I think you can tell a lot about a person by the podcasts they listen to, and there's truly something for everyone: news junkies, true-crime devotees, history buffs, conspiracy theorists, bookworms, Gilmore Guys ...
In her frequent Pod Patrol items, our fearless leader Carolyn Graham shares nuggets gleaned from podcasts so varied I wonder how she has time to do life around listening to them: Cautionary Tales, Disgraceland, Hyperallergic, The Dollop, The Lonely Palette, 99% Invisible, You Must Remember This are just some of the shows I am now aware of thanks to her. Carolyn takes away something fascinating, relevant, enlightening, educational from each; she's curious and clever, the consummate editor.
Then there's me.
Instead of listening to podcasts that will make me more smarter — like those CG put on my radar but have yet to be added to my rotation — I'm listening to SmartLess, WTF With Marc Maron, and How Did This Get Made. Give me Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes interviewing a mystery guest selected by one of the hosts; give me a neurotic standup comic having a conversation with President Barack Obama; give me actor/comic/author Paul Scheer, his wife, June Diane Raphael, and lunatic Jason Mantzoukas celebrating/destroying really bad movies. Give me a belly laugh, a WTF moment, a reason to rewatch the cinematic masterpiece The Beekeeper from a whole new perspective.
Am I embarrassed to admit my podcast preferences? Obviously not. I want as much levity in my world as possible. Am I embarrassed that I'm not a more well-rounded listener? A little bit. While I'm not making any promises, I am going to make a real effort to expand my library to include more than just pop culture and comedy, starting superlocal with the SFNM podcast Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez, adding some of those Carolyn has recommended, and building from there, hopefully also finding along the way some programs to help inform my role with Pasatiempo.
Which leads us to ...
Dawn Kish
This Week's COVER STORY
Broken Boxes, a subversive art podcast, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a mega exhibition at the Albuquerque Museum. Broken Boxes: A Decade of Art, Action, and Dialogue — the title of the exhibition as well as the accompanying book — breaks boundaries as it unites some 23 like-minded artists who create art in part for the greater good; all have been featured on the podcast and credit the collective power of art and conversation to "to amplify and support the plurality of the creative human experience."
The exhibition extends beyond the confines of the main gallery of the museum and takes over the lobby, the atrium, and spaces normally occupied by the permanent collection. Sound scores and murals, hanging and monumental art all interact together, with no forced connection between them. “It’s up to each of the viewers to come in and take from it the idea of spirituality, and of land, and of the universal versus specific,” says museum head curator Josie Lopez.
Pasatiempo's Ania Hull spoke with four of the artists in the exhibition — Cannupa Hanska Luger, Kate DeCiccio, Chip Thomas, and Raven Chacon — asking them to reflect on a breadth of topics related to their artistic practices.
Pasa Picks
Author and teacher Sharman Apt Russell will speak at Collected Works Bookstore about her newest book, What Walks This Way: Discovering the Wildlife Around Us Through Their Tracks and Signs.
While most New Mexicans likely don't consider Farmington an arts destination, it offers rewards for those who know where to look. Pasa's Brian Sandford spoke with some folks who have a stake in cultivating an evolving arts scene in the Four Corners region.
And in his Editor's Note column this week, Brian explains why he chose to write about the arts in Farmington when there's plenty of art in Santa Fe: "I don’t intend to ignore the latter, but temporarily relocating one’s brain to another spot on planet Earth really activates it, I find."
Make a Plan
What's it going to be: Ranky Tanky, Wassa Wassa, Ann Annie, or Luna Luna. Our exhaustive calendar of events is an indispensable tool for plotting your arts and entertainment adventures for the coming week and into the months ahead. For your consideration: Teatro Paraguas' ¡Viva México! celebrates Mexican Día de La Independencia.
A New World Matilde
Opera Southwest launches its 2024-2025 season with an al fresco staging of the rarely performed Matilde. The 80-minute piece by little-known Italian composer Carlo Coccia is receiving what Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Anthony Barrese describes as its “New World” premiere. The production, which is accompanied by orchestra, represents the company’s uncommon approach to the apprentice program. Barrese tells Pasa contributor Mark Tiarks: “My ideal is always to have a fully staged, complete piece with an orchestra. You don’t learn how to perform opera by doing scenes with just a piano."
Catch Matilde next weekend at the Albuquerque Museum amphitheater.
Carsten Windhorst
Rhapsodic Rufus
Rufus Wainwright's Want Symphonic tour marks his second appearance at the Santa Fe Opera for a performance Monday that also has a benefit component: ticket buyers can support the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance by adding an optional pre-show reception to their purchase. The celebrated singer-songwriter-composer, who weaves classic references and a classical flair into his performances, will be joined by the Santa Fe Symphony for its season-opener in a rule-breaking musical matchup.
One Last Thing ...
Pasatiempo offers our deepest sympathies and regards to the family and friends of iconic flamenco dancer María Benítez, who died Tuesday at the age of 82. Her influence on Santa Fe's cultural scene was deep, and her work with several generations of dancers will ensure that her legacy — and the artform she loved — will live on.
That's it for now, folks. Cheers, namaste, and feel free to send me (or Carolyn) a podcast recommendation.
