SFR Picks—Week of June 2

Golden Opportunity

Alchemy Studio opens in Madrid

Musician Lucy Barna actually set out to open a wine bar in her small community of Madrid, but after the realities of the lockdowns and layoffs of the great 2020 pandemic set in, she took some time to reflect.

“Having so much down time, I realized how much I cherish my creative pursuits,” Barna tells SFR. “A lot of us went through that—you shake off the dust and think, and what I thought I valued really changed in the last year and a half. I realized I wanted to make my creative pursuits my livelihood.”

Barna bought the Madrid building that formerly housed Mama Lisa’s Ghost Town Kitchen and No Pity Café and transformed it into the new art/multi-use space Alchemy Studio, which launches this weekend. Barna is primarily focused on women creators to start, including her own jewelry—gorgeous jewelry, if you’re wondering—plus works from textile artist Cinda Kay Campbell and oil painter Brianne Janes. Find also ceramics by Patty Bilbro and the promise of more to come in subsequent months. Barna says she toiled over the decision only briefly and came to her first slate of artists easily.

“All the artists who’ll show in the space are really passionate about why they create, what their story is, how they show up with their art in the world,” Barna explains. “Everything has a story, and these are people who I love how they created their story.”

Barna also envisions live music for Alchemy down the road—all the display tables are movable with casters. Barna has also set aside what she calls a -”music nook” indoors, and explains the building includes an outdoor porch space that would be practically perfect for summertime shows.

“I definitely felt like people realized how important art is in the world when it wasn’t available to them in the ways it used to be,” Barna says. “Going to art shows—when you can’t do that anymore, how do artists sell? How do you get art when galleries aren’t open? And with music? Not being able to go see music and seeing what happened online...I’m hoping one of the silver linings of the last year is that we realize how important it is showing up face-to-face.” (Alex De Vore)

Alchemy Studio Grand Opening: 4-7 pm Saturday, June 5. Free. Alchemy, 2859 Hwy. 14, Madrid, 828-246-5899

A Little Tap-tap-taparoo

If, like us, you were recently sitting there watching some dumb movie when you realized you’ve just spent 14 months sitting there watching some dumb movie, you might be looking for ways of getting more physical that aren’t entering the gauntlet of gymnasia. Might we recommend the upcoming tap dance workshop at the Santa Fe’s Dance Station? Instructor Sam Italiano is the real deal, and if you ever watched a dancer like Gregory Hines or Savion Glover dance, dance, dance it up, then you know it’s not only one of the most enduring American art forms, but that it’s also sexy as hell. Email -sitaliano317@gmail.-com for more info—and know the class is limited to 15 dancers for safety. (ADV)

Tap Dance Workshop: 7:30 pm Wednesday, June 2. $15. Dance Station, 947 W Alameda St., 989-9788

Screened

Can’t beat summer in Santa Fe, where the twilight comes with soft breezes and the sunsets are the kind of thing you describe to people in faraway lands. Throw in how we were all stuck indoors last year, and the timing seems right to let our readers know the AMP Concerts free outdoor summer movie series is back. This week kicks things off with a screening of Toy Story 4 (not the best in the series, but aren’t you just pumped to get out and do a thing?). You must register ahead of time at ampconcerts.org, but it’s a free event and, if you’ll recall, AMP pretty much wrote the book on safe live events last year. Don’t forget your blanket. (ADV)

Movies in the Park: Toy Story 4: 8 pm Friday, June 4. Free. Railyard Park, Cerrillos Road and Guadalupe St., ampconcerts.org

We’re All A Little Irish

As we all anxiously return to live music, there’s nothing wrong with dipping your toe in the water a bit before you’re full-on mask-free at some massive festival at which everyone breathes directly into each other’s mouths—and there may as well be pizza while we’re making our calculated moves. Obviously this means Gerry Carthy is back at Upper Crust Pizza with his incredibly Irish jamz on tenor guitar, flute and banjo. If you’ve somehow missed out on Carthy during his many years playing around town, kill two birds with one stone and get back in the music game with ease. Did we mention there will also be concertina? You’ll wish you were in Carrickfergus, friends. (ADV)

Gerry Carthy: 5:30 pm Monday, June 7. Free. Upper Crust Pizza, 329 Old Santa Fe Trail, 982-0000