Culture - The Daily Lobo

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.

Culture

Nuclear Museum honors Native American Heritage Month

John P. Hefti | November 18

Until the end of November, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History will display a banner exhibit highlighting the scientific contributions and achievements of Native Americans. The exhibit was debuted on Nov. 1 in honor of Native American Heritage Month. Located directly across from the entrance, the exhibit displays a total of seven banners featuring Native American astronauts, physicists, mathematicians, doctors and politicians. Bernadette Robin, a spokesperson for the museum, said Native American representation in the sciences is the most important thing the museum wants visitors to get out of the experience.

Culture

‘Preconceived’: UNM film screening depicts anti-abortion pregnancy clinics

Addison Fulton | November 12

On Nov. 4, the University of New Mexico held a film viewing of “Preconceived: The Unexpected World of Crisis Pregnancy Centers,” which depicts the dangers of abortion-alternative centers. The event was hosted by the Women’s Resource Center and the Southwest Women’s Law Center. “Preconceived” navigates the world of crisis pregnancy centers, which are anti-abortion, often deeply religious and target women with unexpected pregnancies. They are advertised as “abortion alternatives,” with their goal being to talk women out of getting abortions. According to a recent study by NBC News, crisis pregnancy centers now outnumber abortion clinics 3-to-1.

Culture

A guide to post-election mental health resources on campus

Lily Alexander | November 11

A report this year by the American Psychological Association showed that the presidential election was a significant source of stress for 69% of adults. “The future of our nation” served as a significant source of stress for 77% of adults. Below are various resources the University of New Mexico provides that may help students or employees struggling with their mental health following the presidential election. A complete list of mental health resources can be found at mentalhealth.unm.edu.

Culture

Guild Cinema November preview

Elijah Ritch | November 4

Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema, located in Nob Hill within walking distance of campus, is unlike any other place in the city. While the Guild shows some mainstream current films and old favorites, it also consistently screens indie films, local productions, works by University of New Mexico alums, and older films that otherwise wouldn’t see a rerelease in Albuquerque. Here are some highlights from its November schedule.

Culture

Albuquerque Metro Green Party screens ‘The Occupation of the American Mind’ in support of Palestine

Addison Fulton | October 28

On Oct. 5, the Albuquerque Metro Green Party hosted a free screening of the film “The Occupation of the American Mind,” which depicts the history of violence in Palestine and the United States’ role as an ally to Israel. The screening took place at the Special Collections Public Library downtown. Michal Mudd, treasurer of the New Mexico Green Party, said that the inspiration for the event came out of frustration with a lack of political candidate attention on the issue of Israel and Palestine. “To me, the outrage (is) that our major parties aren't paying attention to this,” Mudd said. “People are dying. Real people are dying.”

Culture

Duke City Repertory Theatre keeps Shakespeare relevant

Addison Fulton and Elijah Ritch | October 28

Starting on Oct. 14, Duke City Repertory Theatre presented a production of “King Lear” as a part of its “Bard Crawl” series. A wildly unconventional take on the works of William Shakespeare, “Bard Crawl” is exactly what it sounds like: a play performed in several different bars throughout Albuquerque. It has been held in the spring since 2017, with a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. Due to the success of the prior shows, Duke City Rep was able to put on a fall “Bard Crawl” for the first time this year. It has historically been a comedy, making this the first time that the company has performed a Shakespearean tragedy.

Culture

Wool of bat and cuddle of dog

Addison Fulton | October 28

On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Bernalillo Community Museum hosted the Tricks and Treats Fall Adoption Fair. The event featured adoptable dogs and cats from three agencies: Sandoval County Animal Services, Rio Rancho Animal Resource Center, and Cross My Paws Animal Rescue. This marks the first year this event has been held. The museum hopes to make it a regular occurrence, according to Bernalillo County Museum employee Nikoma Henkels. “Events like this bring people together,” Henkels said. “They connect people who have resources with people who need resources. They connect pet adopters with adoptable pets.”

Culture

‘Cuddle a Canine’ returns to Zimmerman Library

Maria Fernandez | October 28

Students may have noticed there were a few more furry faces on Smith Plaza last week. On Thursday, Oct. 24, Zimmerman Library’s “Cuddle a Canine” event returned for the fall semester, bringing therapy dogs from the Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers to help students at the University of New Mexico relieve stress. Held twice a year during the fall and spring semester midterms, “Cuddle a Canine” is Zimmerman Library’s way to help ease some of the tension around the UNM community that can build up at this point in the semester, according to Tomás González, one of the event coordinators.

Culture

A spirited night at Painted Lady Bed & Brew

Addison Fulton | October 14

Painted Lady Bed & Brew in Albuquerque hosted a “Ghosts of Old Town Albuquerque” talk on Thursday, Oct. 10 as a part of its ongoing “Brews and Boos” event series. Cody Polston — an author, paranormal investigator and ghost tour guide — gave a talk to Painted Lady’s patrons on the various ghosts and ghost stories surrounding Old Town Albuquerque. The talk featured and retold several iconic ghost stories from Old Town. One ghost featured was that of Milton Yarberry, New Mexico’s first constable, who was hanged for murder. He haunts the area near where he was hanged, which is now the parking lot behind La Hacienda.

Culture

Who’s the fattest bear of them all?

Rodney Prunty | October 14

Fat Bear Week, an event held every year in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve to decide who the cutest and fattest bear is before they go into hibernation, kicked off its voting on Oct. 2. The event is a single-elimination tournament where the highest-voted bear gets to advance to the next round, according to Fat Bear Week’s website. This year, 12 bears competed against each other to be crowned the winner of Fat Bear Week. Notable matchups included 128 Grazer vs. 909Jr. on Oct. 4. Grazer, a mama bear and fan favorite, dominated this race with 73,018 votes, compared to 909Jr.’s 16,688. Grazer rode her dominant performance all the way to the championship, as she earned herself a spot.

Culture

Balloon Fiesta celebrates the joy of flight

Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh | October 14

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicked off Oct. 5, filling the skies with vibrance as hundreds of hot air balloons took flight during the world’s largest ballooning event. The festival ran through Sunday, Oct. 13. Thousands of spectators gathered at Balloon Fiesta Park for the annual nine-day festival, which featured daily mass ascensions, “special shape” balloons and nighttime events. This year’s theme, “Embrace the Sky,” celebrated the joy of flight and community. Each morning during the Fiesta as dawn broke, the iconic sound of the balloonists’ burners filled the air. Some of the first balloons launched at 6 a.m., creating a panorama against the Sandia Mountains. Local families and tourists snapped photos, capturing the event's magic, which draws participants from around the globe.

Culture

Artist Karl Orozco: 'Signs of Life'

Isaac Suarez Flint | October 7

When grappling with loss during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, artist Karl Orozco had nothing to say. “I knew that I could reflect that moment through absence and that would be more powerful than putting anything on a platform,” Orozco said. After moving to Albuquerque from New York City in summer 2020 to teach art at the Albuquerque Academy, Orozco found himself not only wrestling with his role as an artist during a global tragedy, but with being placed in a starkly different environment than where he had begun his professional career.

Culture

UNM hosts AI racial bias webinar with ‘Coded Bias’ director

Addison Fulton | October 7

On Oct. 2, the University of New Mexico hosted a webinar Q&A with filmmaker Shalini Kantayya, the creator of a 2020 documentary about the racial bias of artificial intelligence called “Coded Bias.” “Coded Bias” started with Kantayya’s attempt to empower herself. She intended to make a mirror that would superimpose inspiring images — such as a lion’s head, to channel strength — over her face. However, in trying to make the mirror, she realized that facial recognition technology wasn’t detecting or working on her face. It would, however, recognize an uncanny white mask as a face.

Culture

Albuquerque Film and Music Experience brings together filmmakers and musicians

Elijah Ritch | October 2

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the 12th annual Albuquerque Film & Music Experience began across several venues in Nob Hill, including the Guild Cinema and the Historic Lobo Theater. According to the festival’s mission statement, AFMX brings together award-winning and up-and-coming filmmakers and musicians. The event ended on Sunday, Sept. 29. It provides “a platform for education, collaboration, discovery and the sharing of impactful stories,” its mission statement reads.

Culture

Full steam ahead: New Mexico Heritage Rail celebrates Railroad Days

Lily Alexander and Addison Fulton | September 30

On the weekend of Saturday, Sept. 28, the New Mexico Heritage Rail hosted the second annual Railroad Days event, showcasing a restored 80-year-old steam train. The star of the event — held at the Albuquerque Rail Yards and adjacent Wheels Museum — was the ATSF 2926. According to the New Mexico Heritage Rail website, the train was originally built in 1944 and retired in 1956. From there, it was left abandoned in Coronado Park for decades, according to Ed Burggraf, a volunteer with the restoration.