What's going on, Albuquerque?

Kelly's Blog (22)

Get Your Nominations In Now! The rebooted Creative Bravos are back in 2011

Many of you may remember the Arts Alliance and its signature event the Bravos Awards. For 25 years, the Bravos recognized noteworthy achievement in several arts and arts related categories - theater, dance, visual arts, etc. The Bravos were among Albuquerque’s most exciting and anticipated annual events, too. After two years of organizational self-reflection, the Arts Alliance became Creative Albuquerque in January of this year. The annual Bravos awards… Continue

Added by Kelly on December 8, 2010 at 7:30am — 4 Comments

Mentor & Apprentices Show Examines Teaching/Learning Process

Here's how I'm spending my Friday night. My friend and tapestry artist Donna Loraine Contractor (second from right) and past and present apprentices will be showing the fruits of their teacher/student relationship at a show titled “Mentor and Apprentices.” The opening reception is tonight from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Contractor’s program is unique among teacher/student arrangements, because rather than lecture her apprentices, she points… Continue

Added by Kelly on August 5, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

The Velocity of Gary (Not His Real Name) Review

Because I won the tickets to see The Velocity of Gary (Not His Real Name), I promised to write a review of the play. Here it is.

Chad Brummett is a dynamic local actor whose ability to create characters with movement, voices and subtle changes in expression make him mesmerizing to watch. Especially when you’re sitting in the front row of The Velocity of Gary (Not His… Continue

Added by Kelly on March 1, 2009 at 1:56pm — 1 Comment

Keep in Touch with ABQ Arts with State of the Arts newsletter

As part of the mission of the Arts Alliance to be a provider of information about the arts and culture industry in Albuquerque, the organization started a twice monthly enewsletter called State of the Arts. It's put together by yours truly, and it's gotten good feedback. There are always several local stories, as well as trends about the art and culture industries regionally and nationally.

You, too, can… Continue

Added by Kelly on February 16, 2009 at 11:31am — No Comments

UPDATE! Call to Action: We know budgets need to be cut, but this is ridiculous

In one of the many enewsletters I get came this disturbing piece of news for anyone who cares about the arts community: The House Appropriations and Finance Committee will meet Wednesday, January 28 at 1:30 p.m. to vote on the budget proposals submitted by the State of New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee and the Executive Branch. The LFC recommends reducing New Mexico Arts budget by $400,000 and the… Continue

Added by Kelly on January 26, 2009 at 8:30am — 22 Comments

UPDATED: Get Organized: Shred Your Unwanted Papers, CDs, Etc.

Get a head start on becoming more organized in 2009 by decluttering your home and/or office of shreddable items at no cost. The event is free and an effort to highlight Get Organized (GO) Month, an annual January event sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) dedicated to raising the awareness of the benefits of organization and of hiring a professional organizer. The event is… Continue

Added by Kelly on January 11, 2009 at 1:34pm — No Comments

Albuquerque Weaves - A Conversation With Donna Contractor

And I don't mean hair extensions. I mean tapestry and other fiber art. My friend, award-winning tapestry and mixed media artist Donna Loraine Contractor will be a featured artist at the City of Albuquerque’s Open Space Visitor Center’s two-person show New Mexico Weaves Tapestry, January 3-February 28, 2009. Donna shares the main exhibition gallery with fellow weaver Pat Dozier. An opening… Continue

Added by Kelly on December 30, 2008 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

The 2008 Nobel Literature Winner Lives in ABQ?

Really? I'll give a dollar to the first person who can send me (via email, please don't post it here), Mr. Le Clézio's contact info. I'd love to congraulate him.

From the New York Times, "The Swedish Academy on Thursday awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize for literature to… Continue

Added by Kelly on October 9, 2008 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

Who Are ABQ's Arts Audiences?

According to a piece in the LA Times, "Popular conception says the arts' supporters are graying and shriveling. But it may be that as the crowd's individuals change, its age doesn't."

This is an interesting concept - that arts patrons are always older. Does this generalization fit the ABQ audience? Personally, when the spouse and I see live theater in town, we're almost… Continue

Added by Kelly on October 3, 2008 at 10:23am — 1 Comment

Artscrawl Video Now Posted!

The new Artscrawl video from the Albuquerque Art Business Association is online! Take a look and let them know what you think. It features voiceover by the fabulous Pamela Michaelis, and the fine dramatic work of local actors Don Morse and Courtney Bell. The gist is to give visitors a sense of this Albuquerque tradition and that it is anything but boring. What's the… Continue

Added by Kelly on October 1, 2008 at 7:35am — 1 Comment

Where does ABQ's art scene go now?

This editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer encapsulates a huge issue in the arts & culture world right now - though the arts are a robust part of most cities' economies, many arts groups exist on a knife edge of financing each year. And with financial markets in turmoil, there's even more worry happening at many non-profits that rely on individual and… Continue

Added by Kelly on September 30, 2008 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

How's ABQ's Art Scene Doing?

What are Albuquerque's arts groups doing to stay financial fit these days?

This article about Rochester, NY's struggling art scene highlights several ways arts groups have been hit by and are combating the down… Continue

Added by Kelly on September 15, 2008 at 8:30am — 9 Comments

One Book, One Albuquerque? Fun!

Ohh, something fun that Denver does that Albuquerque could do, too! Hear that library folks? Let's pick a book and create events, discussions, etc. around it as a way of building community and promoting literacy. If Denver can do it, we certainly… Continue

Added by Kelly on September 11, 2008 at 7:19am — 2 Comments

Wanna Be On TV? Get Your Own Show!

Something interesting from my inbox.

New Local TV Channel Presents Opportunity Call for Community Partners/Proposals for Programming

Quote...Unquote, the operator of Channel 27, is planning to launch a second channel on February 1, 2009. This noncommercial digital channel will emphasize "local origination" programming primarily devoted to New Mexico arts and culture.

The intent is to showcase the vibrant Albuquerque… Continue

Added by Kelly on August 27, 2008 at 5:36pm — No Comments

Kyle Zimmerman Moves to Up & Coming 12th & Mountain

This just in from Kyle Zimmerman Photography:

Change is Good! Kyle Zimmerman Photography Moving to 12th & Mountain Road

Albuquerque, N.M. Change is good! Kyle Zimmerman Photography is moving to 1131 Mountain Road NW, Suite 3 and will be open for business on September 1. All phone numbers and email addresses remain the same. A grand opening event will be held in mid-September.

“After 8 years in the current location,… Continue

Added by Kelly on August 14, 2008 at 1:38pm — 1 Comment

No Gallery? No Big Whoop!

The Arts Alliance is calling for proposals from arts organizations, artist collectives, groups of artists (minimum of three), and institutions of higher learning for 2009 exhibitions in the Arts Alliance Gallery. Proposals will be accepted through July 31. For more information and an application form, call 268-1920 (ask for Judy) or go online to… Continue

Added by Kelly on June 12, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

We're Geeks and We Drink

And win! After faithful weekly attendance at Geeks Who Drink each Monday night, my fellow Know It All Posse teammate and I finally won the evening. Knowing a lot about Billy Joel songs, the history of various corporations and which business logos are which certainly helped. Our prize? These groovy deluxe cowboy wallets.

To make the night even sweeter, I won the super secret email question. Behold the power of bacon.

Read more… Continue

Added by Kelly on June 10, 2008 at 3:00pm — 9 Comments

UPDATE: RIP OK Harris

OK Harris died Sunday, June 8 at the VA Hospital. There will be a memorial at the Art is OK gallery (next to Cost Plus on Menaul/Carlisle) in the next couple of weeks.

Pamela Michaelis sent out these words in her email notification. "OK was a man of heroic nature; there was never a bigger, more generous heart."

Read more about OK Harris, a pillar of the Albuquerque art… Continue

Added by Kelly on June 9, 2008 at 10:30am — 18 Comments

New Media Outlet Up and Running

This is great news for those missing the ABQ Tribune. The New Mexico Independent is up and running. Check out the site, which features David Alire Garcia (late of the SF Reporter), and Trip Jennings, formerly with the ABQ Journal. Thanks for the tip from New Mexico FBIHOP, who's a contributor, too.

The site's nicely designed and easy to… Continue

Added by Kelly on April 17, 2008 at 2:51pm — 13 Comments