Explore this picturesque Village... An escape just a short drive from Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Stop at the fine Growers Market from 9am-12pm.  Stroll in the shade of the Cottonwoods in La Entrada Park from 10- 4  for Art in the Park.  At 1pm, enjoy  Music in the Village, a casual concert at the Old San Ysidro Church ($10 at the door) featuring Sue Hoadley on Celtic Harp and Indian Flute.  Lunch at one of our local restaurants and finish your day at one of the specialty shops or the wineries.

The Festival of Asian Cultures presents its annual showcase extravaganza of music and dance from Asian communities in celebration of Asian American Pacific Heritage Month.  Asian Music and dance from China, India, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Middle East, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand-Laos-Cambodia, Tahiti and Vietnam will be featured. Among the performers will be Thai musician My-Anh Nguyen, who plays the “sow-ou,” an instrument that resembles the violin which originated in China and is widely played in Vietnam and Thailand, Anita Rao, an Eastern Indian classical dancer, and Korean dancer Sunha Lee.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Asian-Pacific cultures, and enjoy a day outdoors taking in the amazing diversity in music, dance and costuming. Activities ongoing throughout the day will include origami, brush painting, Chinese calligraphy and face painting. A variety of delicious foods will be available for purchase.

The National Atomic Museum will host Dr. Alan Hale, author of “Everybody’s Comet: A Layman’s Guide to Comet Hale-Bopp”. Dr. Hale is the co-discoverer of the Hale-Bopp comet in 1995. Since that time he founded the Southwest Institute for Space Research, now the Earthrise Institute, in Otero County, New Mexico. Janet Asimov said in her preface to his book: “He…explains the science and history of comets, and gives practical advice about seeing them when they show up. His argument for scientific literacy is terrific, and his final sentence utterly compelling." Talks and book signings take place at 5:30 p.m., at the Museum, 1905 Mountain Rd. NW in Albuquerque. Dr. Hale will speak on Saturday, May 17. A seat can be reserved by calling the Museum at 245-2137, extension 114. The cost to attend the lecture is $10 for Museum members; $15 for non-members. For those who wish to pay in advance for four of the lectures, the cost will be $30 for members and $45 for non-members.

Steve Pickle, trader and manager from Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site at Ganado, Arizona will conduct the 4th Annual Navajo Rug Sale. This is the only time this year that Hubbell Trading Post will hold a rug sale in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area. It’s an opportunity to purchase an authentic Navajo rug, personally selected by a lifelong trader on the Navajo Reservation, and an opportunity to learn about Navajo textiles from an expert. Steve will also lecture on the history, process, and materials of authentic Navajo weavings.

  On May 17, 2008, the only Triassic Exhibit Hall in North America opens its doors to the public at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS: NEW MEXICO’S TRIASSIC is dedicated to the plants and animals of the Triassic Period in New Mexico and the world. The Triassic is a time that saw the extinction of many dominant reptiles and amphibians and the emergence of two significant evolutionary lines in Earth History – dinosaurs and mammals.

Now in its fourth year, Creative Soundspace grew out of the 2003 Albuquerque Improv Fest which featured a number of local groups plus the Evan Parker Trio. It also grew out of years of presenting adventurous music here at The Space. Our goal: to honor the fertile creative music scene which thrives in New Mexico and to honor some of the other scenes around the country as well; to combine the work of New Mexico residents with some of the touring artists of like minds.

Master jazz musician and poet Henry Grimes has played 274 concerts in 23 countries (including many festivals) since May of '03, when he made his astonishing return to the music world after 35 years away.  Since then, often working as a leader, he has played with heroes of the music such as Rashied Ali, Marshall Allen, Fred Anderson, Marilyn Crispell, Ted Curson, Andrew Cyrille, Bill Dixon, Dave Douglas, Andrew Lamb, Joe Lovano, David Murray, William Parker, Marc Ribot, Cecil Taylor, Oluyemi Thomas, and many more. One of the most in-demand bass players in jazz from the late 1950's until the late 1960's, Grimes played with a most diverse group of musicians including Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Haynes, Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Sunny Murray, Sonny Rollins, Roswell Rudd, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, Charles Tyler, McCoy Tyner and more. Unquestionably THE bassist of choice for much of the forward-thinking music of that era, in 1968 he left NYC for the West Coast where he disappeared from the scene and was even thought to have died. That is, until 2001, when he was re-discovered living in Los Angeles in the same one-room single occupancy hotel room where he had lived for more some 30 years. When bassist William Parker found out that Henry Grimes was alive and without a bass he promptly sent him an instrument and within months, Grimes was back on the scene playing with West Coast greats. In 2003, he moved back to NYC and has been featured and honored in NYC venues as well as on tour, ever since. A frequent collaborator with Henry Grimes, reedman, Oluyemi Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan. Currently living in the Bay Area, Mr Thomas along with his wife wordsmith, spoken word artist, poet, vocalist and teacher Ijeoma Thomas have been members of the music and poetry unit, Positive Knowledge.

Pianist Jeff Brown is one of a group of young Albuquerque-based jazz explorers, who are interested in experimenting with new approaches to the music. Brown was recently awarded artistic residencies at the Banff Centre in Canada (where he studied and played with such leading jazz innovators as Dave Douglas, Han Bennink and the ICP Orchestra of Amsterdam) and the Fondation Royaumont in France and for the past four years has held a Composer-in-Residence position with the Santa Fe Opera. He also performed as part of Anthony Braxton's large ensemble at the UNM Composers Symposium in 2004. Equal parts jazz pianist and classical pianist, he brings a diverse background to his music. As an improvising musician, Brown performs regularly around New Mexico. He returns to Outpost with a trio featuring two former Albuquerque residents and fellow explorers, bassist Asher Barreras, who now studies at the University of North Texas; and percussionist Brandon Draper, who lives, teaches and performs in Kansas.

This series features the first works of young directors that have not been widely distributed around the world. Some films have appeared at international film festivals and due to their high quality have experienced great success.

A comedy that follows the lives of eleven ensemble characters played by seven actors from Albuquerque's In Strange Company. These characters collide in their Saturn Returns as lovers and acquaintances and strangers and friends in diverse locations all over the globe.

Practice your dancing and learn new moves! It's like Dancing with the Stars! 1st & 3rd Sundays at Albuquerque Square Dance Center 4915 Hawkins NE. Beginning at 6 PM until 9:00 PM or later. Admission prices range from $2 to $8 ages 12-18 FREE.  Sponsored by USA Dance of North Central New Mexico www.usadancenm.org

33 years in business!!  Bien Mur Indian Market Center will be celebrating with storewide discounts up to 30% during the month of May.  Check our upcoming events in April for updated information.  As an added attraction, on May 2nd at 11:00am the Pueblo of Sandia Day Care Center's children, ages 3- 5, will perform a corn dance at the Bien Mur Indian Market Center.  Picture taking is not allowed.  We will be honored with the presence of the Pueblo of Sandia Governor, Robert Montoya on May 2nd from 11am to 12pm.  Governor Montoya will be handing out our Anniversary Posters.  Governor Montoya is also noted for his pueblo style art.

Kuzana Ogg’s botanical forms, created with layers of varying transparency, convey her experiences and memories of life in the small town of Kyung Ju, South Korea.

Soar through clouds, fly over Albuquerque, try to pinpoint the perfect landing - without crashing!  The NEW flight simulator is on loan from the Fiesta and it is a lot of fun.  Come and try out your ballooning skills.  Free with admission.  Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE 87113. 

If you haven't visited the Balloon Museum lately, you have missed a great treat!  Climb aboard the Double Eagle II, "launch" a balloon, go to "Balloon School" to weave a gondola and design your own balloon - and much more.  Free with admission.  Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE 87113. 

Native Americans have an intimate relationship to nature and the sky.  Learn about their cultural, scientific, artistic, and historic connections to balloons and ballooning in this new exhibition, times to open in conjunction with the 25th Annual Gathering of National Powwow.  Free with admission.

Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE 87113. 

Snap Crackle Pow!, an exhibition of drawings organized by guest curator Kathryn M Davis, investigates how the cultures of comic book art (including, but not restricted to, R. Crumb and a correlated mentality that reflects the writings of Charles Bukowski) have intersected with popular graphics (such as those on cereal boxes) to influence a new generation of draftsmen. The exhibition includes the work of New Mexico artists Maureen Burdock, Luke Dorman, David Leigh, Larry Bob Phillips, Clayton Porter and Rose Simpson. The concurrent exhibitions, Alchemy and Snap Crackle Pow!, both explore a "pieced together" vocabulary of popular culture.

Alchemy celebrates the mediums of collage and assemblage, featuring artists from around the country. The exhibition looks at the historic development of these mediums and showcases contemporary artists who work with cutting, gluing and assembling disparate and often appropriated images and objects to create something entirely new and original. A process akin to alchemy unifies the elements these artists mix together.

Bill Brandt is one of the best-known British photographers of the 20th Century known for his high-contrast images of British society and his distorted nudes and landscapes.  His early work sensitively documented the social contrasts of pre–World War II life in Britain: from farmers and miners to landlords and industrial barons. Later he shifted to a surreal, formal experimentation.  Even though much of his work was driven by specific historic periods and events, Brandt's endless search for ways to expand the medium continues to make his work fresh and timeless today.  

Through the Flower and Judy Chicago are pleased to announce their first juried show for New Mexico Feminist art. “New Mexico Feminist Art: Feminists Under Forty” will also be available online during this time. This group exhibit will display the work of Maureen Burdock, Kate Carr, Andrea Cermanski, Helen Colton, Shara Hannah Finerman, Erin Lynn Forrest, Mikhayla Harrell, Kimberly Hargrove, Nicole Kowalski, Emily Kimball, Ashlie Maxwell, Merce Mitchell, Kelsey Waggaman, and Sheilah A. Wilson.

Caminos Distintos celebrates the work of Nuevomexicano artists Patrocinio Barela, a Taos sculptor, and Edward Gonzales, an Albuquerque painter and printmaker. Each artist in his own way blazed trails both locally and nationally, helping to dispel stereotypes of Hispanics and their art.

The 2008 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. marks the 105th running of the event and the tournament’s second trip to Albuquerque (2000).  The 2008 USBC Open Championships will be conducted every day from Feb. 16 until June 29 (135 consecutive days).  The Open Championships is the world’s largest annual participatory sporting event, attracting between 12,000 and 16,000 five-player teams (60,000-80,000 participants).

The Special Collections Library presents a large compilation of images and documents about life in Albuquerque from its founding in 1706 up to modern times. This exhibit, created to celebrate the city's Tricentennial, was assembled from treasures in the collection of the Center for Southwest Research at U.N.M. Library. Exhibit creator Nancy Brown Martinez has provided the community with a new opportunity to view this remarkable presentation of Albuquerque's history.

This exhibit highlights the works of famed Pueblo women artists, Helen Cordero (Cochiti), Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso), Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara), Tonita Pena (Cochiti), and Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara). An auction of this artwork will take place on June 14, 2008 to benefit the Institute of Pueblo Indian Studies housed within the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

This second annual exhibition of art works and popular culture objects featuring Virgen de Guadalupe works is drawn from the permanent collection of the NHCC. 

Highlighing recent acquisitions from the Center's Growing art collection, this installation features important objects from the 1930's to the present by artists from New Mexico and throughout the nation.