Creative Bravos Awards to honor nine making a difference in the community -- including Raven Chacon, Guild Cinema

Mar. 5—The city of Albuquerque's Creative Bravos Awards honor community members and organizations that make contributions to the city.

The Department of Arts & Culture, along with First Lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller will honor the recipients beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the South Broadway Cultural Center.

Tickets are $5, at artsandculture.cabq.gov.

The awards has seen a number of iterations since its inception in 1985 when it was started by the Albuquerque Arts Alliance.

After a hiatus, the awards were rekindled in 2018 under the administration of the city of Albuquerque's Department of Arts & Culture.

Recipients are selected from nominations put forth by the public and are celebrated annually. These contemporary awards strive to recognize and celebrate artistic achievements across a spectrum of categories, encompassing individuals, young talents, teams, events, programs, organizations, and businesses, all of which contribute to the city's vibrant creative tapestry.

"The outstanding talents within our local creative community highlight Albuquerque as a thriving hub for living, working, and embracing life to the fullest," said Keller, who leads the selection committee. "We take great joy in celebrating the exceptional accomplishments of this year's awardees and sharing their inspiring stories with the community."

This year's Legacy Bravos Award is Raven Chacon.

Chacon is a Pulitzer-winning composer, performer and installation artist from Fort Defiance, Navajo Nation.

As a solo artist, Chacon has exhibited, performed, or had works performed at numerous venues including LACMA; The Renaissance Society; San Francisco Electronic Music Festival; REDCAT; Vancouver Art Gallery; SITE Santa Fe; Chaco Canyon; and The Kennedy Center.

A recording artist over the span of 22 years, Chacon has appeared on more than 80 releases on various national and international labels.

In 2022, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his composition "Voiceless Mass."

Since 2004, he has mentored over 300 high school Native composers in the writing of new string quartets for the Native American Composer Apprenticeship Project (NACAP).

The Emerging Bravos Award is being given to Sopapilla Productions. The Albuquerque-based production company that focuses on highlighting and uplifting local businesses, artists, and creatives through film and media. It is led by the dynamic husband and wife duo Keith Allen and Felicia Masias.

Seven more Creative Bravos Awards will be given out on Thursday.

The recipients are:

—Naomi Elizabeth Montoya — A seasoned charter school educator with more than 25 years of service. She is also an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and performing artist. At Public Academy for Performing Arts (PAPA), she chairs the dance department, teaches classes, and serves as the school's performing arts coordinator.

—Katie Stone and "The Children's Hour" — Stone, described as the "Mr. Rogers of Public Radio," has been hosting, producing, and directing "The Children's Hour" radio show for the past 23 years. The Children's Hour, Inc. produces and distributes high-quality children's radio shows and podcasts, that are created through community involvement and immersion.

—Fourteenfifteen Gallery — The non-commercial, collective-run exhibition space located in Barelas. Fourteenfifteen's objective is to cultivate accessible opportunities for experimental, underrepresented, emerging, and established artists. For five years, Fourteenfifteen has served as an incubator for progressive, challenging, empathetic, and thoughtful contemporary art.

—Keif Henley and The Guild Cinema — The Guild, as it is known today, began in February 1966 and gained its "art-house" standing with a local owner and a serious bout of nostalgia in April 1971. It went through many proprietors and evolutions, even going dark for a bit in 1977, but has been shepherded by Henley in various roles of ownership for the past 20 years.

—Dr. Sharmin Dharas and Hotel Zazz — Hotel Zazz is a colorful experience like no other where vibrant hues and sweet tunes meet secret night caps and sweet dreams. Dharas has been described as half human, half free spirit superwoman hellbent on empowering and educating women. She's not only a doctor, but also the co-owner and founder of Hotel Zazz as well as a children's book author specializing in adventure fantasy that manifests into semi-reality.

—Edible New Mexico — Published by Stephanie and Walt Cameron, celebrates our state's vibrant food culture, season by season. Through multifaceted and compelling storytelling, the bi-monthly publication, events, and digital platforms connect readers with those who feed them—growers, producers, chefs, beverage and food artisans, and other food professionals.

—Archetype Tattoo — Owned by Ben Shaw, it has been in business since 2010. Shaw is a 24-year licensed tattoo committed to ethical practices and community service. He co-founded the nonprofit charity art event Art Fusion for a Cause, which features local tattoo artists raising thousands for community causes.