New Mexico Mercury

Provincial Matters, 4-20-2015

V.B. Price's weekly collection of observations and appreciations.

Via Crucis

New Mexico photographer Nell Farrell continues her examination of the Lenten season in Oaxaca, Mexico with the Stations of the Cross. 

Elaine de Kooning Paints a Portrait

The trailblazing Abstract Expressionist gets some long overdue recognition for her art, and her place in feminist history.

El Machete: RIP Eduardo Galeano

RIP Eduardo Galeano

¡COLORES! April 3, 2015

World-renowned violinist Midori gives New Mexicans a special performance. Invited by the Corrales Music in Schools program, she shares her inspirations about music and insights into the importance of music education.

Visualizing Albuquerque

Margaret Randall reviews the Albuquerque Museum focus of the larger citywide exhibition, On the Map: Unfolding Albuquerque Art + Design.

Mapping Albuquerque’s Art Scene

Albuquerque arts organizations encourage exploration and build community with On the Map.

Domingo de Ramos

New Mexico photographer Nell Farrell continues her cultural tradition series from Oaxaca, Mexico, this time on Palm Sunday.

Nicaragua, Part 4: Safe places are the most dangerous

A quarter century ago, my wife and I were winding up our travel through a clutch of West African countries with a visit to Cameroon, my favorite of the dozen African countries I’ve seen. At that time (much has changed since, but alas, the president remains the same) it was lush and green, relatively prosperous and sophisticated, at peace with the world and itself. Feeling good about our successful journey in a difficult part of the world, my wife and I relaxed, wanting only to melt into the local scene and recover our energy for the trip back to our base in Niger...

Remembering the Battle of Valverde

Most of us don’t think about the American Civil War being fought in New Mexico, but this past February 21 marked 153 years since of the Battle of Valverde. Below Peralta, a short throw from Hwy 380, not far from the Owl Bar, there is an area on the Rio Grande called North Ford. It is also called Valverde—“green valley”—a rather picturesque name that does not quite tell the true story of this bloody bend of river.

Valverde was the first engagement in New Mexico between the forces of the Confederacy and the Union in what was then called the War of the Rebellion...