
UNM’s Faculty Dance Concert ‘Querencia’ Takes Center Stage
The concept of querencia, as beautifully articulated by Rudolfo Anaya in his forward to Querencia: Reflections on the New Mexico Homeland, embodies the love for both place and community. “In this concert, we present dance works that are tied to the concept and experience of querencia in different ways.” Say Artistic Directors Marisol Encinias and Amanda Hamp. “Some of the pieces are reflections of finding a refuge, some speak of a quest away from home, and others grew from connection to place, history, and each other.”
UNM Theatre and Dance is particularly honored to present Genesis One by renowned choreographer Gregory Maqoma. Maqoma, who visited Albuquerque earlier this year, taught workshops and created this new piece that reflects the resilience of the human spirit. Beautiful and poignant, Genesis One stands as a testament to the strength of unity and freedom amidst intense adversity. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this piece live in the theater.
Additionally, Flamenco choreographer Iván Vargas presents Envés, a mesmerizing journey through the picturesque hills of Sacromonte in Granada. Iván Vargas is a critically acclaimed contemporary flamenco artist, and has presented works around the world, included during previous Festival Flamencos in Albuquerque. A force of nature and creativity, Vargas intertwines the haunting echoes of Arabic melodies with the vibrant rhythms of Granada’s flamenco tradition. Envés seamlessly blends the traditional with the contemporary, offering a heartfelt homage to Vargas’s cultural heritage while embracing the future with hope and reverence.
A flamenco piece by Carmen Coy & Jesús Perona and contemporary dance works by Melissa Briggs and Amanda Hamp round out the evening with their own perspectives on home, belonging, and love with passion and poignancy.
The performances are scheduled for February 23rd, 24th, and 29th, and March 1st and 2nd at 7:30 pm, with an additional matinee on February 25th at 2:00 pm. All performances will take place at the Rodey Theatre, located within the Center for Fine Arts. Tickets are available online at unmtickets.com and at the UNM box office.
For more information, please visit dance.unm.edu
UNM Artists Take the Spotlight in Southwest Contemporary Vol. 12: Obsession
Southwest Contemporary Vol. 12: Obsession features some incredible work from several of the amazing people who comprise the Art Department. Current second-year MFA students Luka Berkley and Justine Kablack, recent MFA graduate Taylor Engel, and instructor Jessamyn Lovell all have work featured in this most recent issue of Southwest Contemporary.
Spotlight on Art Studio & Art History Faculty: Featured Exhibitions
Art History Professor Ray Hernández-Durán was recently featured in two articles and interviewed by the Latin American and Iberian Institute. UNM News published “UNM Professors Create Exhibition, First-Ever Scholarship of Local Chicano Artists’ Work” by Anna Padilla, highlighting an exhibition curated by Hernández-Durán and Dr. Irene Vásquez. The show, now on view at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, features six talented New Mexican Chicano artists whose work has been historically underrepresented in academic scholarship.
Art Faculty: Awards, Residencies & Revisited Projects
Distinguished Professor Jim Stone is an exhibiting artist who uses photography. His photographs have been published in three monographs and exhibited internationally; they are represented in the permanent collections of over 30 major museums and public archives.