, interviews, essays, dance and traditional talents — like grinding corn, swaddling babies and storytelling. The powwow began Friday and lasted until Saturday night.

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Culture

How Jose Martinez overcame homelessness

Amanda Britt | April 25

From overcoming homelessness and substance addiction, to having a feature roll in “Better Call Saul," Jose B. Martinez is a symbol of perseverance.  Throughout his life, Martinez has had to overcome many obstacles. Growing up a member of the only Hispanic family in his town and being racially stereotyped by police, moving to Los Angeles with only $700 and being homeless on the streets of Albuquerque. Martinez, a former student at the university of New Mexico, grew up in Chicago always knowing he wanted to be an actor. At the age of 18 he veered away from his family to move to New York City with the hope that he could make it in the acting business. After years of struggling in New York he decided to try acting in Los Angeles.

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Culture

Movie Review: Poor dialogue dampens potential of "La Llorona"

Justin Schatz | April 25

La Llorona makes her long awaited “Conjuring Universe" debut in Michael Chaves stylistic, yet underwhelming, “The Curse of La Llorona.”   The “Conjuring Universe” has been a blessing for the horror genre. James Wan’s “The Conjuring” is often considered a contemporary masterpiece of horror. The “Annabelle” spinoffs are a lesser but still competently crafted horror experience.  The ever-expanding “Conjuring Universe” has experienced a dip in form with its last few entries. The formula that proved to a be a resounding success in the first two “Conjuring” movies has been recycled through each entry and now is at its predictable low in Chaves' latest entry.

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Culture

Don Quijote flash mob takes Zimmerman by storm

Anthony Jackson | April 25

More than a dozen University of New Mexico staff and students gathered outside of Zimmerman Library for a Don Quijote flash mob last Wednesday. Starting at noon and lasting 15 minutes, undergraduate and graduate students alike read passages from the book; some read aloud in english, but others read out loud in Spanish and french.  The flash mob was held in conjunction with el Día del Libro, the Day of the Book, said Mary Quinn, an associate professor within the Spanish and Portuguese department.

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Culture

Movie Review: "Shazam" proves a compelling superhero movie

Justin Schatz | April 24

Imagine Gary Winick’s “13 Going on 30,” but without the stress of renting in New York City and instead transforming into a goofy superman doppelganger. DC Comics' latest solo entry “Shazam,” is a fun and deceivingly dark entry that promises potential for DC’s inconsistent cinematic universe.   Directed by David Sandberg, “Shazam” finds its emotional core and compelling storytelling through its exploration of family. The movie invested itself in Billy Batson (Asher Angel), an orphan on a relentless quest to find his mother. After another fruitless lead, Billy finds himself fostered by Victor (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa (Marta Milans) Vasquez.  He meets his foster brother, Frederick ‘Freddy’ Freeman (Jack Grazer), who happens to be an expert on everything superhero related. Billy, after defending Freddy from their high school’s bullies, finds himself in the presence of a powerful wizard (Dijimon Hounsou) and here we meet Shazam (a perfectly cast, Zachary Levi).

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Culture

420 Festival hosts downtown block party

Katie Monette | April 22

The New Mexico 420 Festival took place this past weekend in downtown Albuquerque. The booths spanned 3rd Street to 7th Street, selling clothing, jewelry, food and beverages, a wide variety of CBD and hemp products, as well as music and local comedians and artists.  The block-party style event got off to a slow start, with a sparse crowd browsing the numerous cannabis-related goods. Some vendors were selling rasta-theme t-shirts and paraphernalia, but some booths attracted more attention, like a glass-blowing demonstration by hand-blown glass art studio and gallery, Glass Etc. Glass Etc provides glassblowing lessons and creates custom pieces, including non-cannabis related glass products and pendants. 

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Culture

UNM expo advocates for sustainability

Amanda Britt | April 22

The University of New Mexico’s Sustainability Program hosted their 11th annual Sustainability Expo last Thursday. Students and other members of the community partook in several sustainable activities, including a clothing swap, purchasing plant starters, learning from multiple sustainable organizations and eating locally sourced food from different food trucks.  The Cornell Mall was decorated with booths overflowing with plants and flowers, something UNM student, Abby White said she enjoyed seeing. 

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Culture

Student supports the environment through clothing line

Sophia Sambrano | April 22

Many students have ways of showing their passions to the world. University of New Mexico sophomore, Trinity Miller-Aragon, expressed her passion for sustainability through her clothing line, Eco Aesthetic.  The apparel industry currently accounts for around 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and documentaries like "The True Cost" are shedding light on the environmental and ethical issues with our current model of buying clothing.  Miller-Aragon, a sophomore studying economics and sustainability said she is taking action by producing her own line of sustainable and ethically-made clothing. 

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Culture

Move Review: "Hellboy" reboot falls drastically short

Justin Schatz | April 21

From its opening scene, it was clear that “Hellboy” was going to be a bloody, gore-riddled mess. Neil Marshall’s “Hellboy,” a reboot of Guillermo del Toro’s beloved two installments “Hellboy” and “The Golden Army,” invests the majority of its time (and apparently its budget) on gore rather than compelling storytelling. The visual splendor and extensive world building of del Toro is sacrificed for the sake of an R-rating. Marshall’s reboot begins with an opening struggle between King Arthur and the British sorceress, Nimue, the Queen of Blood (Milla Jovovich). Nimue is defeated by King Arthur and his sword, Excalibur, and her dismembered limbs are sent out to the most isolated corners of the British Isles.

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Culture

Five and Why: Inspirational Women in Fiction with Dr. Leslie Donovan

Katie Monette | April 18

Dr. Leslie Donovan is a professor at the University of New Mexico, teaching in the university's Honors College. She teaches a few interdisciplinary classes such as the introductory level seminar, "Monsters and Marvels through the Ages," which is planned to start this fall. She serves as faculty coordinator for UNM's Regents Scholars and has received honors such as the university's Presidential Teaching Fellowship. Her work involves topics including medieval studies, science fiction, disability studies, women's studies and more. Many of Donovan's writings focus on author J.R.R. Tolkien's universe and can be found in the Honors College with the other faculty publications. She took some time to share her top five favorite inspirational fictional females with the Daily Lobo.  "Choosing only five was nearly impossible as there are so many other fictional female characters who have made me who I am today and, perhaps more important, who I would like to be someday and who I see clearly in my own students," Donovan said.

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Culture

"Hamilton" to come to Popejoy

Justin Garcia | April 15

Last week Popejoy announced that "Hamilton" will be coming to the University of New Mexico sometime during the 2020-2021 season.  The dates of the performance, the price of tickets and the sale date of the tickets have not yet been announced. However, Popejoy said that 2019 - 2020 season pass holders will have first access to purchase tickets. 

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Culture

Movie Review: "Pet Sematary" fails to live up to standard of other Stephen King adaptations

Justin Schatz | April 15

“Pet Sematary,” continues the critical revival of Stephen King film adaptations, but fails to reach the heights of “It” and “1922.”  The movie begins with the Creed family— husband Louis Creed (Jason Clark), wife Rachel Creed (Amy Seimetz), daughter Elle Creed (Jete Laurence) and son Gabe Creed (Hugo Lavoie), moving from Boston to the small town of Ludlow, Maine. The house is idyllic and situated on fifty acres of pristine Maine wilderness, yet comes with a catch: there is a highway frequented by speeding, and often out of control, semis just off of their driveway.  Shortly after moving in, Rachel and Ellie explore the property and come across an unnerving procession of kids adorning paganistic animal masks disappearing into their backyard.  The girls come to discover, from their neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) that a pet cemetery, noticeably misspelled as “sematary,” is located on their property. Crandall explains that local kids have been using the “sematary” since he was a child, and from there a sense of dread grew.