Best Of Burque 2011:
It’s got soaring musical numbers (literally), flamboyant costumes, one of the best damn sets we’ve ever seen and captivating national talent. Plus, it’s about witches and magic … and flying monkeys.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Tie: Bless Me, Ultima (joint production of The Vortex and the National Hispanic Cultural Center), Under the Big Top (Blackout Theatre Company) 3) Guys and Dolls Jr. (The Box Performance Space’s Cardboard Playhouse)
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Art Exhibition
516 Central SW242-1445 516arts.org
Best Of Burque 2011:
It’s about time Albuquerque started recognizing graffiti as art. Thanks to this effort by 516 ARTS, which collaborated with more than 25 local organizations, our city is more informed about the practice and politics of street art. We’ve also got a host of new murals to show for it.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces From the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales (Albuquerque Museum of Art and History) 3) BODIES … The Exhibition (Albuquerque Convention Center)
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Mural
Eric Williams ericwphoto.com
3100 Central SE232-7800 astrozombies.com
Best Of Burque 2011:
Thanks to Hollywood’s love affair with superheroes, comic books are on everyone’s radar. The mural on Astro-Zombies is a testament: Ninja Turtles kick it with X-Men and Batman.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) HDIC Theatre Building: Thomas Christopher Haag and Ernest Doty3) Rainbow drips on the Anasazi building
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Art Gallery
516 Central SW242-1445 516arts.org
Best Of Burque 2011:
516 lives on the frontier, bringing daring and delightful installations to its walls and to the city at large. Albuquerque is better for it, and we know it.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Mariposa Gallery3) The Wooden Cow Gallery
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Museum
2000 Mountain NW243-7255 cabq.gov/museum
Best Of Burque 2011:
It’s got stuff for kids and adults alike, and within the last 12 months, you could see Polaroids intermingling with exhibits on artists with synesthesia. There’s always something going on at the museum.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science3) ¡explora!
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Theater Space
423 Central NW768-3522 cabq.gov/kimo
Best Of Burque 2011:
The KiMo Theatre, with its ornate Pueblo Deco beams and embellishments, has remained one of Albuquerque’s architectural jewels for more than 80 years. Its backdrop helps bring just about any performance to life.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) The Box Performance Space3) Popejoy Hall
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Artist
Best Of Burque 2011:
Luminescent cloudscapes and shimmering naturalism make Macpherson a well-loved local. He’s had paperback books of his work published, too, so there’s a good chance you may have already run across some of this longtime artist’s catalog.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Brandon Maldonado3) Nikki Zabicki
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Author
Best Of Burque 2011:
Author of the classic Chicano work Bless Me, Ultima, Anaya has inhabited our slice of sun-baked earth on and off since about 1952 when his family moved to Barelas. He’s even written a novel named after our city, along with a series of detective novels and books for kids. About 21 years ago, he started the tradition of burning El Kookooee in the South Valley. Three cheers for Anaya, a man who loves and lives Burque.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Tony Hillerman3) Tie: Jimmy Santiago Baca, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Poet
Best Of Burque 2011:
Bellamy once told us he became a poet because he was a lousy rapper. That was a good career move: Now you can barely find a poetry event around town without him involved.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Lisa Gill3) Levi Romero
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Photographer
500 Second Street SW, Suite 9681-7471 ripwilliamsphotography.com
Best Of Burque 2011:
Nothing tells a story like a really great photo or a really great photographer. Rip Williams, other than having a super-cool name, also packs some mad picture-taking and organizational skills (see: Guerilla Photo Group, which Williams founded in 2006).
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Wes Naman3) Frank Frost
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Dance Troupe
214 Coal SW224-9808 keshetdance.org
Best Of Burque 2011:
This nonprofit dance company was just one of 15 youth programs nationwide to receive the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award from First Lady Michelle Obama. But we suspect Keshet’s popular Christmastime Nutcracker on the Rocks has more to do with capturing your vote.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company3) Tie: Duke Dance Collective, Guilded Cage Burlesk & Varieté
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Comedy Troupe
Best Of Burque 2011:
Alex, Joe and Steve, known collectively as The One Night Stanleys, have been a regular fixture at The Box Performance Art Space’s Friday Night Improv for ages. Week in and week out, they’re making with the funny. Which is probably why they beat out heretofore title-holding but frequently AWOL duo The Pajama Men. (Seriously, Mark and Shenoah, unpack your bags once in a while.)
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) The Pajama Men3) Nobody’s Stranger
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Theater Troupe
1705 Mesa Vista NW254-8393 tricklock.com
Best Of Burque 2011:
A world-class theater company right here in Albuquerque, Tricklock brings local talent to the stage and imports performance prowess from all over the planet for its yearly Revolutions festival.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Blackout Theatre Company3) The Dolls
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Actor
Best Of Burque 2011:
Though he’s from New Mexico and attended La Cueva High School, Neil Patrick Harris, star of stage and screen, now resides in L.A. Nevertheless, Burque and the Alibi’s love for the teenage TV doctor cannot be quenched. (Please do an interview with us, Mr. Harris!)
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Alicia Lueras Maldonado3) Alex Knight
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Arts Nonprofit
115 Fourth Street NW268-1920 creativeabq.org
Best Of Burque 2011:
People from outside the 505 aren’t always aware that New Mexico is a roiling cauldron of red-hot artistic prowess, but locals know we’ve got more than our fair share of talent. Creative Albuquerque is devoted to fostering that talent, and the 501(c)(3) does it through education, advocacy and funding, along with a host of other initiatives. Long live the right side of the brain.
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Blackout Theatre Company3) Tie: 516 ARTS, Tricklock Company
Best Of Burque 2011: Best Weekly/Monthly Arts Event
Best Of Burque 2011:
This citywide gallery tour is an exceptional social gathering. What art lover wouldn’t enjoy basking in the glow of the creative class, rubbing elbows with his or her peers, and nibbling on cheeses all at once?
Best Of Burque 2011:
2) Church of Beethoven3) Guerrilla Photo Group
