plus: native artists struggle, La Llorona weeps, & was DuChamp really a cross-dresser?
Clearly, the magic bullet these days in the state's plans for economic development is going to be creative industries. From the Film Commission to the Music Commission, everyone's got a plan as to how we take our existing talents in hands and heads and create a little synergy between our people and Hollywood's needs. It's certainly something that the Music Commission is betting on, and we hope it'll work too.
"The goal of this particular event is to make sure that the film industry is aware that we have talented people here who can compose their film scores, provide incidental music, and even appear live on camera for scenes that require live performing acts," said Nancy Laflin, executive director of the New Mexico Music Commission.
The event Ms. Laflin referred to is the New Mexico Filmmaker's Conference music composer networking event, where selected composers will have the ability to meet with NM-based film-maker's from across the state to play 'em a tune or two off their laptops and share business cards about potential projects and work in the future.
The event, which will take place at the Hotel Santa Fe on December 1 or 2nd (TBA) , is limited to New Mexico residents, and will require advance registration. Preference will be given to experienced composers, said Laflin, but I think everyone with the desire to do so should give it a shot - after all, even bedroom composers should get their chance to score...for the movies. ;-)
Contemporary American Indian artists struggle for attention in a market focused on tradition
Over the weekend, Native blogs were all abuzz with the news that a "substantial" story about Native contemporary art had broken in the Albuquerque Tribune. Writer Nancy Salem spoke with a number of local artists and curators, including Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Nora Naranjo Morse, Douglas Miles, and Addison Fine Arts' John Addison. According to the story, a number of factors keep down Native contemporary art's viability, including collectors used to a certain kind of art from Native artists, art-world "power brokers" and traditionalists within the Native world. You can read the full story here.
Just in time for Halloween:
Cuento de la Llorona at the National Hispanic Culture Center!
Mark your calendars! On October 27-29, The National Hispanic Cultural Center is putting on a theatrical production of the classic New Mexico legend of La Llorona. Performance company La Matraka interprets this popular tale through dialogue, music and dance that capture the essence of Spanish Colonial heritage and traditions of the Southwest. Immediately following all three performances author Ray John de Aragón will be signing his book The Legend of the Llorona. For more information, visit their website.
Marcel DuChamp: Innovator Artist and...Cross-Dresser?
MFA Fine Arts Curator Tim Rodgers continues his lecture series on European Modernism on Wednesday at 6pm at the Museum of Fine Arts. He tells us he'll be focusing on DuChamp's illustrious career as an artist and..cross-dresser? This may give new insight as to why his most famous ReadyMade was a urinal! Details are *only* available at the lecture...$10 for non-members, $5 for members, and free to ME, (my mom gets me on the list....nyah-nyah.)
