Courtesy Nicholas King
Burnt Into Your Brain
Part of participating in Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada is making sure you dress the part. It's easy to underdress and weirdly difficult to overdress, but with Santa Fe photographer Nicholas King there to document the attendees (referred to as "Burners") in their unique attire, you definitely wanna do it right. King sees more value in capturing these people rather than The Man himself, and, he says, he hopes to "reveal the amazing diversity of the people that come to the event—sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, body types, occupations." King, now 76, spent the last eight years dancing with and capturing Burners to create a collection of 60,000 photos, 172 of which are found in his new book, the aptly-titled Burners, and 7 Arts Gallery has now given him the opportunity to share a number of these in an exhibit titled Burning Man: Up Close and Personal during the month of March.
"There are some fascinating connections that I have made as of result from the experience with the people [and] for me to reveal that through my photographs is a dance that I initiate," King says. "But the lead flows back and forth between me and the person I am photographing; trust develops that somehow. I can be touched by that person and they are touched by me."
King's portraits tell the stories of the outrageous costumes that come from the diverse community of Burners and can show what to expect from the event while providing King's unique perspective. "Being around that kind of energy and creativity and willingness to explore and the support for that is one of the key reasons that I keep going back," King says. (Juan Mendoza)
Burning Man—Up-Close and Personal:
4 pm Friday March 2. Free.
7 Arts Gallery,
125 Lincoln Ave.,
437-1107
Tea, Anyone?
Courtesy Pixabay
OK, we've been heaping praise on SITE Santa Fe since the renovation like it's going out of style, but let's all agree they've just been straight killin' it lately. And the straight killin' continues, this time in the form of a guided tour and tea. Yes, you get into the museum and access to its current installation, Future Shock, but for a mere $3 more, you'll get a cup of tea and a chance to absorb the galleries alongside artist Patrick Bernatchez. Our love of this is twofold: Tea is awesome, and having a real-life contemporary artist to bounce art thoughts off of is an innovative move that'll surely awaken a few minds. Well done, SITE. (Alex De Vore)
3 pm Thursday March 1. $5-$10 (plus $3 for tea).
SITE Santa Fe,
1606 Paseo de Peralta,
989-1199
Cello? Cello.
Courtesy Dwight Loop
We love a good ambient soundscape, especially those that sidestep new age nonsense and just sound really weird and intricate. Thus, we like Cello Cosmos, the duo project of cellist Michael Kott and electronic musician Dwight Loop (who, coincidentally, is super into producing loops for this thing). Think of it like the soundtrack to space or like the beautiful coming together of disparate music techniques for beautiful movements running the gamut between strange and hypnotic to gorgeous, moving and even spooky. Clever might be the best word, though, and wholly unique. Yeah—unique. (ADV)
8 pm Saturday March 3. $15.
Paradiso,
903 Early St.
Willie on Film
Courtesy Universal Pictures
The Jean Cocteau Cinema continues its mission to connect cinephiles with industry folk with a screening of the 1982 Western, Barbarosa. But what sets this one aside in a sea of westerns? Willie emmer-effing Nelson, that's what. The Red-Headed Stranger stars in this flick as an outlaw type on the run from the law. It's an exciting film, not least of which thanks to Willie, but at this particular screening legendary Hollywood producer Paul Lazarus (also a producer on the original Westworld film and now a Santa Fean) shows up to A some Qs and hang out and stuff. You've been warned, everyone's dad. (ADV)
Barbarosa and Paul Lazarus Talk:
7 pm Tuesday March 6. $9.50-$10.50.
Jean Cocteau Cinema,
418 Montezuma St.,
466-5528.
