artdirector@sfreporter.com
Morning Word
Guv unveils first of summer infrastructure projects
In what was heralded as the first in a “summer-long series of community infrastructure announcements,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last week revealed a series of projects that will use $164.8 million allocated by the state Legislature, along with what the governor’s office says is billions of federal dollars for infrastructure work. “Modernizing the state’s infrastructure to improve the quality of life for generations of New Mexicans and their families, as well as prepare and protect communities in the face of a changing climate, is a top priority of Gov. Lujan Grisham,” state infrastructure adviser Martin J. Chavez said in a statement. Those projects include electric vehicle charging stations the governor unveiled in Socorro, which will use $10 million in state funds along with $38 million in federal infrastructure for a network of electric vehicle charging stations to be located every 50 miles along New Mexico’s interstates. Other projects include: $1.3 million in capital outlay funding for Belen to finish its Eagle Park Veteran’s Memorial and pay for a dog park, splash pad and other improvements and repairs; $30 million for the Eastern New Mexico Water Supply Project, a pipeline that will deliver water from the Ute Reservoir to the more than 70,000 residents of Clovis, Elida, Portales and Texico; and $1.7 million in Roswell to repair a bridge that collapsed due to flooding last month, along with flood mitigation measures to protect it in the future.
City to consider new art for downtown bathroom, civic center
The City of Santa Fe Arts Commission will consider proposals for its art in public places program at its 5 pm meeting today, including a sculpture for the newly opened downtown public bathroom. A memo from Tourism Santa Fe Executive Director Randy Randall notes the existing plan for art at the Water Street restrooms and information booth and says the committee reviewing options chose artist Dan Ostermiller, who is represented by Nedra Matteucci Galleries. As the committee did not recommend a specific piece for purchase, Randall contacted Matteucci to discuss the $25,000 Tourism Santa Fe has budgeted for the art purchase. Matteucci, in consultation with the artist, “came back with an exceptional offer of a 5′ bronze bear, cast as #6 of an edition of nine in 2006,” for that price. According to the memo, the bear—SIOUX—has been documented as retailing for $59,000. The commission also will consider a request to buy two rabbits by sculptor Don Kennell to accompany the Barnyard Dog located behind the Community Convention Center using funds available from its Fiscal Year 22 budget. The Barnyard Dog, near the corner of Federal and Marcy streets, “has created significant interest for community members as well as visitors and is often photographed with children and friends on the swing,” the memo notes. The rabbits, it adds, will “add to the fun of the area.”
SF National Forest leader heads to DC for four months
US Forest officials announced on Friday Carson National Forest Supervisor James Duran will be taking over as forest supervisor of the Santa Fe National Forest for the next four months while Debbie Cress serves as acting deputy chief of staff in the Washington office of Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. Duran also will continue as forest supervisor for the Carson National Forest, a position he’s held since 2014. Cress acknowledged in a news release the “difficult” timing of the personnel changes given they arrive in the aftermath of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. “Working with multiple partners at the local, state and federal levels, we have a unified commitment to post-fire repair and healing of the landscape while meeting the needs of our communities for firewood, acequia repair, reseeding and eventual replanting,” Cress said in a statement. “I know James will continue that important work and provide sound leadership for the Santa Fe National Forest during my absence.” Southwestern Regional Forester Michiko Martin, who announced Duran’s appointment, said Duran, a native New Mexican, “has a deep commitment to our northern New Mexico communities. His extensive experience and dedicated focus on ensuring the Forest Service works closely with local communities exemplify why James is uniquely qualified for continuing the important post-fire efforts that lie ahead for the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests.”
COVID-19 by the numbers
New cases: 1,252; 570,866 total cases
Deaths: three; Santa Fe County has had 318 total deaths thus far; there have been 7,963 total fatalities statewide. Statewide Hospitalizations: 168. Patients on ventilators: 15.
Community levels: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly community levels report, which uses case rates along with two hospital metrics in combination for its framework, for the seven-day period of June 30-July 6, 11 counties—including Santa Fe for the second week in a row—have “red” or high levels (one more than last week). Among other recommendations, the CDC recommends indoor masking for communities with high levels. Twelve counties are “green,” aka low—three more than last week—and the rest are “yellow,” or medium. The CDC updates its map on Thursdays.Case rates: According to the state health department’s most recent report on geographical trends, for the seven-day period of June 27-July 3, Grant County had the highest daily case rate per 100,000 population: 73.3, followed by San Juan County at 66.7 and McKinley County at 60.9; Santa Fe County’s case rate was 49.4, down from 57.8 last week. In total, the health department reports 6,344 cases during that seven-day period, a 7.7% decline from the week prior.Resources: Vaccine registration; Booster registration Free at-home rapid antigen tests; Self-report a positive COVID-19 test result to the health department; COVID-19 treatment info: oral treatments Paxlovid (age 12+) and Molnupiravir (age 18+); and monoclonal antibody treatments. Toolkit for immunocompromised individuals. People seeking treatment who do not have a medical provider can call NMDOH’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453. Vaccines for children: Parents of children ages 6 months to 5 years can now schedule appointments for vaccinations at VaccineNM.org.
You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here.
Listen up
On the most recent episode of the monthly Nativescape podcast, Andrea R. Hanley (Navajo), chief curator at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, interviews Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation), the producer of Southwestern Association of Indian Arts’ Santa Fe Indian Market Haute Couture Fashion Show. Bear Robe also is assistant professor in art history and museum studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts and guest curator of the forthcoming exhibition “Art of Indigenous Fashion” at IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (Aug. 22).
How to Northern New Mexico
New York Magazine shares a decent Northern New Mexico itinerary from pastry chef and writer Natasha Pickowicz in the magazine’s recurring “Steal my Vacation” feature. Pickowicz spent six days driving around the area with her boyfriend last spring on a trip with a major food emphasis—in part checking out recommendations from friends who know New Mexico (such as Albuquerque native Eric See, who owns Ursula restaurant in Brooklyn). In Albuquerque, Pickowicz ate at the James Beard–nominated Oaxacan restaurant La Guelaguetza, where she sampled its specialty: the pizza birria. Before heading to Santa Fe the next day, the couple hit Ihatov, where she ate a green chile croissant described as “absolutely delicious.” Most of her restaurant recommendations were in Santa Fe, but because it was Monday and Tuesday when she arrived, almost all were closed (she returns on the way back from Ojo Caliente and Taos for a second go at them). Among the spots they dined: Coyote Cafe (Coyote was not on her list of places to try, but Pickowicz recognized it because she owns the cookbook...purchased used); Paloma (for take-out because it was booked up); and Sazón, where James Beard award-winning chef Fernando Olea walked around the dining room “checking in with everyone” and Pickowicz tasted “one of the most delicious black-bean soups I’ve ever had. Stops also were made at the Bread Shop; Ras Rody’s; and Plants of the Southwest, which she aptly describes as Moosewood meets Chez Panisse.
Set in Taos, premiering in the UK
“The body of a 70-year-old woman is found in the New Mexico desert near the town of Taos, a place of pilgrimage for those seeking to embrace alternative forms of living. She is Kath Horvath. On her body the police find a message for her daughter, to whom she has not spoken for many years. The message reads, ‘Sam. Do not grieve. I am not here’.” That’s the premise for a new play by UK playwright/screenwriter David Farr, which will have its world premiere this fall at Wilton’s Music Hall in London. Titled A Dead Body in Taos, the play tells the story of what happens next when Sam travels to New Mexico bury her estranged mother and learns about her past and discovers “a shocking secret behind the mysterious message her mother left. For in Taos, Kath Horvath has secretly exercised the ultimate right as a consumer—the right to defy death. In the most remarkable way possible.” The production is described as “part mystery, part sci-fi epic and part love story.” Farr’s many other credits include the feature film Hanna, which was adapted into an Amazon Prime series he wrote and directed.
The monsoons return
Today and tonight could feature some heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service, which forecasts scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 pm on an otherwise mostly sunny day with a high near 91 degrees. Chances for precipitation are 40% today and 50% tonight. The entire week appears to have the possibility, at least, for a return of monsoon weather.
Thanks for reading! The Word’s memory is more selective than poor, but she’s going to try out these tips for improving it nonetheless.
