1 Feel better.
The Spirit Coalescent, an Indigenous art project, combines music, art, dance, and poetry at the Farmington Civic Center on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Delbert Anderson Trio performs original compositions to accompany eight art pieces made by combining Karen Ellsbury’s paintings and Patrick Hazen’s photographs, as well as choreography by Maura Garcia (Cherokee/Mattamuskeet) and poetry from James Pakootas (Colville Confederated Tribes).
“The collaboration helps to tell a very meaningful story of how our land heals us as human beings,” says Anderson (Diné). “Land healing is very common in Indigenous cultures; some have stories of how medicine, animals, and language came from the lands. The performance can be healing for those who are going through a stressful situation and are needing encouragement.”
2 Race to Taos.
The World Pro Ski Tour Championships brings Olympic-caliber athletes from all over the world to Taos Ski Valley this weekend to compete in side-by-side, single-elimination races. The tour kicked off in January in Colorado and includes 11 races with competitors such as Alice McKennis, Laurenne Ross, Ted Ligety, and Anna Goodman.
“Taos has some of the best terrain in North America and has a history of deep spring snow under sunny skies,” says Jon Franklin, CEO of the tour. “We’re thrilled this world-class event will culminate in Taos Ski Valley, one of the most storied and exciting resorts in the West.” The races happen all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
3 Fill the walls.
Spectrum, a solo exhibit by acclaimed muralist Nani Chacon (Diné), opens at SITE Santa Fe on Friday and runs through August 21. Chacon created several large-scale paintings and a site-specific installation piece drawing from Diné creation stories and her life as a contemporary Indigenous artist. The show also includes a triptych of billboards based on murals Chacon painted in Mora, Albuquerque, and Chinle, Arizona, all important locations in her life. “I have always been interested in finding my place and how I identify with creating artwork as an Indigenous person,” Chacon says.
The opening reception, 5–7 p.m., includes drinks from Rolling Still Taos, bites from Taqueria Gracias Madre, live tunes from Ozomatli’s Raúl Pacheco, and a DJ set by Luz Skylarker.
4 Space out.
Outer space lands in southern New Mexico Thursday through Sunday. The Las Cruces Space Festival includes space-themed films at the Rio Grande Theater, moongazing and STEM activities on the plaza, an open house at Spaceport America, and an art show, Across Space, at the Mesilla Valley Mall. “The Las Cruces Space Festival is about ‘making space for everyone,’ ” says Alice Carruth, executive director of the festival. “We aim to provide entertainment for all ages and all our events are free, from the movies at the Rio Grande Theater to missions at the Challenge Learning Center of Las Cruces.”
5 Get a little thorny.
The members of the Cactus and Succulent Society of New Mexico present—and sell—hundreds of their favorite varieties at the Albuquerque Garden Center on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Indulge your passion for flowering cacti and unique succulents here. Admission is free.