1 Watch art forms collide.

Flamenco Fandanguero: Primos de la Raza Cósmica, a collaborative production of dance, music, and culture, returns to the National Hispanic Cultural Center with two performances this weekend. Co-created by Albuquerque’s Yjastros flamenco repertory company and the Los Vega family ensemble from Veracruz, Mexico, Flamenco Fandanguero tells the story of two dance forms, their genesis, and their relationship. “It’s a conversation between the two art forms,” says April Goltz, programs director at the National Institute of Flamenco. “It’s a multi-sensory exploration of culture.”

With four movements that play out over the program, Flamenco Fandaguero’s storytelling is inspired by writers like Rudolfo Anaya. “The show invites the audience to challenge assumptions about culture and immerse themselves in rich imagery, song, and dance that might surprise them,” Glotz explains. The performance takes place on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the NHCC, again next weekend at the Taos Center for the Arts, and finally at the Rio Grande Theatre in Las Cruces on November 22.

Enjoy performances, crafts, and family fun during the 54th annual Renaissance Art Faire at Young Park in Las Cruces. Photograph courtesy of the Doña Ana Arts Council.

2 Have a Renaissance.

On Saturday and Sunday at Young Park, the 54th annual Las Cruces Renaissance Art Faire invites attendees to time travel back to the glory of the 15th and 16th centuries. Highlights include Royal Processions featuring the lords and ladies of the faire, pyrotechnic acrobatic appearances from members of El Paso’s Odd-Lab ensemble, puppet shows, a magician, jousting, a children’s realm with face painting, a plethora of food options, more than 200 local breweries, and a makers’ market with 90-plus artists from all across the country.

Vital Spaces Annex in Santa Fe opens a new exhibition by Grace O'Grady exploring the connections between art and food. Courtesy of Grace O'Grady.

3 Contem-plate food.

Santa Fe’s Vital Spaces Annex Gallery opens Now & Later, Grace O’Grady’s immersive art exhibition, on Friday at 5 p.m. The exhibition confronts our food systems, their issues, and how our relationships with community may mend some of the problems. “It’s important to think about how we grow our food, but also how we consume our food,” says O’Grady, who graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute. “The show is about our mindset, and our relationships to our food, the land, and to each other.”

O’Grady, who works in printmaking, painting, and sculpture, even painted the walls an abstract color field to make the whole gallery an immersive experience featuring fast food packaging, familiar New Mexican landscapes, and otherworldly neon toxic plant sculptures. 

In addition to O’Grady’s art, Now & Later features musical performances, tea parties, cooking classes, and artisan pieces, such as Paseo Pottery teacups, to supplement the show’s message. “The idea was to create a space where we could talk about our food system and also participate in having a way to support local businesses,” she says.  See the exhibition through December 5.

Join the Río Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club for a guided hike in Ruidoso's mountain scenery. Courtesy of Ruidoso

4 Hike with wild horses.

Lace up your boots and join the Río Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club for a two-mile guided hike along Eagle Creek Trail at Alto Lake in Ruidoso on Saturday at 9 a.m. Led by John Pijawka, the event offers stunning views and chance encounters with local wildlife like songbirds and horses.

The Rio Grande Art Association presents its annual juried fine art show at Expo New Mexico. Courtesy of the Rio Grande Art Association.

5 See a grande exhibition.

The Rio Grande Art Association opens its annual juried fine art show and sale, Encantada!, at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque with a reception and awards ceremony on Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The collection spans genres from weavings, etchings, and jewelry to collage, sculpture, metalwork, and much more. The free exhibition runs Thursdays–Sundays through November 30 (except Thanksgiving).

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