Community in Villanueva

Villanueva Traditions We have our own traditions and folklore, ours is Las Posadas which is religious as well as Los Pastores.  Los Pastores is a musical play that has been around here for many years; we got the play from an uncle of my mother’s that his family had in 1902. It is all in…

Arte del Norte

  Early Experiences Everybody has their road. And it’s up to you to decide what kind of road you want. Sometimes we’re a little blind when you’re younger. You get in a road that you can’t get out of. Como el purgatorio, purgatory. I been working on this piece like for a week. I’m pretty…

Exhibiting Santa Fe with Bobby Beals

“It’s important to be proud of where you’re from. I want to bring the traditional side of Santa Fe into the new modern contemporary world. I want to honor the traditions of the people that are from here.” – Bobby Beals  My name is Bobby Beals and I’m a fifth generation Santa Fean. My grandparents…

Anita’s Magical Taos

“If you think about it, creativity is the opposite of violence. It can bring social change without violence. I deliberately paint for both intellectuals and people who don’t read because a lot of my people don’t read.” My name is Anita Otivero Rodriguez and I was born and raised here in Taos. I was born…

Youth Development in the South Valley

Quote: “A lot of the times politicians don’t sit down and think about the different impacts students have. They don’t realize that kids from different high schools are going to react different to policy changes.” I was born and raised in Mexico City. The reason I moved to New Mexico was that my father was coming…

A Language of Cultural Preservation

Quote: “A lot of the culture here is a mixture of Spanish and Mexican cultures. The spirit comes from our Native blood.” Angélica Navarro Ceballos: Yo soy Angélica Navarro Ceballos y soy de Cómala, Colima, México. Soy Mexicana. Llegué aquí el 20 de Noviembre del 92 aquí a Ribera, San Miguel. Me vine a trabajar con…

Agricultural Soul of the Valley

Quote: “When people ask me “what is your religion?” I tell them: “chiles, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach, and the sun and the earth.” That’s my true religion. When you’re planting seeds, youre praying.” The Artist, The Farmer, The Dancer Every single culture, every single religion, every single model of art; it comes from agriculture. I mean,…

Vibing to “La Llorona”

  Quote: “Everybody in town seems to be really proud of New Mexico which awesome! Everybody’s rockin’ the Zia! Everybody’s feeling it. And it’s great! There is this specific pride to this state!” Growing Up With Music JAVIER SANDOVAL: My name is Javier Sandoval. I’m from Albuquerque, New Mexico. My mom is from Chihuahua; my…

Living ‘Rurally’

Name: Nazca Armentha Warren & Phil Rothwell Location: La Fragua, New Mexico Topics: Rural, Valley, Organic, Farming, Community Quote: “It was hard at first to understand how to live ‘rurally.’ Both of us coming from cities, we have had to do a lot of shedding of our layers and understanding what that looks like.” Urban Origins…

Refugee Dreams in Albuquerque

Name: Ramazani Mwanza Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Topics: Refugee, African, Youth, Education, Community Quote: “I am from the Republic of Congo. I have been in New Mexico now for 2 years. When I arrived to the U.S. for the first time I was happy! My dream had come true!” Leaving One’s Homeland My name is Ramazani…

Planting Seeds in the Valley

Name: Eileen Mulvihill Location: Villanueva, New Mexico Topics: Farming, Organic, Science, Women, Community Quote: “I’m worried about the valley. I’ve been a farmer now for 9 years and in those years I can see climate change.” Early Life My name is Eileen Mulvihill. I started off in Wisconsin. I was born in a very small town in…

United in Hip-Hop

Name: Nightmare, Kathleen “MK” Perry, Christopher “Check-It” Lim Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Topics: Hip-Hop, Break Dancing, Music, MC, Battle, Youth, Dancing Quote: “Hip-Hop allows for my accent! Hip-Hop allows for me to say the word ‘fresh’ at my age. There are no barriers. There are no age barriers, height barriers, weight barriers, nothing! Just freedom!” Meeting…