Culture

Culture

SWFC Preview: Academy Award-winning 'Moonlight' comes to UNM

Fin Martinez | March 1

In a somewhat lucky bit of planning, the ASUNM Southwest Film Center this weekend will be screening “Moonlight,” just a few days after it was named Best Picture of 2016 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Sunday. The critically acclaimed film — and cheapest Best Picture winner in the 89-year history of the Oscars — is directed by Barry Jenkins, and holds a more-than-reputable 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Culture

David Dixon: Eonomics professor by day, band bassist by night

Troy Amato | February 28

Nestled in his office on the second floor of the Economics building, economics professor Dave Dixon appears to be just another professor, studying up on current health systems and economics training outside of the classroom like any University faculty would. However, after just a few minutes of conversation it’s clear this economist is no ordinary man. When nighttime falls and the lights of Nob Hill come to life, Dixon becomes the bassist for local band Los Unusual Suspects as well as several others including Good Green and jazz band Off Day Trio.

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Culture

Dance program hosts eclectic concert series

Manuel Chavez | February 26

UNM’s dance program is hosting a series of shows that give students the opportunity to express themselves and communicate what cannot be shared through language. The series features various dance works which pairs students, faculty and guest artists with musicians and set and costume designers. The concert, which consists of multiple shows, brings together good old fashion hard work and old world flamenco as it joins amateurs and professionals alike. Artistic director Donna Jewell said the shows are the culmination of the dance students’ years of study.

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Music

Music Column: Growing Up With the Beatles

Jonathan Baca | February 24

When I was a kid, my sister, who is 13 years older than me, made it a mission to expose me to the musical phenomenon known as the Beatles. She was being paid by my mom to “babysit” me over the summer. I was about 12 years old, and I was like a dry sponge ready to soak in anything that I came in contact with. She started by showing me what she was most interested in at the time (she was in her mid 20’s), the psychedelic side of the Beatles. My first favorite Beatles songs were “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “I Am the Walrus.” I know that I was lucky in my early musical exposure, but I can’t stress enough how important the Beatles were to my personal musical and creative development. My favorite movies were “Yellow Submarine” and “Help!” All thanks to my sister, whose tastes cannot be questioned.

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Culture

Fencing club aims to bring swordplay to the people

Ariel Lutnesky | February 22

The UNM Fencing Club is a little known club on campus that practices the medieval art of fencing twice a week. While small, the club is dedicated and is always looking for new members. “We are more than willing to come up and give you gear and teach you how to fence,” said Renee Reeves, a senior Liberal Arts major and member of the club. “It is free and there is no commitment.” Reeves said that the people who show up come from all sorts of backgrounds, from newcomers who have never held a sword to people who have been fencing from a young age, like her.

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Movies

SWFC Preview: Rebel Without a Cause

Fin Martinez | February 22

Once in awhile there comes a film that is remembered for generations and looked upon as a masterpiece that captures what life was like at that point in history. There are films like “Dazed and Confused” and “Boyhood” that capture life in the narrative style of a coming-of-age story in iconic ways, and the ASUNM Southwest Film Center will be showing the granddaddy of these films this weekend: “Rebel Without a Cause.”

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Culture

Comedy, murder mystery combine in new UNM Experimental Theatre play

Ariel Lutnesky | February 22

On Friday evening, the UNM Experimental Theatre opens its doors for “The Murder Room,” a play put on by SCRAP Productions, a student theatre organization. Moy Honojos, the director of the production, says the show is a comedy. “It is a murder mystery farce, so there is a killing and cops who come in and try to solve a murder,” Honojos said. “Then things get complicated when the main character’s daughter comes back from America and brings a brand spanking new fiance, which complicates things.” Honojos said that he decided to do “The Murder Room,” which was written by Jack Sharkey, as a tribute to his first directing mentor, who directed the show about seven years ago. Honojos worked as the assistant director during that production.

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Culture

Fashion: Three ways to wear a bomber jacket

Courtney Salinger | February 22

With cloudy skies, chilly gusts of wind and temperatures changing almost on a daily basis, choosing an outfit to best prepare yourself for unpredictable weather can be somewhat challenging. One of the hottest fashion trends out there is a cute bomber jacket, perfect for ever-changing weather. When it comes to indecisive weather moments, a bomber jacket can be worn multiple ways. It’s the overall statement piece. Here are three ways to wear it.

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Culture

Theatre troupe goes as authentic as it can with Shakespearean performance

Troy Amato | February 19

On Saturday at the Robertson and Sons Violin Shop, theatre troupe Severall Friends will be performing “Songs and Sonnets,” a dedication and rendition of classic Shakespearean and other Elizabethan works. Severall Friends, according to group manager Ken Perlow, is “a non-profit arts organization based in the Santa Fe area, and committed to passionate period-instrument performances — that is, on the very instruments played at the time — of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.” Severall Friends holds true to its goal of affordable theatre for students.

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Culture

Joshua Pedersen, lightsaber smith

Troy Amato | February 19

Every Wednesday and Saturday night at the Duck Pond, ABQ Jedi meets to clash in the mystical art of lightsaber dueling. While these battles are fierce and climactic, the true hero hides among their ranks — Joshua Pedersen, a “Sabersmith.” Pedersen runs a local business known as Battle Sabers. Originally created as a passion project, as Pederson hoped to explore saber smithing and sparring. Lacking the funds to construct sabers and inspired by his own experience with saber sparring, Pedersen visited the Internet to learn how to create his own. After researching forums and multiple websites, he stumbled upon a guide to make a personal saber out of PVC pipe.

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Culture

Film Review: 'Lion' portrays a raw, true story

David Lynch | February 15

If “Lion” was a work of complete fiction, there’s no doubt it would invite skepticism over its unbelievable plot. The fact that this – a story about an Indian boy, Saroo, losing his family and finding them again decades later as a grown man – is a true story is astounding enough in its own right. But Garth Davis doesn’t simply rely on immense emotional appeal for his feature directorial debut. He works to make the climax as satisfying as possible, via two hours of compelling and superbly-written narrative that certainly earns its place in the Best Picture race. Chief among the things that elevate “Lion” from good to great is the decision to make the story linear, when it could have been told through flashbacks that would have detracted from its magnitude.

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Culture

Unique food and art collective to host pop-up dinner

Troy Amato | February 15

On Feb. 26, the organization FoodGore will be hosting a special “Tea for Two” event, featuring food, tea, and local art. Started in Oct. 2015 by Mayaneli Brown and Niles Keith, FoodGore is a unique collaboration between chefs and artists, combining art, food, jewelry and homemade ice cream. Through its regular art show pop-ups, FoodGore has become a perfect showcase for local artists of all kinds. Brown said that there’s no limitation when it comes to involvement.

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Culture

SWFC Preview: Oscar darling 'La La Land' to play at the SUB

Fin Martinez | February 15

One of 2016’s holiday hits, the critically acclaimed “La La Land,” will be playing in the SUB Theater this weekend as a part of the ASUNM Southwest Film Center’s spring 2016 film series. “La La Land” represents the second feature by director Damien Chazelle after he broke onto the Hollywood scene with “Whiplash” in 2014. The film stars Ryan Gosling as Sebastian, an aspiring jazz musician living paycheck to paycheck, and Emma Stone as Mia a young actress looking for her big break. Both of them aspire for fame and fortune in contemporary Los Angeles.

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Culture

'Soup and Socks' drive aims to help the Native-American community

Ariel Lutnesky | February 15

UNM libraries aren’t just lending out books — they are lending out helping hands. From now until the end of the month, the University’s libraries are collaborating with the Albuquerque Indian Center on Soup and Socks, an initiative collecting donations of soup and socks for the Native American community in need. “We decided to do just soup and socks because it’s easier to focus on just a couple of items,” said Nancy Bennett, the library operations manager and event organizer.

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Culture

Fashion: Valentine's Day outfit ideas

Courtney Salinger | February 12

It’s that time of year where romance is in the air, boxes of chocolates are sold, freshly picked roses are handed out and restaurant reservations are made. Valentine’s Day is approaching, and thinking about the perfect outfit can be time-consuming while preparing for other Valentine’s Day activities. Here are a few suggestions on what to wear for the occasion.

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Culture

Q and A: Malcolm Reese, king of open mic night

Troy Amato | February 8

If you’re at Brickyard Pizza on Tuesday nights, you might have seen mechanical engineering student and singer-songwriter Malcolm Reese performing at the weekly open mic night. On Tuesday, Reese got on stage to perform three original songs on acoustic guitar: “Isolation Disposition,” “Hardwood Floors” and “Black Hole.” The Daily Lobo sat down with Reese before he went on stage to learn about his personal music history and upcoming projects.

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Culture

Music student goes from accountant to piano teacher

Ariel Lutnesky | February 8

From Hong Kong to accounting to teaching piano, UNM music student Loraine Ho has come a long way. On Sunday, Feb. 12, Ho will be performing her senior recital on the piano at Keller Hall. Ho will play an assortment of songs, including music by UNM professor Falko Steinbach, Claude Debussy, Franz Schubert, and Frédéric Chopin, ending with a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. “Because I am majoring in music education, I wanted to choose the pieces to show different types of music in different periods, kind of like giving a short education to the public,” Ho said.

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Culture

Movie Preview: "American Honey" perfect for artsy filmgoers

Fin Martinez | February 5

This weekend, the ASUNM Southwest Film Center will be screening “American Honey,” a film is directed by Andrea Arnold, who adapted and directed the 2011 adaptation “Wuthering Heights”. “American Honey” is the fourth feature-length film for Arnold, who is known for her unique style of directing. The film stars Sasha Lane as Star, a free-spirited young woman who is a nanny for two kids in eastern Oklahoma, Riley Keough as Krystal, the leader/manager of a traveling door-to-door magazine sales troupe and Shia LaBeouf as Jack, a roguish veteran salesman in the troupe.

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Culture

Ballet Review: The Russian National Ballet does "Cinderella"

Fin Martinez | February 5

Last week, the Russian National Ballet came to Popejoy to perform a rendition of the classic fairy tale “Cinderella.” Part of the Popejoy Presents series at the theater, the performance was characteristic of Russian Ballet: passionate, perfectionistic and awe-inspiring, a reputation that Russian Ballet has cultivated over generations. The performance began with dances by Cinderella's stepsisters, showing through dance their character and behavior.

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Culture

UNM students participate in local jazz performance

Ariel Lutnesky | February 2

Wednesday evening was a calm one inside the Hotel Andaluz as a jazz combo featuring UNM students played to a quietly chattering audience. The group consisted of pianist Sean Umstead, bassist and UNM freshman Matthew Jaeger, and drummer Jonathan Rodriguez, a graduate student studying percussion performance. The majority of their performance was improvised, according to the group. “Jazz, as it is, is about spontaneous creation. Which is why I guess it’s fun and sort of more free because we just play off of each other,” Umstead said. ”The music grows as we want it to as the night goes along.”