Culture

Music

A Tribute to Tom Petty, an American Rock Icon

Jonathan Baca | October 10

Last week, the world lost an American rock icon, someone who helped shape rock music for 40 years. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Tom Petty died in the early morning of Oct. 2 of cardiac arrest in Santa Monica, California. His death was sudden and came as a heartbreaking shock to his millions of fans around the world. He was only 66. Petty’s career was prolific, impressive and far-reaching, and as an icon he was larger than life. His unusual, nasally singing voice made him instantly recognizable, and his ability to write enduring and beloved songs made him one of the biggest rock stars of the last 50 years. In 2002 his accomplishments were officially recognized when he was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

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News

Lobo reporter catches a lift for the festival

Aaron Cowan | October 10

Once again the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has arrived, painting our city with colorful hot air balloons. Pilots from across the country and globe gathered on Saturday, Oct. 7 in the grass fields behind the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum to kick off this nine-day event with a Mass Ascension, in which hundreds of balloonists take to the air in two separate waves starting at 7 a.m. The only thing better than seeing this event up close on the field might be the opportunity to actually ride in one of the balloons. And this reporter got that chance, as part of the passenger group that flew with pilot Pat Harwell of Shreveport, Louisiana — he is a veteran pilot with over 3,000 hours of flight experience.

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Movies

Review: Blade Runner sequel lives up to the original

Hector Valverde | October 8

When a sequel to “Blade Runner” was announced, I was extremely skeptical. A perfectly self-contained film like this did not warrant a sequel, especially when older properties have tended to fail when applied with our modern sensibilities. A cautiously optimistic glimmer of hope arose when Denis Villeneuve, the director of “Prisoners,” “Sicario” and “Arrival” was helmed to direct. Thankfully, “Blade Runner 2049” works as well as a standalone as it does a sequel. No viewings of Ridley Scott’s classic in its many different cuts are required to appreciate “2049,” and the impacts you’d get from watching the original are tastefully slim, anyways.

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Culture

Photo Story: First Mass Ascension of the Balloon Fiesta attracts thousands

Celia Raney and Celia_Raney | October 8

Thousands of people gathered to watch the first Mass Ascension of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 7. Excited but sleepy-eyed children, families, friends, lovers and the balloons’ pilots and crews dispersed across the park in the early morning silence. The quiet didn't last long — the sky soon began to light up with the occasional burst of light from the propane fire under a balloon as it drifted up, up and away. Pilots and their crews woke up hours before the sun rose to drive their balloons to the field and start filling them with hot air before lighting them up for all to see. The first wave of balloons starts on the north end of the field, and the launch moves south in rows, doubling back to the north and starting the pattern all over again until all of the balloons are in the air.

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Culture

UNM offers new course centered on anime

Nichole Harwood | October 8

For the first time ever, UNM is offering an eight-week course titled “The Fantastical World of Japanese Anime.” The course will be meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to explore the rich and colorful world of anime and its connection to Western civilization. “We know anime is really interesting to a lot of students in the UNM community, and we had the good fortune of locating a dynamic instructor, Nona Carter, who has expertise in this area,” said UNM’s Foreign Languages & Literatures Department Chair Dr. Pamela Cheek. “So we were able to put together this second-half course, thinking it would be a fabulous way for students to learn about the intersections of Japanese and American culture around anime.”

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News

Local businesses help to fund Balloon Fiesta

Nichole Harwood | October 8

As Albuquerque comes together to enjoy the International Balloon Fiesta’s festivities, business owners do their best to contribute to their community. Griffin & Associates, a business that got its start in Albuquerque, is one of the event sponsors and currently employs multiple Univesity of New Mexico alumni and provides internships to students. “As a leading communications company, Griffin & Associates is committed to providing the highest level of personalized service to our clients,” said Joanie Griffin, CEO and founder of Griffin & Associates. “We focus on crafting unique marketing approaches to advance the awareness of our clients’ products and services. Griffin & Associates is dedicated to proactive leadership, devising creative media-based solutions to marketing opportunities and consistently assessing the needs and objectives of our clients.”

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Movies

Review: Carell's performance shines in "Battle of the Sexes"

Hector Valverde | October 4

Starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell, “Battle of the Sexes” is based on the real-life tennis rivalry between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Shot on 35mm film, the movie perfectly captures the 1970s vibe. More than that, it aptly captures King’s struggle against the misogyny of the early 1970s and her fight for workplace equality between the sexes, on the court and elsewhere. The film’s plot rests firmly on its characters’ shoulders. Carell’s performance as Riggs is as entertaining as “The Office’s” Michael Scott, yet as psychologically complex as “Foxcatcher’s” John du Pont. I was fascinated by the strange balance between Riggs’ gambling addiction, chauvinistic showmanship and genuine love for the sport. The added factor of a deteriorating home life had me fully invested in the character, and I wish Carell had gotten a bit more screen time to explore such a complicated man’s life.

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Culture

Photo Story: Harvest Festival celebrates Spanish history

April Torres | October 4

The 45th Annual Harvest Festival took place at El Rancho de las Golondrinas Sept. 30 through Oct. 1. Las Golondrinas is considered a living museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It maintains examples and activities which illustrate life in the period of Spanish rule in the Southwest during the the 18th and 19th centuries. The land was purchased in the 1930s by Leonora Curtin, who is famous for creating Santa Fe’s Native Market. The museum opened its doors to visitors in 1972. Images and text by April Torres April Torres is a staff photographer for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at photo@dailylobo.com.

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Movies

Review: "War for the Planet of the Apes" makes for good finale, lackluster standalone film

Hector Valverde | October 4

I wasn’t expecting much from the “Planet of the Apes” reboot back in 2011, but I vividly remember walking out of the theater thoroughly impressed. The tragic origin of the first super-intelligent ape, Caesar, left me entertained, excited, but most of all, totally emotionally wrecked. “Rise’s” sequel, “Dawn,” only increased the stakes as humanity struggled to survive alongside a growing ape population. As such, my expectations for “War” were high. “War for the Planet of the Apes” picks up two years after the fallout of “Dawn.” Following the ape attack on San Francisco led by the rogue ape, Koba, the remaining humans on the West Coast have banded together with the remnants of Koba’s ape faction for a last stand against Caesar’s tribe. A surprise attack and capture of the clan leads Caesar on a path to liberate his people while internally struggling with a thirst for revenge.

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Culture

Review: Folksy festival brings art down to earth

Hannah Eisenberg | October 1

This Sunday, Oct. 1 OFFcenter Community Arts Project opened the doors to their gallery and studio Downtown, spilling out into a colorful arts and crafts frenzy in the park across the street. Over 75 artists and vendors, many of whom collaborate with OFFcenter, filled the park for their 15th Annual Folk Art Festival. Truly, that is what it was — an art festival put on by, and for, all of us everyday “folks.” A puppet parade made its way through the center of Robinson Park, while people of all ages made crafts together in the workshop tent. Others strolled through the local artist booths, and snacked on baked goods or ate from one of the many food trucks parked nearby.

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Culture

Alumni Connection: UNM alum takes her work around the world

Nichole Harwood | September 28

A University of New Mexico alum, along with two of her colleagues, has been awarded a substantial grant to train teachers to support English language learners. An assistant professor at the University of Akron, Valerie Sartor’s career has been a full one, from her defending her dissertation in 2014 before accepting a Fulbright Fellowship as a Global TEFL scholar in Russia, to taking the position as assistant professor and Teach English Around the World specialist in the fall of 2016.

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News

Famous director hosts workshop at UNM

Johnny Viscaino | September 28

One of this year’s University of New Mexico Homecoming Week highlights was the presence of Brian Lavant, a 1974 Media Arts graduate and seasoned Hollywood veteran, whose six-week course on sitcom writing wrapped up on Tuesday. With five decades of entertainment industry experience under his belt, Lavant has been at the creative helm of some of the biggest franchises in family entertainment, the Cinematic Arts Department writes. He helped bring to life projects such as, “Happy Days” and “Mork and Mindy,” along with feature films like “The Flintstones,” starring John Goodman and “Jingle all the Way” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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TV

Seinfeld directors visit UNM

Shubham Chadha | September 27

This week, the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico hosted a town hall at Rodey Theatre with Emmy award-winning directors Tom Cherones and Tom Azzari, who helped make “Seinfeld” one of the best loved sitcoms of all time. Cherones is a Class of ’61 UNM alum, who studied journalism with a focus in photography. He described his initial exposure to photography at UNM as a formative element in developing his directing style. “I was a photographer for so many years at UNM, so I had a good sense of stage when I started working professionally,” Cherones said. “My style of shooting came from my photography experience and was a great influence for me. The experiences here at this University greatly solidified my interest in TV directing.”

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News

NM ranked sixth most diverse state

Nichole Harwood | September 27

New Mexico the sixth most diverse state in America, according to a recent WalletHub study. Lawrence Roybal, interim vice president for the UNM Division of Equity and Inclusion, said this is an impressive recognition and one his division is proud of. “We are extremely proud that the University of New Mexico is an important part of the tremendous diversity that we celebrate and honor throughout the Land of Enchantment,” he said. “It is important for us to continuously advance a variety of diversity, equity, and inclusion endeavors through UNM in collaboration with our many committed campus partners and community allies throughout each year.”

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News

ASUNM provides variety of events geared at UNM community

Ashish Khatri | September 25

It’s Homecoming Week at the University of New Mexico, and the Associated Students of UNM are organizing a slew of on-campus events through their subgroup UNM Lobo Spirit. 3-D chalk artist Chris Carlson will be working on a large chalk art piece at the Duck Pond under the Alumni Clock on Monday and Tuesday. On Sept. 26, Lobo Spirit and the Student Activities Center will be hosting a Neon Skate Down event from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Student Union Building Ballroom B/C. DJ music and refreshments will be available. Students, staff and faculty will be able to rent skates with their UNM ID.

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News

Homecoming goes beyond the dance

Aaron Cowan | September 25

Homecoming is not just for students — there are an abundance of activities for alumni as well. In fact, for almost 100 years, UNM’s Alumni Association has been putting on Homecoming events, according to Susan MacEachen, the associate director of Alumni Relations. “This is the 92nd year of Homecoming at UNM,” MacEachen said. “It’s a traditional event. Our goal is to have alumni connect back to the school.” Homecoming festivities start on Monday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. with a Kickoff Rally in the newly refurbished Karen A. Abraham Courtyard at Hodgin Hall Alumni Center.

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Culture

Kingsman sequel lacks plot but delivers on action

Hector Valverede | September 24

Nearing its conclusion, Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” ends with a controversial bit of humor — a joke about anal sex — that nearly ruins the otherwise excellent movie. In the context of the rest of the film, which lovingly lampoons the classic camp of the early Bond spy films, the joke felt too jarring and out of place. Vaughn’s follow up, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” veers too far into that element of self-parody and greatly suffers for it. “The Golden Circle” is a lot of things at once — perhaps too many. The main story follows Eggsy, solidly reprised by Taron Egerton, tracking down the group responsible for attacking and eliminating the Kingsman spy organization.

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News

Homecoming candidates share Lobo spirit

Madison Spratto | September 24

As a part of the University of New Mexico’s Homecoming Week, ASUNM Lobo Spirit and the Elections Commission will be holding elections for the Homecoming king and queen Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the SUB and online. Before the election, all 15 candidates were given the opportunity to share something about themselves through interviews with reporter Madison Spratto. Not all candidates were interviewed, as Samuel Eze did not respond in time for this publication.

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News

Dreamstyle Arena will host Party in the Pit

Makayla Grijalva | September 24

Party in the Pit is the first student event to offer Lobos the chance to party on their stomping grounds, the newly renamed Dreamstyle Arena. ASUNM Student Special Events is teaming up with Lobo Spirit, University Communications and Marketing and the Fractal Foundation to put on the event to cap off Homecoming Week. Party in the Pit will be held on Sept. 29, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Dreamstyle Arena. The stage near the dance floor will feature DJs Berret and Jay, as well as an opening by Yak Pak. “Party in the Pit is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime, fully immersive experience,” said ASUNM SSE Promotions Director Xavier Vallejo.

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Culture

NM Fair offers exotic culinary concoctions

Christian Marquez | September 20

The New Mexico State Fair has come and gone once again, bringing various delights for the senses and leaving only memories of what you saw, or more importantly, what you ate. The food gains a presence of its own at the fair, and for some, it becomes free license to eat anything you would normally avoid. For Deliah Cottel, a junior at UNM, it was another opportunity to escape campus for a few hours of distraction away from her housemates. “Well, my roommates are vegetarian,” she said, looking at a turkey leg that was roughly the same size of her forearm. “It’s one of the few moments where I can get barbecue. So I’m getting my hands dirty.”