Alex De Vore
Immortal Beloved
New Mexico Museum of Art collaborates with the British Museum
Devotional art is everywhere in museums, particularly when we're talking about the Renaissance and the countless impactful artists who rose to prominence at the time. But while the -famous paintings have their place and are obviously enduring for a reason, the New Mexico Museum of Art's newest exhibit aims for a more subdued look at the Christian story of Christ. The aptly named Birth, Death and Resurrection of Christ: from Michelangelo to Tiepolo is really more of an illustration show, though prints and copper plates can be found, and while numerous pieces found in the exhibit did wind up becoming full-scale paintings, many others are more like studies, practice pieces and jumping-off points.
The 53 pieces are all on loan from London's British Museum, and through some of the biggest names in art history, a picture takes form. You'll find dozens of names you know, but perhaps the most exciting piece of all is Michelangelo's "The Three Crosses," an incomplete rendition of the crucifixion of Christ, Dismas the penitent thief and Gestas the impenitent thief.
"This show is exciting because it allows the museum to fulfill our mission to bring the art of the world to New Mexico, and feature the kind of work that is rarely seen in this part of the world," curator Christian Waguespack tells SFR. "I'm particularly excited to be able to feature biblical scenes by artists like Michelangelo and other prominent historical figures at the same time as the contemporary New Mexican santeros on display in Picturing Passion, who are working with the exact same subject matter."
So there you have it—old art, newer art, Jesus-y art and important art all in one place. We can recall a time not so long ago when seeing a Michelangelo in Santa Fe just wasn't a reality. Be there. (Alex De Vore)
5 pm Friday Jan. 24. Free.
New Mexico Museum of Art,
107 W Palace Ave.,
476-5072
The Beat Goes On
Courtesy Dewane Hughes
Texas sculptor Dewane Hughes says he's been heavily influenced by the Beat Generation and scholars like emmer-effing Noam Chomsky, and while those concepts might be difficult to convey in welded steel sculpture, there's something about Hughes' works that makes the connection. Perhaps it's the playfulness of some of his lines, or how some of the pieces recall everyday scholastic ephemera like the good ol' dais, but between the hard-won shapes and curves and the densely packed layers of symbolism, a picture emerges. It's one of toughness and longevity, but soft curves and intriguing angles. Each piece demands thought and time, and Shidoni Gallery and Sculpture Garden's James McConnell says Hughes is on his way to national notoriety. We wouldn't be surprised, either. (ADV)
5 pm Friday Jan. 24. Free.
Shidoni Gallery and Sculpture Garden,
1508 Bishop's Lodge Road,
988-8001.
Ross+Friends=2Gether4Ever
Piper Olivas
We've been known to call musician Ross Hamlin a noodler, and we stand by that, but the guy known for dabbling in pretty much any genre you could name is also a friend to many. Some of those friends come together with Hamlin this Friday to do a thing, and it looks to be glorious. "I wanted to do this concert (and subsequent ones on a quarterly basis), so I could play outside of my electric, fusion-y comfort zone and be joined by cool people in a cool non-bar space whose names don't dominate the Santa Fe nightscape," Hamlin says. "It's also a great challenge to compose new classical-esque music, play normal pop type songs and even flex my word muscles with a narration of a children's story I wrote." On top of that, find spoken word, beatboxing, theatrical readings and more from notable local culture contributors like Red Cell, Damon Griffiths, Stacey McMullen and many others. (ADV)
7:30 pm Friday Jan. 24. $15.
San Miguel Chapel,
401 Old Santa Fe Trail,
983-3974.
A Helping Hand
Courtesy Image
One thing you can say about Santa Fe is that we look after our own. Take local musician Terry Diers who, after suffering a recent mini-stroke and hospital stay, is staring down the barrel of some pretty hefty bills, particularly those that come with holding onto his home. The people have already started to come together with a helpful GoFundMe campaign online, but it just wouldn't be a musician benefit without live music. As such, hit up Tumbleroot this Sunday to ring in some jams with Diers and a cavalcade of other local musical heroes such as Karina Wilson, Ron Crowder, Betsy Scarinzi and tons of others. They'll even set up a silent auction with local donations and a learning station to arm guests with knowledge on how to detect stroke warning signs. (ADV)
Terry Diers Benefit:
5 pm Sunday Jan. 26. $5-$20.
Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery,
2791 Agua Fria St.,
780-5730.
