SFR Picks—Week of April 13

The Microscope Method

Local nonprofit brings a colorful sculpted look to the sciences

It’s probably been a while since your high school science classes, and it’s doubtful you sat at your desk thinking, “Wow, mitochondria is so artsy!” Yet art and science are far more intertwined than we give them credit for, and local nonprofit SciArt Santa Fe is on a mission to show the split between both pursuits isn’t nearly as binary as we think. If anything, they’re intrinsically linked, and SciArt’s new showcase and lecture series, Under the Surface, offers viewers a chance to see art like they may not have before.

“This is all about that intersection,” says University of New Mexico professor and artist Andrea Polli, who will also show in the exhibit. “I’ve thought about this for a long time. Now I think there’s a level of creativity in everything—in the understanding of the world, which is what science tries to do for us...the art-science connection is where it intersects. So this is an acknowledgment that there are many different ways to understand and engage with the world; art science is a way to address scientific issues more free of the chains of the traditional practice or formal science.”

In short, the idea is to showcase artists who pair craft alongside an academic discipline such as physics, astronomy, biology, meditative practice and more. As such, viewers can see how natural sciences build geometric patterns, how colors are shaped by gas, why translucent glass bubbles glimmer and even living organisms at work in a mini-biosphere. Images that might have once been reserved for viewing through a microscope hit the macro level. Entire new worlds flare into existence. In addition to the gallery show, viewers can also attend the LASER (Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous) discussions on select days to informally chat up the artsy science types and better understand how their processes work.

“We’re hoping this is an acknowledgement there’s many different ways to understand and engage with the world,” Polli tells SFR. “When we say science, there’s a broad definition: Indigenous knowledge is something we embrace, too. That’s intersecting knowledge to the world’s sciences.” (Riley Gardner)

Under the Surface: Opening April 16, 3-6 pm. Saturdays, 1-4 pm from April 17 to May 27. Free. Vital Spaces at the Midtown Campus, 1600 St. Michael’s Drive. sciartsantafe.org

Vroom, Not Zoom

We ought to stan the people who work on cars more often, especially since most of us are pretty clueless about that sort of thing. With that in mind, it’s probably a good thing for any community to produce even more smart car people, and as part of its Automotive Technologies program, the Santa Fe Community College is doing just that. This Thursday, the college hosts the Ford Motor Company’s Cesar Martinez, a specialist in navigating auto-related jobs. Build resumes, learn interviewing skills and pick up other tools of the trade. Plus, you can spend some time checking out SFCC’s shiny new Automotive Technologies Center. (RG)

Automotive Technologies Center Open House: April 14, 9 am-4 pm (English session 10 am, Spanish at 3 pm). Free. Santa Fe Community College Automotive Technologies Center, 6401 Richards Ave. (505) 428-1177.

Brushstrokes of the Night

What’s the divine feminine mystique? Frankly we don’t entirely know, but Sarah Alice Moran’s paintings might help us zero in on a definition. In Night Feeding, see a universe opposite our own—dark colors reign, but they aren’t meant to be feared. What qualifies as strength is kindness, and minimally designed characters reveal themselves to be complex beings. Moran’s paintings have a language all their own, where careful examination builds out a functioning universe shared between disparate works. Mythology and witchcraft are common occurrences here, and Moran is really only getting started. (RG)

Night Feeding Opening: April 15, 6 pm. Free. smoke the moon, 616 1/2 Canyon Road. smokethemoon.com

Brunch, Steam-Powered

As we patiently wait for a slightly better world with high-speed rail to get us where we’re going quickly, we’ll have to settle for roleplay-style trains. And hey, we’re not complaining, because Sky Railway’s new adventures are aiming for the brunch crowd in addition to the popular evening escapades. See the sights as the locomotive takes you from the Railyard station to Lamy, where you’ll be dropped off at the always-lovable Legal Tender Saloon & Eating House. Tickets include a complimentary bloody mary or mimosa, live music and a brunch buffet. Oh, Santa Fe Southern Railway, you were gone too soon. We recommend stepping aboard and stuffing yourself so you’ve got the energy to fight for high-speed rail in America. That could mean more brunch for everyone. (RG)

Sky Railway’s Lamy Brunch Rush: April 17, 11 am-3 pm. $169. Santa Fe Train Depot, 410 S Guadalupe St. (844) 743-3759.