SFR Picks: La Petite Mort

Watt aims "not only to bring artists together, but also to challenge them," he says. Like Melissa Morgan, who paints figurative, surreal, intense oils that are very large (think chiaroscuro bat-eared skeletons playing violin). Watt posits: "How does she shrink down the integrity of these amazing figurative oil paintings into a miniature, when they're usually two or three feet tall?"

In addition to roughly 200 small pieces from 60 different artists, Watt celebrates the grand opening of Metallo's new space, slightly south on Highway 14 in a newer building with high ceilings and tons of light. For nine years the gallery lived in the center of town in an 80ish-year-old house (as do most of Madrid's galleries), but the opportunity to move to an airier, sleeker space got Watt excited. "It combines a higher-end gallery feel with Madrid funk," he says.

One of the main draws of Metallo's old space was its welcoming front patio, always full of people. The new location replaces the nice yard with a nice porch, complete with views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. That outdoor area was "one of the first things that I tackled," Watt says. "Instead of a sculpture garden, now it's a sculpture porch. It's all about the lingering. Sit down in the Adirondack chair, put your coffee on an end table."

And linger we shall, with indie music from Golden General. "They're a Santa Fe-based band with original music," Watt says, "and that's what I want for my shows. I don't necessarily want a cover band. … It's a creative, immersive experience."

And s'mores over a campfire from Santa Fe startup The S'more Pit? Looks like we're spending Saturday night in Madrid. (Charlotte Jusinski)

In Microscale Opening Reception
4 pm Saturday May 13. Free.
Metallo Gallery,
2833 Hwy. 14,
Madrid, 471-2457

Reasonable

Santa Fe Community College teacher Jason Goodyear estimates he's taught his "Intro to Live and Reason" class—a crash course on using music-making software—for eight years now. "Wow," he says. "Eight years." But there's a reason it's so enduring, partly because of Goodyear's teaching panache, and partly because of his twice-annual student show events at Warehouse 21 which, yes, count toward the grade. "If you had a class that was just like, 'Here's how Reason works,' people could just watch YouTube videos," Goodyear says. "But the whole idea is to see how it works when we go out in public, and everybody tends to step up." Sounds like one hell of a class, and the resulting event shows all the students have learned. (Alex De Vore)

Observatory:
8 pm Friday May 12. Free.
Warehouse 21,
1614 Paseo de Peralta,
989-4423

Bi-Sickle, Bi-Sickle

The good news is that we see tons of folk biking around Santa Fe already, and the better news is that it’s a small enough town for it to be doable, even for novices. We’re talkin’ Bike to Work Week. The idea is that biking is healthy—for humans and for the planet—and to encourage better practices for everyone all around. Get a list of events at biketoworksantafe.com, and with things like parades, coffee/donut gatherings and the Outdoor Bike ’n’ Brew Fest (more on that in The Enthusiast, page 19), it’s a good time to try. Get that bike outta your garage—you’ve got some pedalin’ to do. (ADV)

Bike to Work Week:
May 13-21.
Various times and locations.
Visit biketoworksantafe.com for more info.

Long Time Coming

It’s probably more than just our moms who have Longmire fever (probably), and the series of novels-turned-television-program has become a downright phenomenon. Thus, Wyoming-based author Craig Johnson returns to Santa Fe (where the show is partly filmed) with his newest installment, The Highwayman. Now, we haven’t read this thing, but you can bet your middle-aged heartthrobs that Longmire gets all wrapped up in a mystery and then solves it. Insert your Lou Diamond Phillips jokes here. And now get psyched that Johnson will be on hand to talk shop. (ADV)

The Highwayman Book Tour:
6 pm Tuesday May 16. Free.
Collected Works Bookstore and Coffeehouse,
202 Galisteo St.,
988-4226

Santa Fe Reporter