March 2010
Behind the Scene
By Randy Limbird The last time I remember poppies covering the east side of the Franklins was 2003. The next year, the Scene invited photographers to send their best images of the poppies for the March 2004 cover. We had a glorious cover that year, but very few real poppies emerged on the mountainside.
When that issue came out, I got several calls from people asking where they could find the poppies shown on the cover. Sorry, those poppies were from last year, I told them. Better luck next year.
Almost every year since, the Scene has run a photograph or painting of the poppies on the March cover. And still no poppies. Well, actually, a few poppies bloomed on the highway medians where Transmountain approaches the Franklins and around the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, but nothing like the carpet of color of 2003.
The outlook seems favorable for a grander appearance of poppies this year thanks to above-average winter rain and snow.
Fortunately, I kept some of the photos that people submitted back in 2004. One of my favorites was the shot on this month’s cover by Las Cruces photographer Don Bustamante. It’s actually taken of the east side of the Organ Mountains. Apparently the gradual slopes of the east approaches to both the Franklins and Organs furnish the best environment for the poppies.
If the poppies do show up in force, send your best photograph to El Paso Scene for consideration as a future cover.
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If you would rather paint your way onto the cover of El Paso Scene, enter the “El Paso Scenes” show April 2-28 at the Sunland Art Gallery. Details are on Page 41. Deadline for entries is March 12.
We will ask gallery visitors to vote on the artwork they would most like to see on the cover of El Paso Scene, and the winner will be featured on the May cover and win a $100 prize.
El Paso Scene also is co-sponsoring the 3rd annual El Paso Artists Studio Tour April 17-18 and April 24-25, when artists throughout the city will invite the public to visit their studios. Details for this event are also on Page 41; deadline for entries is March 8.
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While on the subject of the El Paso Scene cover: We receive requests each month from local organizations to feature their event on the cover. Unfortunately, I have to turn them all down. Over the years, we have tried to stay away from promoting a particular event on the cover. Although the artwork we choose may coincide with an event, such as a gallery exhibit. With so many events going on each month, we hate to play favorites.
The same is true of our monthly feature story. We don’t focus on a single event, although sometimes the story ties into that month’s happenings.
In a sense, this month’s feature story does focus on a particular event — but the event is so unique, it deserves an exception. The U.S. Bowling Congress’s Women Championships will bring 29,000 women bowlers to El Paso, plus 10,000 more family and friends, over a 14-week period spanning from late March to early July. The Convention Center will be turned into an arena-style bowling venue.
Expect to see these sportswomen fill our hotels, restaurants, shops and area attractions for the next few months. To find out more about it, read Lisa Tate’s story on Page 31.El Paso Scene MONTHLY
This month's listings, stories and columnsFeature story
Roundup
Music
Dance
Here's the Ticket
Program Notes
On Stage
Sports
Southwest Art Scene
At the Museum
History Lessons
Nature
Film Scene
Keep on Bookin'
Becoming Bicultural
Liner Notes
Stage Talk
Gallery Talk
Better ParentingCopyright 2010 by Cristo Rey Communications.