Albuquerque, NM

imagine...photo by Mary MacIntyre

Happy New Year, the following is brought to you by abqarts.com
There’s plenty to read, so I’ll keep my words short. Read precious blogs for moew chat.
Art Exhibits, Studio Tours, and more…

Chinese New Year Celebration at Wooden Cow
Artists of The Wooden Cow Gallery will host A Festival of Lanterns, a Chinese New Year’s celebration beginning First Friday. Featured artist is Ren Adams. There will be juried work, Chinese festival music, and a giveaway drawing. Ren Adams blends the grace and harmony of centuries-old traditional Chinese brush painting methods with the use of innovative and modern techniques such as encaustic collage, watercolor, and liquid ink. Much of Ren’s work also takes non-traditional subjects and showcases them using the traditions of Chinese brush painting. “Much of my work is inspired by the Chinese masters, Taoism, philosophy, and the wonderful things in ordinary life. Whether it’s the slant of light as August folds into September, the brilliant orange of a Cheeto, or the playful humor of a kitten, I find the movement of art present in all things. By observing the world around me, I create. Chinese brush painting is part of my daily meditation. I take each stroke, each layer, and each subject seriously. Yet, in all that heaviness, there’s something wonderfully humorous. The lighthearted balances the grave. Such is the harmony of life.” Ren also teaches Asian Studies and Asian Art classes at The Cow. And don’t miss the window - the Cow’s window decorations are becoming a big hit in the heights. The exhibit opening is part of First Friday Artscrawl.
Reception Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, 5-8pm
The Wooden Cow Gallery & Art Space
7400 Montgomery NE #20
(505) 999-1280
thewoodencow. com

Monthly Gallery/Workshop Tour at Tamarind
Tamarind Institute offers its monthly presentation, video, and tour of the world renowned lithography workshop. Learn about the concept of this collaborative art form, tour the workshop and browse the gallery. The tour is free, but please call for reservations.
Special Event Friday, Jan. 9, 1:30-3:00pm
Tamarind Institute
108 Cornell Drive SE
(505) 277-3901
tamarind.unm.edu

Gary T. Erbe: Forty Years
Albuquerque Museum invites you to a showcase of more than 60 trompe l’oeil paintings by self-taught artist Gary Erbe. Trompe l’oeil (to fool the eye) is illusionist painting that goes back to Ancient Rome, 17th century Dutch painting, and 19th century American paintings by William Harnett and John Frederick Peto. This 40-year retrospective of Erbe’s best work depicts pop culture of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. There will be a lecture by the artist.
Lecture and exhibition Sunday, Jan. 11, 1pm
The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
2000 Mountain Road NW
(505) 243-7255
cabq.gov/museu m

Vote for Albuquerque Last year Albuquerque was ranked the #7 arts destinations among large American cities by American Style Magazine, only beat out by the likes of New York and San Francisco. To vote, go to AmericanStyle and click on the box that says Top 25 Arts Destinations. All ballots received by January 31, 2009 will be entered to win a $500 travel certificate. Help spread the word!

Performing Arts
Theater, Dance, Lectures, Poetry and more …

The True History of Coca Cola in Mexico
A play about two documentary filmmakers who travel to Mexico to show how Coca Cola and American pop culture has overrun the Mexican way of life. Ironically, the filmmakers use the same tactics to make a film about the plight of the Mexican people as the corporations do to exploit the Mexican people in the first place.
Performance Friday, Jan. 9, 8pm
Auxiliary Dog Theater
3011 Monte Vista NE
(505) 254-7716
auxdog.org

Treehouse Open Mic Poetry Reading
Treehouse Open Mic takes place the second Saturday of each month. January features Karin Bradberry.
Poetry reading Saturday, Jan. 10, 7-9pm
Sumner & Dene Gallery
517 Central NW
(505) 842-1400
sumnerdene.com

Believe it or not, more live-theatre happens right here in Albuquerque than in any other city of similar size. The live drama offerings range from musicals on a big stage to stand-up comedy on a small one. You can see a folk zarzuela or a familiar fairy tale come alive for children. In any given season, you might see classics and top writers from Shakespeare to Arthur Miller, David Mamet to Paula Vogel, John Patrick Shanley to Ntozake Shange. Works by local playwrights, such as Lou Clark or Mark Dunn, also take the stage, in full productions or in staged readings. Bookmark the website address for Albuquerque Theatre Guild so you can quickly get to this source of information about live entertainment in Duke City.
abqtheatre.org

For more about on-going performances not being highlighted in undergroundARTS, visit the albuquerqueARTS website.
abqarts.com

Music
musical performances, workshops and festivals

Le Chat and Concepto Tambor play at The Launchpad
Don’t miss the big New Year’s Eve Show at The Launchpad featuring Le Chat Lunatique, Concepto Tambor and Element 37.
Special event Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8pm
The Launchpad
Central Avenue near 6th Downtown
Tickets at launchpadrock s.com and Natural Sound

Women on the Edge
New Mexico Women’s Chorus presents a post-holiday collection of songs made popular by women who have been pioneers in civil rights and social justice, music, feminism and politics. In short, women who have made a difference by not behaving in a traditional manner.
Performance Sunday, Jan. 11, 4:30pm
First Congregational Church
2801 Lomas NE
(505) 268-9405
nmwomensc horus.org

Santa Cruz River Band at SBCC
This intriguing and powerful musican group will perform in English, Spanish and American Indian languages, filled with the history and mystical lore of the Great American Southwest. If you didn’t catch them when they played at the zoo, now is your chance. You won’t be disappointed. Catch a preview on You Tube.
Performance Sunday, Jan. 11, 7pm
South Broadway Cultural Center
1025 Broadway SE
(505) 848-1320
cabq.gov/sbcc

2009 New Mexico Music Awards nominees
The 2009 NM Music Awards program will begin accepting entries January 1, 2009 through February 6, 2009. Entry forms are available on line. A $20 check or money order payable to New Mexico Music Awards must accompany each entry. Entry fees are not refundable. For complete information, visit the web site.
Deadline February 6, 2009
new mexicomusicawards.com

For more about on-going performances not being highlighted in undergroundARTS, visit the albuquerqueARTS website.
abqarts.com

Film Arts
art films, films about art, and news from the Film Industry

Monthly Movie at the El Rey - Easy Rider
On the way to becoming the ultimate 1960s counterculture film, Dennis Hopper’s anti- establishment road movie (his directorial debut) garnered widespread critical acclaim. Flush with cash from a cocaine sale and looking for the “real America,” motorcycle mavericks Billy (Hopper) and Wyatt (Peter Fonda) are joined by boozy American Civil Liberties Union lawyer George Hanson (Jack Nicholson, in an Oscar-nominated performance) as they hit the road. “Nobody went to see ‘Easy Rider’ (1969) only once. It became one of the rallying-points of the late ’60s, a road picture and a buddy picture, celebrating sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and the freedom of the open road. It did a lot of repeat business while the sweet smell of pot drifted through theaters. Seeing the movie years later is like opening a time capsule. It provides little shocks of recognition, as when you realize they aren’t playing ‘Don’t Bogart That Joint’ for laughs.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times. After the film, stick around for some great jammin’ with Liquid Gypsy and The Goatheads. This is a 21+ event.
Screening Friday, Jan. 9, 8pm
The Historic El Rey Theater
620 Central SW
(505) 242-2343
elreytheater.com

Take a Road Trip
You have asked for some out of town coverage too

New Year’s Eve in Red River
The snow is great - the weather’s good - why not head north and spend New Year’s Eve in Red River? Begin at 7pm with the Torchlight Parade on the ski slopes, then go to the Red River Community House for a free, family friendly, New Year’s Eve party. There will be a cake walk, pizza walk, hula hoop contest, and more! This event begins immediately after the Fireworks and Torchlight Parade and goes until the ball drops… in New York. Admission is free, and food and refreshments are available!

Lodging information and directions available at Red River’s web site.

Whatever you do - don’t start out on a road trip, short or long, if you have been drinking. It could cost you a lot of money, a career, or even a life. Happy New Year.