Dr. Hurtado wins the Morelia Composition Competition for Orchestra
The announcement was made on December 15th, 2023, where his piece “Solar Mass” was selected by the jury among 60 anonymous entries. The prize includes a monetary award and several performances by Mexican Orchestras during 2024.
“Solar Mass” is an 8:30 minute work for orchestra, written in a single block of music which gradually develops, without pauses, until it explodes, creating a dense block of sound, full of energy and dramatic dynamic contrasts that disperse in an immense space.
The Concurso de Composición Orquestal is a local government initiative that reaffirms the city of Morelia as UNESCO’s “Ciudad Creativa de la Música”, and as one of the most important cultural centers of the country.
Assistant Professor, Amanda Curreri’s, Newest Exhibition “Liber Floridus”
Congratulations to Assistant Professor and graduate director Amanda Curreri, who, along with multimedia artist Andy Ness, created the exhibition Liber Floridus presented by the Wege Gallery. Curreri contributed woven textile-based works, while Ness contributed...
Engaged Practices, Professor Subhankar Banerjee’s Showcase, looking at Nature Journaling as Pedagogy
Congratulations to Professor Subhankar Banerjee, whose classes “Introduction to Art and Ecology” and “Biodiversity, Creative Practice, Justice” explored nature journaling as both a visual and literary practice, culminating in a showcase last week. Banerjee, Art professor and founder and director of the Center for Environmental Arts & Humanities, described the motivation behind the project as creating “to have an alternative outlet to engage, not only a class project, but for their own life, and their own journey of learning at UNM,” particularly in the context of students living in “the digital space.” He further says, “Teens, as well as young adults, are spending increasingly more time on the internet.
Art MFA Student, Hanna Brody, featured in The New York Times
Art MFA student, Hanna Brody, recently completed a painting for author T Kira Māhealani Madden that was featured in The New York Times. Her book, titled “Somebody Killed Her Assailant. Was Justice Served?” has a featured review written by Catherine Chidgey and original art by UNM MFA student Hanna Brody.



