One of the most satisfying aspects of my position at The Magazine is that I am able to bring in content that I myself have wished to see as a reader. This issue represents a number of elements I have wanted to find in and bring into the fabric of this publication. These include such projects as commissioning original cover art (Janell Langford’s cover illustration “Shine a Light”). Another is to put the nature of a periodical magazine to work by creating focused, serialized columns that allow us to dig into an idea over the span of multiple issues (here, giving voice to under-told stories in the “Santa Fe Women” series). Third, expanding our editorial vision to include keenly directed photoshoots that turn our content and pages into unique reading/viewing experiences that cannot be replicated on digital screens (“Let Nature In[side]”). And finally, renewed dedication to rich, character-based storytelling that gives a platform to creative work done in our communities across disciplines (“Meet Your Makers: Tricia English, UNUM Magazine”).
As we adapt and expand our editorial vision, our core mission remains rooted in bringing informed, critical discourse to the New Mexico arts community, and this issue’s Reviews section is exemplary of this mission. Also, don’t miss this issue’s Studio Visit with Gloria Graham, the last installment of Zahra Marwan’s three-part “Printed Page” series, the calendar of events, and more. Lastly, we feature a short piece from the archive: exactly 25 years ago in the May 1993 issue of The Magazine, photographer Patrick Nagatani penned an article on the heels of his “Absolut Nagatani” ad. Following his recent passing, a survey of the late artist’s work is currently on view at the UNM Art Museum through July 28, and another survey exhibition will open at the New Mexico Museum of Art this month on May 26.
I’d love to hear your responses to this issue, or really to anything tangentially related to arts and culture in New Mexico. As ever, thank you so much for reading!
