Troy Amato - The Daily Lobo

A placard explaining the pollination process rests inside the Lobo Gardens. The gardens are a University project that is intended to educate students and faculty about the benefits of growing one's own food.

Culture

Green Issue: Students grow food on campus, promote sustainability with Lobo Gardens

Troy Amato | April 19

The Lobo Gardens is UNM’s own environmental project, aiming to bring beauty and nature back to the campus while inspiring community involvement and interaction. Third year UNM transfer student Keith Knutila said that Lobo Gardens has a clear goal — to educate UNM on the importance of community and nature. “The objective of Lobo Gardens is to provide the University of New Mexico students, faculty and staff with opportunities to educate themselves and their communities about the practices and health benefits of growing one’s food in sustainable ways,” he said.

Culture

Music professor retires after 33 years teaching clarinet

Troy Amato | April 12

After over three decades at UNM, clarinet and saxophone player and music professor Keith Lemmons celebrated his teaching career with a farewell performance last night. A quintet started 33 years ago by Lemmons called the New Mexico Winds played a composition of flute, oboe, bassoon and horn, with Lemmons on clarinet. The Winds’ performance was a culmination of everything Lemmons has learned teaching clarinet and saxophone at UNM. “I came [to UNM] in the fall of 1984, 33 years ago,” Lemmons said. “I grew up in the Midwest, in Iowa and Kansas. I went to a small school in Kansas, Pittsburg University, a regional school with around 8,500 kids.”

Culture

Parkour instructor turns campus into his playground

Troy Amato | April 5

19-year-old freerunner and parkour coach from Taos and UNM Freshman Payton Hanna is a rarity in his community. Hanna has been freerunning for four years now and hopes to continue to push the boundaries of the sport. Hanna said UNM’s unique and mobile campus made it a big draw for an avid freerunner such as himself. “UNM is one of the best places I’ve found for parkour and freerunning, with walls everywhere and jumps and things — it’s a parkour paradise! It kind of drew me into UNM and I love it,” Hanna said. “I started a freerunning program at Ninja Park, a ‘Ninja Warrior’ gym just north of campus, that focuses on parkour and freerunning. I just started in January, but I’ve been an instructor for two years.”

Culture

Local MC's album release party will feature live painting, fat beats

Troy Amato | April 2

Local hip-hop artist and MC Def-I will premiere his newest project “Arrow•Rhymanics” in a special CD release party at the Launchpad on Saturday, April 8. A unique blend of live music and art, Def-I’s CD release will be a 21+ event that features many of Albuquerque’s newest and hottest MC’s, producers, and artists. “This is my fourth solo independent album, but it has various features and production from across the country. The name of the album is 'Arrow•Rhymanics' and it came about as my follow up to the last album, titled 'Shields for Raining Arrows.’” Def-I said. “I have many influences from all over, but my favorite MC and producer who highly influenced this album is Evidence of Dilated Peoples. I've been a fan of his and friend over the years.”

Culture

Q & A: Local musician Gabriel Fuentes

Troy Amato | March 19

Gabriel Fuentes is a local guitarist and songwriter who fuses acoustic guitar melodies in a unique instrumental genre known as “math-rock.” A genuine musician and inspiring person, Fuentes, performs in and around the Albuquerque area. The Daily Lobo talked to Fuentes about his upcoming projects and musical background. DL: What kind of music do you make? GF: Myself and my bandmates write a kind of rock referred to as “math-rock,” although some bands prefer to be seen as anything but that.

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.

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.

Joshua Pedersen prepares a lathe to craft the hilt to one of his battle sabers. Pedersen handmakes every aspect of his sabers from scratch.

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.

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.

Singer-songwriter Malcolm Reese performs a set at Brickyard Pizza on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Reese is a local Albuquerque musician that performs solo projects as well as being the vocalist to another local band, Dakota Ave.

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.