Crane's View

Join us today to talk with local artists about the value of looking at art and ecology in conjunction with one another!The changing environment, especially in New Mexico, can be felt quite viscerally by many; and talking about the changing environment and its implications going further is an extremely important conversation we must have. However, discussions about the environment are not always the most accessible due to the complexity of both the issues and solutions. Importantly, art is one of the ways we can have these important conversations, as art is almost like a universal language and can make these complex conversations more accessible. However, there’s even more to gain from using art when discussing our environment. We don’t just understand the environment around us in a purely scientific way, it is our home, a place of memories, a home to all manner of species, and so much more. Art is an incredibly important aspect of the discussions we have about the environment around us. So today we’re going to talk with artists, about their experiences with art and ecology!We talked with artists and art curators involved in Paula Castillo's performance art piece, “Reverse the Curse.” Since 2021 Castillo has invited people living along the river from Taos, New Mexico, to Juarez, Mexico, to participate in a Reverse the Curse community performance at their local river bridge by spitting at the victim. This practice was derived from a curandero healing method to reverse curses. In this piece, Paula Castillo aims to use the audacity of local magic to provide an allegory for a participatory and embodied tithing to the Rio Grande, an entitlement to a body of water who is not allowed to have any share of her own water.

Want a shorter version of our Wildrie Episode? Try the short-form version! Aimed at younger students, this episode has roughly the same content as the longer version, except it's shorter and has fewer technical terms! Fire is becoming an increasingly persistent reality in our world, as we watch places dear to our hearts burn. New Mexico has consistently experienced a fire season in June and July, but the fire season of 2022 started in early April and ended in early August. The season was particularly impactful with almost 20 fires raging across almost a million acres. Despite mass damages, youth across the state are taking action to engage with the communities that are affected and to share their experiences.

Fire is becoming an increasingly persistent reality in our world, as we watch places dear to our hearts burn. New Mexico has consistently experienced a fire season in June and July, but the fire season of 2022 started in early April and ended in early August. The season was particularly impactful with almost 20 fires raging across almost a million acres. Despite mass damages, youth across the state are taking action to engage with the communities that are affected and to share their experiences.

Sandhill Cranes see a truly vast portion of North America, affecting many environments and communities. Sandhill Cranes don’t just affect avid bird watchers and biologists, they also affect our youngest generations too. In this episode, we interviewed Kindergarten, Middle School, and College Students about cranes.