Film crews often block streets and take our parking in downtown Albuquerque. They had 3rd Street blocked off the between Gold and Central the other night while filming “Force of Execution” with Steven Seagal. While I was making my way out of downtown the same night, I noticed the Kimo Theater’s marque read “Story of Film.”
The rain and cool whether made Da Bruski frisky this afternoon. After taking WCW’s cigarette and arguing with him about it, he gave the photographer Da Bruski “stare challenge” better know as “mad dogs”. Before leaving Lindy’s, Da Bruski challenged poor Santa, who, in his good natured way, ignored Da Bruski and smiled for the camera with his kind, sympathetic eyes. No one was safe after that, and Da Bruski even mad dogged the poor pink Brontosaurus that stands in front of the Gizmo Store greeting people who are walking along Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque. As we made our way back to the office, Da Bruski saw his reflection in the dark glass of the Bank of New Mexico building and challenged himself — for all I know he’s still there seeing if he can get his reflection to back down.
Where else in the world, besides Albuquerque, can you attend a performance of Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor K. 427, then go to the Frontier, sit under the eye of The King, look at a collection of Indian rugs on the ceiling, and get a photograph of the guard in a gunfight with The Duke? The Grand Mass in C Minor was performed by the UNM Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jorge Pérez-Gómez, and the UNM University Chorus, Professor Bradley Ellingboe, director, with guest Conductor Jena Reis. The soloists where soprano Leslie Umphrey, Associate Professor of Voice, UNM, mezzo soprano Drea Pressley, Sam Shepperson, co-director of the Opera Theater at UNM and baritone Michael Hix, Assistant Professor of Vocal Studies at UNM. The concert was excellent, although one woman at the end of the row in front of us brought her baby. I don’t know what she was thinking bringing a baby to a classical concert. About half way through the concert the baby got fussy, and the woman took her sweet time taking the noisy kid out of the theater. The people around her were nervously laughing at its squawks and cries, while the soprano gave her “mad dogs” for the little brat competing with her solo. She finally took leave, allowing us to enjoy the concert and the soprano to relax a little before her next solo.
If you are fortunate enough to live in the Albuquerque area, or if you are visiting during the month of December here are a few things you can do:
On December 1st at 5:00 pm, Quintessence Choral Artists of the Southwest will be performing “A Winter’s Journey” at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1100 Indian School Rd., NE, and at 3:00 pm on December 2nd at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona NE.
Also starting Sunday, December 2nd and running through December 28th from 10-5 daily is the Annual New Mexico Photographic Art Show in the Fine Arts Building at New Mexico Expo (enter the San Pedro and Copper Gate). Our good friend and fellow photographer Susan Graham got a couple of photos of the demolition of the houses on our property in August in the show.
On December 4th at 7:30 pm, the UNM Symphony Orchestra is performing Mozart’s Grand Mass in C, K. 427 at Popjoy Hall at the University of New Mexico. Suzette, one of the lovely women in Wild Women Wednesday, is singing with the University Chorus.
On December 8th at 7:30 pm, the Central United Methodist Church’s Chancel Choir will be performing Handel’s Messiah with the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra, and on Sunday December 9th at 3:00 pm at Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd, NE. My blog The Messiah is Coming has all the details. Laurie, Suzette, and Nicole Larson (all of whom have appeared in Photo of the Day, Etc. this month) are singing the Messiah with the Chancel Choir.
I walked around downtown after work tonight and found some interesting windows. The motorbike in an art gallery’s window looked like it might even run — could be functional art. Functional or not, it is an interesting piece.
When you think of icons and landmarks you can’t get much better than the painting of the Duke in the Frontier Restaurant across from UNM’s new School of Architecture Building on Route 66 in the Duke City. John Wayne stares, from his large portrait hanging on a south wall in the Frontier, straight out north windows at the new Architecture building across Central Ave (Old Route 66). While I was waiting to cross Central on my way to the Frontier, I heard engines roaring and tires squealing and zoomed my lens toward Girard to capture either a car chase or car race on Old Route 66. One of my clients thinks I need to make another edition of my photo book Route 66 Albuquerque’s Central Avenue After Dark and include images like these. He thinks the book is incomplete without a photo of the painting of the Duke in the Frontier and a photo of the School of Architecture Building at night.
Off Center & Not Even 