1 Spend time with stories.

Photographs from members of the Four Corners Photographic Society—which includes novice shooters, hobby photographers, and seasoned artists—are on display at the Henderson Fine Arts Center at San Juan College in Farmington. The exhibition, A Thousand Words, highlights photography’s capacity to tell a story.

Julie Napientek, art gallery coordinator, explains that photographs hold both the story photographer sees and captures as well as the story the viewer tells themselves as they look at the image. “It’s always interesting that when people look at a photograph, especially when it’s a place they’ve never been before,” Napientek says. “They can have their own idea of where this place is and what’s going on there. Photographs are a window into others’ perspectives.”

With nine photographers and more than 30 works, A Thousand Words holds plenty of stories to discover. Attend the opening reception on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., where some of the artists will be in attendance, and see the exhibition through January 31.

Explore January's night sky with lecturer Elizabeth Watts at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center in Los Alamos. Photograph courtesy of Visit Los Alamos.

2 Gaze into the night sky.

The stars, constellations, and planets visible in New Mexico’s night skies during the month of January are revealed in a lively lecture at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s planetarium in Los Alamos on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. The “Night Sky in January” lecturer Elizabeth Watts is an avid hiker, so expect a lot of tips for identifying the heavenly bodies on your next evening stroll.

Take your little to a free reading of "Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story" by Donald Uluadaluak at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Photograph courtesy of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

3 Let the littles learn.

Take the kids to a reading of Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story by Donald Uluadaluak (Inuit) at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. The book explores Inuit traditions of raising dogs for transportation and survival through the story of a puppy and his owner, Jake. Inspired by stories from Arviat and Nunavut elders, the story offers an educational and entertaining hour. Afterward, families are welcome to stay and participate in winter crafts. The event is free for children and an adult family member.

Help document bald eagles at the Eagle Count this Saturday at Cochiti Lake and Abiquiú Lake. Photograph courtesy of Adobe Stock/Dennis Donohue.

4 Count the eagles.

Grab your binoculars and help the state document the local population of bald eagles during the Eagle Count at Cochiti Lake and Abiquiú Lake on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. An annual count has been conducted every year since 1984, but this year is special because the bald eagle is now the official national bird thanks to a bill signed by President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve. This is also the first time the Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a count at Cochiti Lake. Attendees are asked to bring long-range viewing devices like binoculars, spotting scopes, or cameras. No pre-registration is required. If you can’t make the eagle count on Saturday, another one happens on Wednesday, January 15, at Santa Rosa Lake.

Check out the second annual juried exhibition, "Small Works," at Strata Gallery in Santa Fe, showcasing over 40 pieces by 33 artists, including Catherine C. E. Walker.

5 Appreciate the small things.

More than 40 works by 33 artists are on view at Strata Gallery in Santa Fe during the second annual juried exhibition, Small Works. Featuring a variety of mediums, including photography and sculpture, these little pieces make a big impact, inviting viewers to think about scale and its impact on perception.

The exhibition was co-juried by Strata founders David Olivant, Stephanie Jacinto, and Jennifer Van. Olivant says the selection process sparked a healthy discourse: “Everybody is interested in different things,” he says. “There was less consensus than we expected, which is a good thing, and makes for a more diverse show.”

Creating smaller-scale artworks is often underestimated. “You can achieve things on a small scale that aren’t possible when you’re working larger,” Olivant says. “When you’re working small, the piece can only be seen by one viewer at a time and that’s a more intimate experience.”

The exhibition spans an array of mediums, subjects, and styles, and it’s hard not to marvel at their craftmanship. “One of the pieces is a tiny etching with so much detail,” says Olivant. With about a third of the participating artists based locally, expect to see a few at the opening reception on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. See Small Works through January 31.

For more things to do, check out our online calendar of events.