Encounter Culture

The Oryx and the Bomb: Colonial Legacies at White Sands Missile Range with Marcus Xavier Chormicle


Listen Later

Roughly six thousand large antelopes native to Africa live on the White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico. Once small in number, these oryx have proliferated and make for an unexpected sight with their giant bodies, striking black and white faces, and long, spear-like horns. What are the oryx doing in New Mexico? Las Cruces-based photographer, Marcus Xavier Chormicle’s research of the animals has informed his oryx photography series. The oryx series was the focus of Chormicle’s work during his New Mexico Arts residency at Lincoln Historic Site in the spring of 2024. He joined Encounter Culture to share what he has learned about the history of the oryx in the state and how his project has helped him wrestle with the complicated questions that arise from the animals’ presence.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Marcus Xavier Chormicle photography

Deep Springs photography book by Sam Contis

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University

American artist Binh Danh

Lincoln Historic Site

White Sands Missile Range

Trinity Site

For further reading and more resources, view the full show notes.

***

We’d love to hear from you! Let us know what you loved about the episode, share a personal story it made you think of, or ask us a question at elpalacio@dca.nm.gov. You can write a regular email or record a short voice memo and attach it for us to listen to. 

Visit newmexicoculture.org for info about our museums, historic sites, virtual tours, and more. 

Our favorite way to fully experience everything they have to offer is with the New Mexico CulturePass. Reserve yours online!  

If you love New Mexico, you’ll love El Palacio Magazine! Subscribe to El Palacio today. ***

Encounter Culture is a production of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios.

Hosted by Emily Withnall, editor at El Palacio Magazine Executive Producer: Daniel Zillmann Technical Director & Post-Production Audio: Edwin R. Ruiz Recording Engineer: Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe Editor & Production Manager: Alex Riegler Associate Producer & Editor: Monica Braine (Assiniboine/Lakota) Theme Music: D’Santi Nava

Instagram: @newmexicanculture and @elpalaciomagazine

View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Encounter CultureBy New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

11 ratings


More shows like Encounter Culture

View all
Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

5,998 Listeners

Economist Podcasts by The Economist

Economist Podcasts

4,254 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,253 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,753 Listeners

Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

10,814 Listeners

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast by Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

28,877 Listeners

FiveThirtyEight Politics by ABC News, 538, FiveThirtyEight, Galen Druke

FiveThirtyEight Politics

19,987 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,511 Listeners

Sidedoor by Smithsonian Institution

Sidedoor

2,159 Listeners

1A by NPR

1A

4,614 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,040 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,319 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

2,747 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

14,612 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,279 Listeners