Celebrate the closing the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Fronteras del Futuro exhibition with slate of interstellar activities

March 7th, 2023

Albuquerque, NM – The National Hispanic Cultural Center’s unique exhibition Fronteras del Futuro: Art in New Mexico and Beyond closes on Sunday, March 12, but it’s going out with a cosmic bang! 

Since opening on March 11, 2022, Fronteras del Futuro has invited art-lovers to explore the intersections of art, science, and ancient and modern technologies. Meanwhile, it engages with cosmic musings and future-oriented visions through futurism-inspired work by more than 30 artists. 

“Fronteras del Futuro teaches us that science fiction can be a transformative tool for social change and confronting stereotypes in the hands of Hispanic and Indigenous creators,” said Noël Bella Merriam, NHCC artistic director and co-interim executive director. “While we at the NHCC will be sad to say goodbye to this unique exhibition, we’re excited to announce a series of related events that embody the spirit of Fronteras and highlight work from many of the artists featured in the exhibition.” 

On Thursday, March 9, head to the NHCC’s Plaza Mayor for a performance and interactive art installation from Fronteras del Futuro artist Angel Cabrales. This installation, titled Teoquiyaoatl, references a sacred portal through which the explorers of the parallel universe Axihuical breach the universal membrane and cross into this universe to greet the people of our world through dance. The event is created by Angel Cabrales in collaboration with Melissa Melpignano, with music by Henry Van and dance performances by Melpignano, Jenny Morales, Chris Delgado, and Jensen Springer. 

Then, experience the science fiction classic Star Wars: A New Hope dubbed in Navajo on Friday, March 10 during Navajo Star Wars Intergalactic Night. Join us at the Center from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. for art activities, music, a food truck and cash bar, and self-guided tours of Fronteras del Futuro. Before the movie, Navajo Nation Museum Director Manny Wheeler, who played a key role in getting the movie made into an official dub, will speak at 6:00 p.m. The film screening will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the NHCC’s Bank of America Theatre. 

Finally, close out the weekend on Saturday, March 11 with “The Pandemia Chronicles: A Divination Ritual” a spoken-word monologue and “live-action jukebox” from artists Guillermo Gómez-Peña & Balitrónica at 6:30 p.m. The artistic team will present excerpts from their most recent performance manuscripts and bank of ritual actions. Utilizing a casino roulette and traditional tarot deck, Balitrónica will use various forms of oracular magic to select spoken word texts and props for Gómez-Peña’s live performance. The fate of the script and the performance are determined by methods of divination and chance. The next day – Sunday, March 12 – will be the final day to view Fronteras del Futuro. 

All events are free, with generous support from Bank of America, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and United Way DEI Fund. Visit nhccnm.org/events to learn more and register. 

More about the National Hispanic Cultural Center The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities. The NHCC presents mission-related events throughout the year, some produced by its history, literary, performing, and visual arts programs, and others by partnering with external organizations. Events take place at its 20-plus-acre campus, which includes a plaza, an art museum, a historically designated building, a library, and a genealogy center. The NHCC is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and is further supported by the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation.