Performing Arts / Books: March 26-April 1

Items for calendar consideration may be submitted via mail, fax, e-mail (culture@sfreporter.com) or online and must be received two weeks before publication.>>> Designates items highlighted in this week's issue.


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MYSTERIES OF THE HEART (SUTRA)

And you thought love was confusing! Even the most enigmatic significant other reads like a children's book when compared to

Heart Sutra

, the historically befuddling sacred Buddhist text. Luckily for hapless lovers inclined to the idea that this world is an illusion and bodily desires are mere deceptions responsible for continued suffering, Ken Mcleod is here to elucidate the famously cryptic verses. In his new book,

An Arrow to the Heart

, Mcleod interprets ancient wisdom for contemporary life. He discusses his work and signs books in addition to hosting a meditation.

Meditation/Talk: 5:30 pm Wednesday, March 26. Free.

Upaya Zen Center, 1404 Cerro Gordo Road

Talk/Signing: 5:30 pm Thursday, March 27. Free.

The Ark Bookstore, 133 Romero St., All events: 986-9693

NOTORIOUS K.I.D.

Like that of any good folk hero, the life of William Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid, is shrouded in mystery, myth and hearsay. The circumstances of Billy's birth are as open to speculation as those that surround his death-and what happened in between is the stuff of legend. In the last installment of El Rancho de las Golodrinas' lecture series,

Speaking of Traditions: New Perspectives on Old Traditions

, University of New Mexico professor Paul Hutton presents "Billy the Kid on the Big Screen and in American Popular Culture." Hutton has appeared on or been involved in more than 150 documentaries for major television channels and was instrumental in the creation of the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History's 2007 exhibit on Billy the Kid. Leave your six-shooter at home for this exploration of the cultural impact of an American folk hero.

7 pm Thursday, March 27. Free.

Santuario de Guadalupe, 100 Guadalupe St., 471-2261

>>> GOING GREEN AND BACK

NPR contributor and New Mexico valley dweller Doug Fine discusses his experiment in "off the grid" living and carbon-footprint shrinking in his new book,

Farwell, My Suburu

. Something of a funny, grungy counterpart to Al Gore, Fine honestly recounts his adventures and misadventures in green living while he provides insights to the sometimes not-so-green side of that project. Ride your bike to Borders or be publicly shamed (see

).

7 pm Thursday, March 27. Free.

Borders Books and Music, 500 Montezuma Ave., 954-4707

SUMPTUOUS DESIGN

Tony Duquette was an artist and design mastermind famous for his grandiose aesthetics and high-profile clientele. Hutton Wilkinson was Duqeuette's protégé, currently presides over Toney Duquette, Inc. and has just published an eponomyously titled biography of the design legend. Wilkinson appears at a book signing and reception.

5 pm Friday, March 28. Free.

Garcia Street Books, 376 Garcia St., 820-7258

LOST CITY

When a poet and travel writer releases his first collection of fiction, one can only  shudder at the possibilities of thin plots of tepid love interests that serve as coat hangers for landscapes rendered in doggerel. But when the LA Times Book Review calls the result "fearless, brilliantly realized [and] richly rewarding," one can breath a sigh of relief and then go buy it. This was precisely the case with local author Henry Shukman's debut collection,

Mortimer of the Maghreb

and his new novel

The Lost City

should garner similar praise.

5:30 pm Friday, March 28. Free.

Collected Works Bookstore, 208-B W. San Francisco St., 988-4226

>>> HOMIES UNITED

Alex Sanchez is a former gang member who now channels his energy into ending gang violence by negotiating treaties between south Los Angeles gangs. Sanchez formed the organization Homies Unidos to promote peace and facilitate peace negotiations. Although he is internationally renowned for his brave work in some of the world's most dangerous inner cities and has appeared on numerous news shows as an expert on gang issues, he and his organization were once targeted by the LAPD for being a front for gang activity. Sanchez faced deportation in 2000 but was released due to pressure and appeals from community activists. Now he continues his crucial work and will join local community organizers for a frank discussion on Santa Fe's, Albuquerque's, and America's growing gang problem (see

).

7 pm Friday, March 28. Free.

The Forum at The College of Santa Fe, 1600 St. Michael's Drive, 473-6282

GASTRONOMIC GLOBETROTTING

Some people travel for the scenery, some for escape, some for business. Culinary experts-and fellow Santa Feans-Cheryl and Bill Jamison  embarked on a world tour for an odd mix of those reasons, but most of all for the food. Authors of more than a dozen cookbooks and travel guides, the Jamisons are accomplished tasters and travelers and this experience infuses their latest book,

Around the World in 80 Dinners

. They sign copies.

5 pm Saturday, March 29. Free.

Travel Bug Coffee Shop, 839 Paseo de Peralta, 992-0418


JOHN LENNON, MAN

Ray Lopez is back with another installment in his

Creative Nonviolence Project: A Series of Workshops for Men

. The project takes a creative approach to the epidemic of violence by engaging men in a collaborative process intended explore the roots and nature of violence. Facilitators work with participants to forge creative answers to a stubborn, age-old predicament. This week's workshop is entitled

The Ballad of John Lennon

and explores the former Beatles member's songwriting to reveal the psychology and transformation of a man. Participants will be asked to channel their inner songwriter and come up with their own song titles.

7 pm Wednesday, March 26. $10.

Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Center, 6601 Valentine Way., 471-7501

SHAMANISM FOR MUMMIES

Thank goodness! When this week's

Finding Your Inner Batman

workshop was suddenly cancelled due to unexpected institutionalization of the host, it seemed like there would be no opportunities to acquire superpowers before the end of March. But fear not. Jane Celia Hatch, MA (that's Master of Arts, not Marijuana Anonymous), presents

Everywoman's Shamanism

, a free workshop that teaches simple shamanic techniques for healing and protecting yourself, your home and your children.

3 pm Sunday, March 30. Free.

Santa Fe Public Library, Main Branch, 145 Washington Ave., 466-4547

AURAL SCENERY

Cellist Dana Winograd and poet Lorraine Schechter are landscape artists in word and sound. They will be setting the scene for O'Keeffe's vulval flora.

4 pm Sunday, March 30. $5.

Georgia O'Keeffe Education Annex, 123 Grant Ave., 946-1007

STICKS AND STONES VS. POEMS

Jon Richards and Bronwen Denton-Davis lend their voices to the anti-war exhibit Voices Against the War by giving a reading of their poetry. Twenty-five artists contribute art in various media with 10 percent of sales donated to Veterans for Peace.

6 pm Sunday, March 30. Free.

New Concept Gallery, 610 Canyon Road, 795-7570


TAO TE SWING

Dance and ancient philosophical traditions come together In Nrityagram Dance Ensemble's spirited performances. Hailing from southern India, the group interprets sacred rituals and divine transformations by way of original musical scores and a stunning cast of female dancers. They will perform and offer dance classes.

Class/Music: 5, 7:30 pm Friday, March 28. Free.

Body Cafe, 333 Cordova Road, 986-0362

Dance: 7:30 pm Saturday, March 29. $20-$58.

Lensic. 211 W. San Francisco St., 983-5591

CHOREOGRAPHER SHOWCASE

Choreographers young and old(er) gather for this year's

Danceworx

, which features contributions from talents as varied as Melissa Briggs, who has been reviewed in the New York Times and currently serves on the dance faculty at the University of New Mexico, and students of Moving People Dance Company, whose ages range from 12-16.

8 pm Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29. $8-$12.

Railyard Performance Center, 1611 Paseo de Peralta, 480-5949.


ELEMENTARY OPERAS

Students from Agua Fria Elementary, Carlos Gilbert Elementary and Kaune  Elementary (Wednesday) and Cesar Chavez Elementary and El Dorado Elementary (Thursday) present operas produced under the guidance of Santa Fe Opera's artists-in-residence.

6 pm Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 and 27. Free.

Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 463 Paseo de Peralta, 982-4414

CANADIAN COWBOY

Although along the foothills of the Rockies, Alberta, Canada, is a bit north of most ideas of the Wild West. But 75-year-old internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, Ian Tyson, has done his homework (and rides a mean horse). Tyson treats the audience to an evening of music and stories ranging from the Old West to his 50-plus years of performance.

7:30 pm Wednesday, March 26. $30-$40.

Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234

NOT-SO-FREE JAZZ

Charles Lloyd is a legend on the sax. He made history with his quartet in 1966, issuing one of the first jazz recordings to sell a million copies. His music has drawn influences from music cultures all over the world as well as the free-spirited psychedelia of the '60s. Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland join Lloyd on piano, bass and drums to form his New Quartet.

7:30 pm Thursday, March 27. $20-$55.

Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234

IT AIN'T ALL BLEEPS AND BLOOPS

The Contemporary Music Program at the College of Santa Fe presents its 12th annual

Santa Fe International Festival of Electroacoustic Music

. Electroacoustic music explores areas of sound production that remain  inaccessible to traditional musical instruments or ensembles by

incorporating prerecorded sounds, synthesized sounds and live instruments processed in real time with electronic devices into a dynamic listening field. Curated by founding director Steven M Miller, this year's festival features composer-in-residence Gordon Mumma (Saturday), whose performance includes instruments, tape and live electronics. Other performers include Olivia Block and Ulrike Brand (Friday) and CSF's Electroacoustic Ensemble (Saturday). Mumma gives a pre-concert talk on Saturday at 6:45 pm.

8 pm Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29. $10.

O'Shaughnessy Performance Space, 1600 St. Michael's Drive, 473-6196

COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA

The Santa Fe Community Orchestra continues its 25th anniversary celebration with a concert of classical favorites. Winners of the SFCO's Concerto Competition, Gerald Fried and Rebecca Heindel are featured, and founding Music Director Robert Wingert returns to conduct. Performances include pieces by Arturo Márquez, Allessandro Marcello, Dvorak, Brahms, Puccini, Jules Massenett and Zoltán Kodály.

2:30 pm Sunday, March 30. Free.

St. Francis Auditorium, 107 W. Palace Ave., 466-4879

BIG BAND MUSICAL

In the Mood

is a journey back into the days of big bands, hard dancing and world wars. The String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra accompanies the In the Mood Singers and Dancers to recreate the mood and just might spark the Swing Revival Revival.

7:30 pm Monday, March 31. $30-$75.

Lensic. 211 W. San Francisco St., 988-1234


ENCHANTMENT COMES HOME

Adapted from the same novel as the 1992 film,

Enchanted April

is an uplifting tale of four unfulfilled women who recapture the simple magic of life and love while vacationing in an Italian villa. Written by Matthew Barber, directed by James Hatch.

8 pm Thursday, March 27. Pay what you wish.

8 pm Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, $12-$15.

2 pm Sunday, March 30. $12-$15.

Santa Fe Playhouse, 142 E. De Vargas St., 988-4262

PUPPETS AND STILTS AND SHADOWS…

Oh my! Social circus troupe Wise Fool presents its latest series of productions.

Puppet Tales

offers six weeks of visual storytelling through puppetry, stilts, shadows and other circus fare. This weekend brings

A Look Inside

, a Wise Fool classic offering a participatory, educational, handmade journey through the world of puppetry.

6:30 pm Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29.

Wise Fool Studios, 2778 Agua Fria Road, Unit D.

2 pm Sunday, March 30. $5-$12.

Peñasco Theatre, Route 75, 992-2588

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