The ninth annual Alternative Photography International Symposium is the premiere event for those into alternative processing methods. Here is where one can discover how to make images with historic processes like salt prints and Woodbury types, or learn how to make photographs with cottage cheese.

Before you attend the October MIX, here are some take-aways from the last one. Taking place the third Thursday of almost every month, Santa Fe Mix is a social event full of mingling, splashy cocktails, art, and making connections.  The mission of Santa Fe Mixes is to bring together all the “young” people in Santa Fe and provide a space for people to network, share ideas, develop business strategies, or collaborate on art. At this point you’re probably thinking “Really? A social gathering in Santa Fe? I’d rather go to a party at the nursing home”.  Don’t be so quick to judge. The Sept. 19 Mix was full of emphatic conversation, loud music and splashy drinks that brought out the socialite in a city full of introverts. Sticky MIX was held at Matthew Gray’s studio at 821 W San Mateo Road.  It’s that giant loft studio attached to Chocolate Maven. The name was inspired by Mathew’s work on display, which consisted of six sculptures made from hard cast candy and four large format photographs of other sugar creations. Each sculpture or photograph was lit with a flood light, presenting the vibrant sugar coated works with an ominous tone. Dozens of mixers gathered around the food table, eagerly waiting for the next full plate of refreshments. Chocolate Maven provided the catering; making sure every one had a bite of one of their exquisite finger sandwiches, cookies, or signature chocolates.  Downstairs Dj Aztec Sol spun records and dropped beats, making sure that the Mix was elevated from a normal gallery opening to party status. One of the main purposes of a Santa Fe Mix is to collect data. This is done primarily with surveys handed out at the door. Although not mandatory to get in, filling...

We introduced a lot of new students this fall semester at SFUAD, and a handful of new professors. One of those new professors is Andy Mattern, or just Andy for short. Andy is an adjunct professor in the Photography Department teaching the intermediate digital photography class Monday through Thursday nights in the Marion Center.  At first, Andy seems to be a quiet individual. Before every class he casually sits in the classroom, legs crossed, shirt tucked, waiting with stoic anticipation for students to arrive.  But when the clock ticks to 6:30 p.m., Andy ignites into a high-energy educating force, laying down plans and information faster than Busta Rhymes can articulate a sonnet. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Andy frequently went to Wisconsin through out his childhood to visit family.  He received his BFA in Art Studio at UNM Albuquerque, concentrating in visual arts. After graduating, he meandered out to Southern California with guitar in hand to pursue music. After a couple of years playing in coffee shops and recording/producing for other musicians, Andy packed up and moved to Austin, Texas. Live music capital of the world! Once arriving to Austin, Andy quickly decided to never play music in front of people again, bought a camera on eBay, and started making art again. For six years he created visual art for galleries and owned an architectural photography company. In 2009, he applied to grad school and, in “what seemed like a lark,” received a fellowship to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. After three years, Andy graduated with an MFA and two books, Driven Snow and Everyone I Never Knew. Since then Andy has moved back to Albuquerque where he teaches at both UNM and SFUAD. When asked how to justify art, Andy’s answers range from aesthetic...

By Tim Kassiotis  Fall semester 2013 is already underway at SFUAD. But chin up, buttercup! Don’t miss out on the best part about Fall semesters here at SFUAD: Fall! As Monsoon season here in Santa Fe blows out, it can only mean one thing. That’s right: Autumn is coming! Sure, you may grumble at the thought of colder weather, but just remember all the fun quirky fall events. It’s that time of year when farmers markets are filled with fresh harvest. The time of year when you should really start planning out that epic Halloween costume and perfect that bacon-wrapped Thanksgiving turkey recipe. And the time of year when all the cool air creeps in and turns all the aspen trees gold. What kind of fall would it be with out the changing of the leaves? If you’re new to SFUAD and do not come from an area with deciduous fall tress, then get on this. Santa Fe National Forest is home to 1,558,452 acres of beautiful wilderness full of the perfect fall tree: aspens. Approximately 30 minutes up the road on the Santa Fe Ski basin is Aspen Vista campgrounds. This is your main access point to catch many trails that intertwine throughout one of the largest aspen groves on earth. Hiking here is a year round favorite. The 12-mile trail has many charming gullies and ravines full of aspens that inspire the iphone Ansel Adams in all of us. However, during peak tourist season, Aspen Vista saturates quickly with people. On any given weekend there can be rows of cars, tripled parked into the road. So where can you get your full fall leaf changing experience with out all that crowd? Right after you pass Big Tesuque, but before you hit Aspen...

By Nick Beckman/Photography by Tim Kassiotus With a pleasant introduction by his brother Matt, Greg Donovan had already set the tone for his Jan. 18 lecture before he even began speaking; “Video Game Marketing 101 (kind of…)” read his Powerpoint slide which was being projected across the beautiful cinematic screen inside of SFUAD’s own Garson Studios. Matt Donovan, co-chair of the Creative Writing and Literature Department opened for his brother with a bit of nostalgia: A story of the two when they were young, experiencing the new video game craze also referred to as “Space Invaders.” The two were mesmerized and undoubtedly changed creatively by the game, both of them seeking out careers in the arts later in life. Matt went on to become a successful writer and Greg to produce the very thing that brought them both together, video games. Greg began his presentation by letting his audience know the casual tone of the lecture. “I use some terms and phrases that are common in the industry” Donovan explained, “ so please ask questions if you don’t know what I’m saying.” Donovan, a former Yilm school student, claims that he began working on the sets of short Yilms and eventually landed himself a marketing job for a gaming company. Here, he says, he found that his passion was for the production of the games themselves. So, after a year or so he moved to Volition, the company he is currently with and has produced Saints Row 1-3 and is currently working on the 4th. Volition is a video game developer based out of Illinois and has also produced titles like Red Faction and The Punisher. The game itself is a delightful mix of colorful characters, ranging from bumbling gang members to over the...