Culture Shock

Aeeeiiiaahhhh! I just learned that Bound To Be Read, one of our city's finest independent book stores, will be shutting down operations sometime this summer. Painful. Bernie Weiss, a spokesman for the store, says that the economics of keeping Bound To Be Read afloat were “challenging.” For that reason, the owners have decided to transition out of retail. We're going to miss them.

Billed as the biggest book fair in New Mexico, the New Mexico Book Co-op's Book Fiesta cracks wide open this Saturday, May 7, at the Cottonwood Mall. There's going to be more than 100 booths with more than 175 authors and publishers from around the state. Throughout the day, there'll be a ton of signings and new book presentations along with several cool lectures.

Kicking things off from 10 to 11 a.m., New Mexico Secretary of Cultural Affairs Stuart Ashman will lead a panel discussion called "I Have a Busy Day Job But Still Have Time to Write." During the following hour, New Mexico mystery author Michael McGarrity will deliver a talk on the brutal realities of book promotion.

Later in the afternoon, from 2 to 3 p.m., Return to Abo author Sharon Niederman will discuss the ins and outs of magazine writing. Then from 3 to 4 p.m. Thomas J. Steele, John M. Taylor and Mary P. Davis will engage in a panel discussion on writing historical books. Each of these discussions and lectures costs $5, and tickets must be purchased in advance due to limited seating.

Throughout the day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will also be book presentations and live music on the food court stage. These are completely free. For details on the book fiesta, log on to www.nmbookcoop.com or call 344-9382.

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Agnes Martin passed away just last year, shortly after being hailed by ARTnews Magazine as one of the world's top 10 living painters. Born in Canada in 1912, she lived off and on in northern New Mexico since the '50s. Around that time, she began developing the stripped, abstract, minimalist style that would make her world-famous. A film by Mary Lance called With My Back to the World scrapes beneath the surface of the life and work of this celebrated artist. It was shot from 1998 through 2002 and includes interviews with Martin along with footage of her at work in her Taos studio. With My Back to the World also incorporates photographs, archival film and scenes of the artist reading from her poetry and lectures. This fascinating film will be screened at the Harwood Art Center (1114 Seventh NW) on Wednesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5. 242-6367.