Join in a celebration of art, history, song and service with the community of Pajarito as the Gutierrez-Hubbell House History and Cultural Center christens their brand-new gallery space. The premiere exhibit Faith and the Gutierrez Family: The Role of Devotional Art in Colonial New Mexico features several retablos depicting the patron saints of the Gutierrez family created by world-renowned santero Dr. Charles Carrillo. Dr. Carrillo and historian Felipe Mirabal host an informal presentation on the exhibit and how the faith of the family informed their service to the people of the South Valley. The night continues with live music from local son jarocho group Los Jaraneros del Valle and dancing under the stars. Savor delectable, traditional Spanish Colonial foods like dulce de membrillo, carne adovada tarts, biscochitos and jamaica tea while you explore the exhibit and chat with the artist. Dr. Carrillo’s works reside in the permanent collections of several prominent museums including the Smithsonian. You have the opportunity to add works from this exhibit to your collection Friday, May 8, from 6 to 8:30pm at the GHHHCC (6029 Isleta SW). Tickets cost $25 through gutierrezhubbellhouse.org.
Culture Shock: Developing On The Fringe Developing On The Fringe
(L to R) Katie Farmin and Rhiannon Frazier pose during a trailer shoot for EllieIda
Jose Castro
Two listless souls on crates surrounded by booze bottles in an alleyway toss cards into a bowler hat. “You think this will ever get old?” one asks. Jump to: the once-hip chicks stooped over in sunhats and reading glasses, still flipping cards. “Eh?” comes the senile response from the other. Having properly experimented with the comedic characters of Ellie and Ida at UNM’s Theatre X last fall, senior performers and playwrights Rhiannon Frazier and Katie Farmin will stage their original production EllieIda: Two Lives in One Act at The Box Performance Space (100 Gold SW, 404-1578) this weekend. Playing multiple roles, Farmin and Frazier took inspiration for their two main characters from such legendary comics as Lucille Ball, Phyllis Diller and Carol Burnett, as well as contemporary jokesters Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The result is a fast-paced, quick-change, physical-comedy portrayal of Ellie and Ida’s 80 years of shenanigans together. Tickets are available for $10 (plus a $2 service charge) at theboxabq.com, but act quick: Only two fundraising performances on Saturday, May 9, at 9:30pm and Sunday, May 10, at 6pm offer chances to help launch the comediennes on the fringe festival circuit.
Culture Shock: East Meets Deco East Meets Deco
Japanese cloche hat
images courtesy Andrew Connors
Japanese Art Deco bowl
Change up your Mother’s Day traditions this year with the swinging sounds of vintage Japanese big-band and jazz while expert Andrew Connors presents “Japanese Art Deco and the Global Aesthetic.” Connors, curator of art at the Albuquerque Museum (2000 Mountain NW), dishes on the way Art Deco’s distinct use of symmetry, geometry and modernism throughout the world found expression in Japan 1912-1945, a time of high-stakes political change. Take this chance to explore Japanese Art Deco design in the context of the style’s enormous worldwide influence on everything from architecture to jewelry. Moms pay just $10, while students under 26 are free with ID. It’s $15 for Albuquerque International Association members and $20 for everyone else—but register soon, since space is limited. The talk runs 3 to 5pm; for more info, check out abqinternational.org.
