SFR Picks—Week of August 1

The return of Nico Salazar, the yuks, the jams and the curator becomes the artist

Black and White

Nico Salazar's reign of pop bliss

SFR knew local artist Nico Salazar was special when we brought him in to create the cover art for our 2017 Best of Santa Fe issue, but he's been wowing locals and non-citizens since the day Meow Wolf opened with an entire room of his black-and-white anime-meets-fine-art creations two-plus years ago. Since then, Salazar has launched his Future Fantasy Delight clothing line, shown at galleries like Beals & Co. and spent a good chunk of his time on the road visiting places like Coachella and hitting up Europe and Japan (follow him on Instagram at @futurefantasydelight to see his work and travels—it's worth it!)—all places he says have inspired him greatly.

"Just seeing how the rest of the world works is such an eye-opening experience," Salazar tells SFR, "and as far as inspiration, just seeing boutiques and pop-ups in Paris and Tokyo, how they do retail. … I'm looking into doing more pop-ups this coming year. It was just so inspiring altogether."

For now, though, Salazar is set to unleash 12 new pieces on the world with his upcoming show Black Cap at the Jean Cocteau Cinema. "It's this triple-entendre meaning: black cap like my hat I wear, the cap of a marker and it's also a mushroom cap," Salazar explains, adding that the new work is a culmination of his journey, his imagination and the powers of play and passion.

"For this one, it's all super fresh and it's more so just pure imaginative types of nostalgia," he says. "There's not necessarily a direct theme, it's just kind of my mind on the canvas. I just like to have fun with it."

Not bad for an artist who says that even a few years ago he wasn't taken as seriously as he is now. "Growing up in Santa Fe, it's not like my type of art was super-celebrated," Salazar recalls. "Some people get really hung up on being political and, for me, I just can't do it the way other people can—[my art] is all really personal stuff and if people relate to it, that's cool. I'd rather inspire people by being an example. I take my art seriously, but I'd rather draw weird stuff and make things." (Alex De Vore)

Nico Salazar: Black Cap
5:30 pm Thursday Aug. 2. Through Aug. 31. Free.
Jean Cocteau Cinema,
418 Montezuma Ave.,
466-5528

Yuk It Up

Evan Galpert, one of the founders of Wayward Comedy, says that when the group formed a couple years ago, stand-up comedy open mic was one of their biggest interests—but that no bars bit until they approached Chili Line Brewing. Now, he says of the the biweekly mic (every first and third Wednesday): "Without trying to sound too full of myself, I think a lot of the regulars are really talented." But he also doesn't want new folks to feel intimidated—actually, he says with a laugh, "I would love to have more mediocre people. … That's kind of what open mics are for." So if you're constantly making your friends laugh in basements like Galpert and his friends did for years before forming their own loose confederation, get the mic and give it a go. (Charlotte Jusinski)

Wayward Wednesday Open Mic:
Sign-up: 7:30 pm; Comedy: 8:30 pm Wednesday Aug. 1. Free.
Chili Line Brewing Co.,
204 N Guadalupe St.,
982-8474

Paint the Town Red

Many are familiar with the story of Albuquerque's Red Light Cameras—one wherein an indie rock band added a monster singer (Amanda Machon) and altered their sound to a bit more garage-punk-meets-bluesy-soul thing. And thank goodness they did. Red Light Cameras have been making moves and dominating regionally. This means shows all over their hometown and Santa Fe, but also on the outskirts of town at venues like Shadeh Nightclub at Buffalo Thunder. Their presence is growing, so you may as well catch 'em now. Y'know, before they get huge. (ADV)

Red Light Cameras: 
7 pm Friday August 3. Free.
Shadeh Nightclub,
Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino,
20 Buffalo Thunder Trail,
455-5555.

Season of the Witch

We usually see artist/curator Niomi Fawn on the other side of local shows and exhibits, but with their upcoming Wild Home opening at NO LAND, Fawn is the creator and star of the show. "To be honest with you, it's a super witchy show," Fawn says. "I'm talking a lot about the non-binary world and exploring these things that are primordial to our humanness." At Wild Home, see wooden objects altered through suminagashi, a Japanese marbling technique usually done on paper. Also find digital imagery crafted by Fawn and printed onto dishwasher-safe plates. "People can have a plate set to eat off of," Fawn tells SFR, "or to include in their altar." (ADV)

Niomi Fawn: Wild Home
7 pm Saturday August 4. Free.
NO LAND,
54 1/2 San Francisco St.,
216-973-3367.

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