Heavy Paddle

"The IAIA/Museum of Contemporary Native Art's Interaction in Art or The Art of Pingpong is inspired by the wildly popular brainchild of Arizona's Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's Arm Wrestling for Art," membership and program manager Andrea R Hanley points out. "[But] instead of arm wrestling for art, we chose playing pingpong for art!"

**Take a moment to prep your oh-so-tight polo shirt and rockin' elastic headband here**

Expect the competition to be fierce, as an original work of art by Melanie Yazzie (Navajo) is at hand, as well as a healthy amount of mad dogging. "At last year's event we had some serious cheering, trash talking and overall great enthusiasm for those that played," Hanley tells SFR, adding that players ranged in age from 11 to 70 years old.

Along with showing off those amazing calf-length socks, an opportunity to be enlightened will be at hand as curator and Institute of American Indian Arts professor, Lara Evans (Cherokee Nation), is present to speak about the cultural institution's latest exhibits.

Not a pro yet? No worries, Forrest. A table tennis expert is expected to be in attendance to help you perfect your forehand push (it's a thing, I Googled it).

The Art of Pingpong
5-7 pm Friday, March 20
Allan Houser Art Park
108 Cathedral Place,
(888) 922-4242

Santa Fe Reporter