French horn quartet fuses pop hits and classical training
By Sam Adams
Danielle Kuhlmann (aka Velvet Barbie) is one quarter of French horn quartet Genghis Barbie. Like the other members of her ensemble, she's a classically trained brass player who began her lessons in grade school. But rather than sticking to the traditional route of playing symphony halls and swanky tea-time luncheons, she and her bandmates decided to go pop.
New Mexico santeros and santeras on devotional folk art
By Lizzy von Stange
Saint-making is a devotional practice that tells the story of Catholic saints through retablos, panel paintings of saints, and bultos, hand-carved statues of saints. A talk on the subject at El Chante: Casa de Cultura on Saturday, Feb. 4., also features artwork from 14 New Mexican saint-makers in a show titled The Art of Devotion: Traditional and Contemporary.
In the fall, 516 ARTS put out a call for New Mexicans to submit pieces that would serve as the face of the gallery's five-year anniversary show. Nearly 300 artists responded with an eclectic range of works. 516 Executive Director Suzanne Sbarge decided to put the judging process in the hands of renowned critic Peter Frank, after they met while Frank was in town on assignment. He operates out of L.A. as associate editor of Fabrik magazine and as a contributor to the Huffington Post. Frank may not be local, but he says he has a soft spot and deep regard for art from the Southwest. He whittled down the pool of entrants to about 80 works, with each artist represented by one piece. It's the largest group show 516 has put on to date, with talent representing more than 30 cities statewide.
