Culture

Culture

Cirque Mechanics returns to Albuquerque with ‘Pedal Punk’ show

Leila Chapa | April 13

On Sunday, April 13 at 4 p.m., Cirque Mechanics will return to Popejoy Hall to perform its latest creation, “Pedal Punk.” Cirque Mechanics is “renowned for its groundbreaking fusion of circus artistry and mechanical ingenuity,” according to a Popejoy press release. Founded in 2004 by married couple Chris and Aida Lashua, Cirque Mechanics puts a spin on American circus with a mix of mechanical elements and human acrobatics.

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Culture

UNO tournament deals out fun and funds

Nate Bernard | April 7

On Saturday, April 5, Canteen Brewhouse hosted its third annual UNO Tournament, drawing about 50 card-playing beer lovers and card sharks to their patio for an afternoon of friendly competition, drinks and community support. The event featured a bracket-style UNO competition with winners facing winners until one emerged as the ultimate UNO champion. Meanwhile, attendees enjoyed local brews and tested their luck in a raffle for prizes including T-shirts, water bottles and gift cards. Kenneth Kinderwater, who recently moved to Albuquerque, won both a raffle prize and a spot on the tournament bracket.

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Culture

‘Common Ground’: UNM hosts campus tree celebration

Addison Fulton | April 7

On April 1, the University of New Mexico hosted a campus tree celebration with speakers, live-music, a seed-swap, tree-shaped cookies and a live tree-planting demonstration. The event corresponded with the beginning of April as Earth Month. For the first time, UNM was recognized as a higher education “Tree Campus” by the Arbor Day Foundation. To qualify for the designation, an institution must meet certain criteria — including having a campus tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for trees, annual Arbor Day observance and a service learning project that encourages student engagement, according to UNM Director of Sustainability Anne Jakle.

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Culture

Guild Cinema April preview

Elijah Ritch | April 7

Here are some of the films Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema — a short distance from the University of New Mexico campus — will show in April. From April 8-10, the Guild will screen the 1980 film “The Elephant Man” as a part of its continuing tribute to David Lynch, who died in January. The film is a fictionalized account of the life of Joseph Merrick, a 19th-century Englishman with severe facial deformities. Played by John Hurt, he is discovered in a freak show by a doctor, played by Anthony Hopkins, who rescues and takes care of him. 

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Culture

BODYTRAFFIC brings high-level contemporary dance to Popejoy Hall

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 4

On Friday, April 4, contemporary dance company BODYTRAFFIC will travel from Los Angeles to perform at Popejoy Hall. “Led by Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett, BODYTRAFFIC is known for its stunning performers, diverse technical mastery, and commitment to dynamic repertoire that is captivating for dance lovers and dance newcomers alike,” a Popejoy press release reads.

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Culture

Building community: SUB hosts Lego ‘Block Party’

John P. Hefti | March 24

On March 14, the University of New Mexico hosted a “Block Party” event in the Student Union Building, giving attendees the opportunity to assemble anything they desired out of miscellaneous Lego pieces. Those who attended were also offered free pizza from Dion’s and were entered into a raffle to win prizes including event tickets, a TV and, of course, Lego sets.

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Culture

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Sonia Nazario speaks at Albuquerque Museum

Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch | March 24

On March 14, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sonia Nazario gave an author talk and signing for her book “Enrique’s Journey” at the Albuquerque Museum. Her talk was framed by recent cuts on museum funding, and celebrations of cultural diversity. “Not a lot of museums take on these topics, so congratulations to the Albuquerque Museum,” Nazario said. Nazario’s writing focuses on several of America’s “most intractable problems,” including hunger, drug addiction and immigration, according to her website.

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Culture

Robots dance with DJs and lasers for Albuquerque City Brights celebration

Emmett Di Mauro | March 23

On Feb. 28, the Cafe Entropy in downtown Albuquerque hosted a robot laser show as part of the City Brights and Albuquerque Art Walk events. The event took place through March 7. During this particular night, artist Jordan MacHardy was on hand to discuss the robots and the experiential art exhibit. “We’re building out an experiential art museum here in this whole space,” MacHardy said.

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Culture

Water, writing and the wild: Bookworks hosts talk with author Zak Podmore

Emmett Di Mauro | March 23

On Feb. 11, Bookworks hosted author Zak Podmore to talk about and sign his recent book “Life After Dead Pool: Lake Powell’s Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River.” Bookseller and partner in Bookworks, D.J. Green, said the event was part of the Writing in the Wild program, which is in partnership with the Leopold Writing Program. The Leopold Writing Program’s website reads that a percentage of proceeds go to the program, in support of its “mission to inspire an ethic of caring for our planet by cultivating diverse voices through the spoken and written word.​”

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Culture

UNM celebrates Mardi Gras

Maria Fernandez | March 10

On Tuesday, March 4, the University of New Mexico held a Mardi Gras event in the Student Union Building. Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States began in the 18th century when French settlers arrived in Louisiana, marking what is known as “Fat Tuesday,” according to the New Orleans website. Celebrations involve parades, colorful clothing and king cake, according to the website. The SUB event included a live jazz performance by local guitarist Dimian DiSanti and his musical group, mask decorating and traditional Cajun food, including jambalaya and king cake.

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Culture

Maxwell Museum unveils new fermentation exhibit

Nate Bernard and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 10

On Saturday, March 8, the University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum of Anthropology uncorked its newest exhibit. The exhibit, titled “Entangled Cultures: How Humans and Microbes Co-create through Fermentation,” explores how microbes and the process of fermentation have influenced and interacted with humans throughout history. The exhibit, consisting of about 20 items, presents how fermentation — a technique used to extend the shelf life and improve the nutritional value of foods — likely spurred human ancestors' development of larger brains, smaller digestive systems and expansion into new environments. Human interactions with microbes — microorganisms essential for fermentation — are given little attention by anthropology despite their potential major contributions to human evolution, according to Toni Gentilli, archaeologist and Maxwell Museum curator of exhibits.

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Culture

Velocity Irish Dance to tour at Popejoy Hall for the first time

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | March 7

On Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m., Velocity Irish Dance will travel from Ireland to perform at Popejoy Hall for the first time, according to a Popejoy press release. “Velocity Irish Dance is renowned for its innovative fusion of tap dance and multimedia design, incorporating projections, spoken word, and immersive soundscapes to create a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience,” the press release reads. Velocity is led and choreographed by James Devine, Guinness World Record holder for “The Fastest Feet in the World,” and David Geaney, five-time world champion Irish dancer, according to Velocity’s website.

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Culture

Students celebrate UNM’s 136th birthday

Maria Fernandez | March 3

On Friday, Feb. 28, University of New Mexico students, faculty members and staff members gathered in the Student Union Building to celebrate the UNM’s 136th anniversary. The event, planned and coordinated by Lobo Spirit of the Associated Students at UNM, began with the annual group photo, featuring 136 UNM students in Lobo Day shirts. Guest speakers included UNM President Garnett Stokes, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Holloway, and new Head Football Coach Jason Eck — followed by the singing of “Happy Birthday,” during which ASUNM released confetti on the SUB atrium.

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Culture

‘Stories of Ukraine’: UNM faculty members recognize three years since Russian invasion

Addison Fulton | March 3

On Feb. 24, the University of New Mexico hosted a talk and documentary screening that recognized three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Erika Monahan is a UNM assistant professor of history with a focus on Russian history and politics. She has written several books about the Russian empire, including “The Merchants of Siberia: Trade in Early Modern Eurasia.” At the event, called “‘Stories of Ukraine’: Three years of the Ukrainian People at War 2022-2025,” Monahan discussed her experiences with people who fled the war from both Ukraine and Russia, as well as the internal pressures the war has caused for Russia. She also emphasized the United States’ changing role in the crisis.

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Culture

Rhythm India makes a stop at Popejoy Hall

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | March 3

On Thursday, Feb. 27, Popejoy Hall hosted a colorful performance of Indian music, featuring sparkly costumes and animated dancers. The performance was directed and choreographed by Joya Kazi, an Indian American actress, dancer and choreographer, according to a Popejoy press release. The performance involved Indian folk dancing, which is rooted in religious rituals that honor “local deities” and “prominent Gods in temples” throughout the country, according to the press release.

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Culture

Guild Cinema March preview

Elijah Ritch | March 3

Here are just a few of the hidden gems screening at Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema in March. From March 7-10, the Guild will screen the new Norwegian film “Armand.” The directorial debut of Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, the film is about a famous actress who must contend with her young son’s behavior at school. “Armand” won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, which is the festival’s award for best feature-film debut. It stars Renate Reinsve, whose breakthrough performance in the 2021 film “The Worst Person in the World” earned her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. Reinsve’s sensitive and commanding acting style is again garnering her acclaim, with IndieWire deeming it her best performance yet.

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Culture

‘Les Misérables’ brings romance and revolution to Popejoy Hall

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 24

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, during Popejoy Hall’s opening night of the Broadway musical “Les Misérables,” performers took audience members back to the era of the French revolution through  a mix of theatrics, operatic singing and elaborate stage design. The Broadway cast performed for a crowd of nearly 3,000 people. The show was performed every day at Popejoy Hall through Sunday, Feb. 23. Beginning with prison labor and prostitution, “Les Misérables” unfolds into a love story between an orphaned girl and a student who takes part in a bloody rebellion — the rebellion that inspired French author Victor Hugo’s original novel published in 1862, according to TheCollector.

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Culture

UNM visiting artist Larry Madrigal gives talk at Albuquerque Museum

Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch | February 24

On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Albuquerque Museum hosted painter Larry Madrigal to talk about his work as part of the University of New Mexico Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist program. After the talk, Madrigal hosted a Q&A session with audience members. “The program invites prominent contemporary painters from around the world to come live and work in Albuquerque,” according to the UNM Department of Art website. Madrigal is from Phoenix. His first solo show was in Los Angeles in 2020, he said, and he has since had shows in Paris, New York and Bucharest.

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Culture

‘Push and Pull’ highlights abstract artists at UNM Art Museum

Addison Fulton | February 21

On Jan. 31, the University of New Mexico Art Museum opened its exhibit “Push & Pull: The Prints of Helen Frankenthaler and Her Contemporaries.” The exhibit showcases the work of abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler, whose career began in the mid-1900s. The exhibit was put on with ...

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Culture

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández comes to Popejoy Hall

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 17

On Friday, Feb. 14, Popejoy Hall was filled with colorful costumes, lively music and passionate dancers as Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández performed for one night in Albuquerque before returning to Mexico City. The world-renowned dance group traveled to New Mexico and shared its artistry of traditional song and dance, celebrating Mexican culture and heritage. The group performed at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe on Feb. 12 before its Valentine’s Day performance at the University of New Mexico. The performance and choreography exhibited traditional Folklorico dances from throughout the country and celebrated pre-colonial Mesoamerican cultures, according to a Popejoy press release.