It's a Sign
Illustrator Nico Salazar looks to the stars with Zodiac exhibit
Perennial SFR fave and 2017 Best of Santa Fe cover artist Nico Salazar didn’t set out to -explore the Zodiac for his forthcoming show at KEEP Contemporary, but after he captioned an Instagram post “Capricorn princess” earlier this year, the path became clear.
“All these people were like, ‘Do my sign next!’” he explains. “I always do shows at the last minute, but since I had the show coming up, I was like, ‘That’s it. That’s my theme.’”
Since then, Salazar has been furiously drawing the signs in his signature anime-meets-pop-art style, from Aries to Pisces—each an anthropomorphized amalgamation of the facets of its corresponding sign. Taurus, for example, becomes a horned man posing within a car; Aquarius becomes a woman watering her houseplants with a watering can; Pisces appears in the form of a woman with a twin fish bicep tattoo—and so on.
“I think people like to see their sign -represented, so I also did a lot of research as I was drawing to try and find out all the facts and things about each one,” Salazar continues. “I really identify with the facets about my sign—I’m a Libra—I mean, when I was younger, I was more interested in the characters like, ‘cool, a ram or a fish,’ but when I learned more about it I realized there was truth to the facets of the signs for sure.”
Salazar says he’ll have plenty of prints at the opening alongside the original pieces, and that he later plans to expand the Zodiac-themed merch with clothing, stickers and more, all through his Future Fantasy Delight brand. (Alex De Vore)
Nico Salazar: Zodiac Opening: 5-8 pm Friday, Oct. 18. Free. KEEP Contemporary. 142 Lincoln Ave., (505) 577-9574
Courtesy Paramount Pictures
The Dark Side of La-La Land
It’s that time of year when immersing yourself in all things horror, thriller and noir doesn’t just feel like the right thing to do—it is the right thing to do. The folks at Jean Cocteau Cinema do October right across myriad seasonal screenings and events, including this week, when William “Bud” Cox, who has 46 years worth of teaching literature, film and art history under his belt, delves into the shady world of Los Angeles film noir. Cox takes a look at four classics: Double Indemnity, Chinatown, Heat and L.A. Confidential, while inviting guests to explore what it is that drives those zany Los Angeleno characters into their crime-ridden frenzies. (Adam Ferguson)
RENESAN: Los Angeles Film Noir: 3:30pm-5 pm Wednesday, Oct. 16, $30 Jean-Cocteau Cinema, 418 Montezuma Ave., (505) 466-5528
James O’Connell
Star Dreams
Didn’t get enough Zodiac action with the Nico Salazar show? Don’t worry—Electr∆ Gallery has you covered. First, though, what’s your sign? If you dress like it, you’ll have a chance to win one of local photographer James O’Connell’s hauntingly poetic photographs from his upcoming show, The Stars Dream Darkly. The artist’s wet plate tintype process is an excellent medium for his interpretations of the Zodiac. Electr∆ Gallery hosts an opening and reception for O’Connell’s historical photographic methods featuring local Santa Fe models transformed into dreamlike, mythological figures. “There is in the work,” gallery owner Georgia Carbone says, “a chance to see yourself reflected.” (Jesse Colvin)
James O’Connell: The Stars Dream Darkly Opening: 5-8 pm, Friday, Oct.18. Electr∆ Gallery, 825 Early St. Ste. D, electragallery.com
Jennifer Carrillo
Luz at the End of the Tunnel
While we’re out here writing event recs for things we’ve loved for some time, we’d be remiss to not mention the return of Latin-tinged indie rock act Y La Bamba. Led by singer-songwriter Luz Elena Mendoza, the band hits such a satisfying intersection between dancey rhythms, psych rock and garage punk that it’s hard to even name another band like ‘em. “I talk a lot about identity,” Mendoza told SFR the last time she came through town to perform, “and I think it’s because I have this urgency of being seen. I’m...recognizing that urgency and kind of refocusing on transforming that urgency into something else.” That transformation is straight-up killer songs, so score one for the music lovers. (ADV)
Y La Bamba: 7 pm Monday, Oct. 21. $15-$25. Meow Wolf, 1352 Rufina Circle, (505) 395-6369
