[Download PDF Version]

ASA Program Book
General Information

REGISTRATION

All persons attending the convention must register. All registrants may pick up a copy of the program book at the registration desk, located on the ground level of the Albuquerque Convention Center, just inside the Third Street entrance and near the SW Exhibit Hall.

Purchase conference registration, tour, and special events tickets at the ASA Storefront http://prostores2.carrierzone.com/servlet/theasanet/StoreFront or by mailing the printable form (downloadable at the ASA website) with a check or money order payment. Mail registration forms, with check or money order payable to the American Studies Association, to:

Please note that this is not a correspondence address. Use it only to remit payments. Please do not send hotel registration forms or room payments to this post office box.

The preregistration form must be received by October 5, 2008 if arriving by mail. Forms arriving late risk remaining unprocessed, and registrants will be required to pay again on-site at the convention. If there is a duplicate payment, the larger amount will be refunded after the convention. If you are unable to mail your form by October 5, 2008, bring it with you to the convention, where you may register at the on-site rate.

ON-SITE RATE

The registration desk will be on the ground level of the Albuquerque Convention Center, just inside the Third Street entrance and near the SW Exhibit Hall. The desk will be open the following hours:

Session chairs and participants arriving on the day of their scheduled session must check in at the registration desk thirty (30) minutes prior to the session in order to receive registration materials.

Please note: registration fees are neither refundable nor transferable.

Forfeited registration and ticket fees will automatically transfer to the Baxter Travel Grant Fund. The Baxter Grants provide partial travel reimbursement to advanced graduate students who are members of the ASA and will travel to the convention in order to appear on the Annual Meeting program.

MAP OF THE ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION CENTER

BADGES

Badges must be presented for admission to all sessions, receptions, and the book exhibit. Badges are obtained through the payment of registration fees and should be picked up on-site at the conference registration desk.

TICKETS

Some special events require tickets. Early reservations are advised because tickets are available in limited quantities. For meal functions, no tickets will be sold after the cut-off dates noted.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

7:30 – 10:00 am
Networking Breakfast for American Studies/Ethnic Studies Program Directors
This year, the Committee on American Studies Programs is collaborating with the Committee on Graduate Education on an assessment of the condition and future of graduate programs in American Studies. NO tickets will be sold after 6:00 pm, October 15, 2008. Cost of tickets is $15.

12:00 – 2:00 pm
International Partnership Luncheon
We welcome all representatives of U.S. and non-U.S. American studies programs interested in exploring possible international partnerships as well as existing partnerships. NO tickets will be sold after 6:00 pm, October 15, 2008. Cost of tickets is $5.

5:00 – 9:00 pm
American Studies Association Welcome Reception at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
Get away from the conference center and hotel and join with fellow ASA members in a welcome reception at the National Hispanic Cultural Center! All members and guests are encouraged to attend. Free, easy shuttle buses will circulate every 10 minutes, making it easy to join us. Check out the NHCC, and particularly the featured exhibit of the work of Einar and Jamex de la Torre, whose fascinating work graces this year's program cover. Enjoy some great food and relaxed conversation, and then take in the stunning performance of Guillermo Gómez-Peña, "El Mexorcist: Last Mexican Standing." Or continue to explore the Cultural Center, and depart at your leisure.

Friday, October 17, 2008

7:30 – 9:00 am
Minority Scholars' Committee Mentoring Breakfast
Sponsored by the Minority Scholars' Committee, this is a mentoring breakfast for minority graduate students and junior faculty. We invite all graduate students and faculty committed to this endeavor to attend. NO tickets will be sold after 5:00 pm, October 16. Cost is $15 for regular members, $8 for junior faculty, $5 for students.

10:00 am
Walking Tour of Albuquerque
Like others across the country, Albuquerque's downtown flourished through the 1930s as the financial, civic, shopping, and entertainment center of the community, at the nexus of a streetcar system. But the ascendance of the automobile, the shift of new development to suburban fringes, and urban renewal clearances left the downtown in decline. A series of new urbanist–inspired plans and projects have triggered significant revitalization. Led by Chris Wilson (chwilson@unm.edu), the J. B. Jackson Professor of Cultural Landscape Studies at the University of New Mexico, this two-hour, two-mile walking tour will examine the historic fabric of mixed-use and multi-family building types, and how these forms are being reinvigorated today in combination with new passenger rail and rapid bus lines. Hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a bottle of water are recommended.

12:00 – 2:00 pm
Women's Committee Luncheon: Talking about Power: Discussions with ASA Presidents on Intersectionality, Leadership, and the U.S. Presidency
The Women's Committee dedicates its fall 2008 luncheon to a consideration of race, gender, and the presidency both within the ASA and larger social contexts. The Women's Committee is committed to attending to the intersecting identities of gender, race, geographic location, sexuality, class, dis/ability, and age, and we invite you to participate in a rich and generative discussion at these crossroads.

At this year's luncheon, former ASA presidents will sit at different tables to facilitate discussion with attendees. They will comment on their own experiences as ASA presidents, share their take on the upcoming national election, and facilitate discussions on the intersections of gender and race in 2008 U.S. presidential politics as well as international dimensions of this topic. To close the event, Alice Kessler-Harris will deliver a brief address on the U.S. presidential election, intersectionality, and antiracist feminism; discussion of the closing address will allow all of us to raise the key issues we've been discussing at our tables. Come talk with our presidents!

No tickets will be sold after 5:00 pm, October 16, 2008. Cost of tickets is $15 for regular members, $8 for students, and $5 for international scholars.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

12:00 – 2:00 pm
K–16 Collaboration Committee Luncheon
Speaker: Lois Rudnick, professor of English and American studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston. Please note that the K–16 Collaboration Luncheon requires a ticket. Early reservations are advised because tickets are available in limited quantities. NO tickets will be sold after 5:00 pm Friday, October 17, 2008. Cost of tickets is $15 for regular members, $8 for students, $5 for international scholars.

5:00 pm
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Museum and Reception
Join the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (www.indianpueblo.org), the Site Resources Committee, the Environment and Culture caucus and the Early American Matters caucus for a cosponsored reception at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. In addition to its regular exhibits, the Center will be hosting a show of sculpture from Jemez Pueblo. At 6:30, watch and discuss the work of two native filmmakers, Melissa Henry (Dine') and Jason Asenap (Kiowa), and join in a discussion moderated by Robert Warrior (University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign) and Beverly Singer (University of New Mexico).

Beginning at 4:45, buses will leave from the hotel for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center every 10 minutes, and will circulate throughout the evening. The films last approximately 1.5 hours, with an hour of discussion to follow. The film screening and discussion will conclude at 9:00. NO tickets will be sold after 5:00 pm, October 17, 2008. Cost of tickets is $6 for regular and $4 for students, K–12 educators, and international scholars.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

10:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tour of Acoma Pueblo
Built atop a 360-foot sandstone mesa, Acoma has been continuously occupied since the early twelfth century. The Sky City Cultural Center (http://www.skycity.com/index.aspx?pk=11), located at the base of the mesa, is home to the Haak'u Museum, opened in May 2006 and considered one of the most innovative museums in Indian Country. In 1599, the Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Onate attacked Acoma in reprisal for an earlier skirmish, killing 800 villagers, enslaving another 500, and amputating the left foot of 80 surviving men, a memory that has lingered fiercely in the culture and politics of New Mexico. Today, Sky City is also home to a casino and hotel complex. The village is accessible only via guided tour. Acoma is approximately 60 miles from Albuquerque. Please note that photography (not videography) is permitted only with a permit (payable with tour registration). NO tickets will be sold after 5:00 pm, October 18, 2008. Cost of tickets is $80 and there is an optional $10 Acoma Pueblo photography fee.

FEATURED SESSIONS

The Program Committee has organized several special sessions on issues and themes that will be of interest to large numbers of ASA members. The Program Committee's hope is that these sessions will generate extensive conversation among meeting participants about common interests and concerns. Some are also meant to forge a common ground between the ASA and the larger Albuquerque public. Most have been scheduled in the late afternoon and evening on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, when they will not compete with regular sessions.

K–16 COLLABORATION COMMITTEE DAY

This year's annual meeting will explore the creative opportunities of K–16 collaboration—the partnership of K–12 teachers with college and university teacher-scholars—that are offered within the ever-renewing field of American studies. K–16 collaboration is an educational initiative that has been growing dramatically over the past ten years, and expanding into broadening areas of public humanistic practice in museums, libraries, theaters, and other community centers. Both K–12 and college/university teachers are invited to participate in these sessions.

Saturday, October 18, 8:00 – 9:45 am
Visions and Revisions: How to Build a High School American Studies Program
This roundtable discussion, sponsored by the ASA K–16 Collaboration Committee, brings together educators from four different high schools to discuss the "nuts and bolts" of building an American studies program on the secondary level. Participants will offer stories of both success and frustration as they describe the processes whereby they proposed, developed, and implemented American studies programs and curricula in their schools. Topics for discussion will include funding and resources; teacher collaboration; teacher training; administrative support; content, standards, and assessment; and college preparation and counseling. This panel should be of use to K–12 educators interested in designing or revising American studies programs in their schools, as well as university educators involved in K–16 partnerships and collaborative projects.

Saturday, October 18, 4:00 – 5:45 pm
Teaching Memoirs and Oral History in the K–12 Classroom: Identities at the Crossroads
As part of the K–16 Collaboration Committee's Saturday Focus on Teaching Day, Teaching Memoirs and Oral History in the K–12 Classroom: Identities at the Crossroads exposes K–12 teachers and others to multiple strategies for teaching memoirs and oral histories in which writers and informants experience and negotiate multiple identifies, whether in terms of race, ethnicity, class, gender, religion, nationality, politics, or other factors.

Saturday, October 18, 6:00 – 7:45 pm
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Teaching Immigration
This K–16 Collaboration Committee panel showcases different ways that teachers address immigration in the classroom using interdisciplinary methods and assignments. Participants will discuss the design and implementation of immigration-focused lessons that they have used in secondary and university settings. Each of these lessons models a different way to bridge pedagogical and disciplinary divides by integrating literature, memoir, popular culture, and/or history into the teaching of immigration. Participants will also address the theoretical and practical considerations that educators must have in mind when implementing such projects in the curriculum. Ultimately, this panel seeks to explore the richness with which educators examine immigration in the classroom.

ASA STUDENTS' COMMITTEE BREAKFAST FORUMS

The ASA Students' Committee is pleased to announce the sixth year of our popular Breakfast with Champions. These breakfasts provide an opportunity for students to meet with outstanding scholars who champion the integration of junior scholars into American studies.

These scholars have pursued fields of inquiry that expand, renew, and challenge American studies, and they are committed to doing the same within the professional community. These informal mentoring breakfasts offer students the opportunity to discuss different topics and the challenges they pose to American studies past, present, and future.

The Graduate Student Hospitality Lounge will be open from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm on Friday and Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center. A buffet breakfast will be available to students gratis. All events are first come, first admitted. We hope to accommodate all interested students.

Friday, October 17, 8:00 – 9:30 am
Teaching Politics and the Politics of Teaching: Three Scholars Share Pedagogical Strategies
This breakfast forum, cosponsored by the Students' Committee and the Minority Scholars' Committee, brings together three prominent scholars to offer practical approaches for teaching politically charged, social justice, and identity-based topics in transcultural classroom settings. The forum will begin with each of the participants sharing their philosophies for teaching about race, class, gender, sexuality, and social change. Students will have ample time to ask questions concerning both the theory and praxis of stimulating complex conversations within the classroom. This interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue will provide useful advice for very practical matters including syllabi construction, reading selections, assignments, in-class teaching models, and rhetorical approaches.

Friday, October 17, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
The Future of American and Ethnic Studies
This breakfast forum is intended to parse the complex relationship between American studies and ethnic studies and will begin with three prominent scholars sharing their thoughts on these intellectual and institutional developments. This forum will allow ample time for students and faculty to develop meaningful dialogue about the scholarly and institutional impact of this relationship on the future of these two fields.

Saturday, October 18, 8:00 – 9:30 am
Framing Visual Evidence: The Position of Visual and Popular Culture in American Studies
This panel brings together key scholars of visual and popular culture to explore the integrated field of visual cultures, from popular media to photography and other visual arts, and its place within American Studies. This conversation will take place in the Graduate Student Hospitality Lounge and is designed to give students the opportunity to interact with leading scholars in an intimate and informal setting. Each scholar will offer their own perspective on key issues in the field, followed by a conversation between panelists and the audience. The scholars will be asked to address the interpretation of specifically visual texts, particularly the trouble of individuation of meanings and the difficulty faced when speaking to others who may be skeptical of visual evidence. Other topics will include how an analysis of representations and an investigation into the social and structural forces at work within the visual world enhance our understanding of American culture.

Saturday, October 18, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Getting Great Advising: A Workshop for Graduate Students
Graduate students often find it challenging to develop the kinds of relationships they want with their advisors and committee members. This student-led workshop will help students clarify their advising needs, develop rewarding relationships with faculty mentors, and handle difficult situations when they crop up. In this informal setting, we will talk about how to select committee members, how to respond to advisors' different communication styles, how to work with mentors when you are dissertating off-campus, how to handle disagreements with your advisor, and other concerns of the workshop participants.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE SESSIONS

The International Initiative and ASA International Committee are pleased to offer the Talkshop feature pioneered a few years ago and successfully carried out during the last three ASA Annual Meetings. Each Talkshop event begins with very brief frame-setting presentations by international panelists, each of whom will then facilitate parallel discussions among participants gathered at small roundtables. Towards the end of the session, each group will report briefly on the discussion and present comments on each table's dialogue by the facilitator or a selected rapporteur.

Thursday, October 16, 4:00 – 5:45 pm
International Committee Talkshop I: Obtaining Resources to Teach American Studies Internationally
Teaching American studies outside of the United States presents a number of complications, particularly when it comes to funding the development of a program and creation of curriculum. There is usually little independent funding for the creation of such programs outside of the U.S. State Department or U.S. embassies. As a consequence of accepting funds from institutions affiliated with the United States, there is often an implicit—and sometimes explicit—demand that a pro-American government agenda will be embedded in the curriculum as well as in whatever programs are created in terms of lecture series or conferences. This Talkshop will explore alternatives to U.S. government funding of American studies programs as well as the dilemmas affecting programs accepting such funds.

Friday, October 17, 10:00 – 11:45 am
International Committee Talkshop II: Crossroad Adventures: The Practice of International American Studies since the "Transnational Turn"
In this roundtable participants will engage in discussion about how various nations practicing American studies concretely apply the notions of border crossings and transnationalism with respect to traditional categories such as citizenship, race, and native language.

Saturday, October 18, 10:00 – 11:45 am
International Committee Talkshop III: The State of Women's Studies Around the World
This International Talkshop is conceived as an offspring of the Women's World 2008 Congress, in which many ASA members will participate. As such, its purpose is to spread the conclusions of the Congress to those ASA members who could not be present at this important event; to share with the talkshop attendants the news of the state of women's and gender studies around the world; and to discuss whatever issues are raised among those of us who were in Madrid 2008 and wish to exchange points of view with our international and American colleagues.

ONLINE PROGRAM

The program will be available online in August, at www.theasa.net under "Annual Meeting Information."

BOOK EXHIBIT

The Convention book exhibit will be in the Southwest Exhibit Hall of the Albuquerque Convention Center. Admission will be by registration badge only. Hours of the book exhibit are:

CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS

We invite ASA members who have published books in American Studies between November 2007 and October 2008, as well as their publishers, to "A Celebration of ASA Authors."

This tribute to scholarly publishing will be held at the Southwest Exhibit Hall on Friday, October 17, beginning at 4 pm. The ASA will sponsor a modest reception for the event.

HEADQUARTERS HOTELS

The 2008 ASA Annual Meeting will be located at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque is located approximately one block from the Convention Center. The Albuquerque International Sunport (airport) is located approximately four miles from the Hyatt Regency. For airport shuttle and other transportation information, please visit the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors website at http://www.itsatrip.org/

Please mention you are attending the ASA annual meeting to receive the discounted room rate. Availability of rooms and the group rate after the cut-off date is subject to availability. Please make your room reservation PRIOR to September 17, 2008. After September 18, all sleeping rooms will be sold on a space available basis and will NOT be subject to the group or student discount. Reservations may be made on the Web or by phone.

ASA Group Rate

Available from: 10/10/08 – 10/23/08

Additional hotel rooms have been arranged at the Doubletree Albuquerque. The Doubletree is connected to the Albuquerque Convention Center via an enclosed walkway.

To make reservations, please mention you are attending the ASA annual meeting to receive the discounted room rate. Reservations must be made no later than September 17, 2008, either on the web or by phone.

ASA Group Rate

Available from: 10/10/08 – 10/23/08

STUDENT HOUSING

The Hotel Blue will offer a special student rate for the ASA annual meeting. The special rate is available only to students. The hotel front desk will require student identification upon check-in. If student identification cannot be provided upon check-in, the student discount rate will not be honored; no exceptions will be made. Please make your room reservation PRIOR to September 30, 2008. After September 30, all sleeping rooms will be sold on a space available basis. Please mention you are attending the ASA annual meeting to receive the discounted room rate.

ASA Group Rate

All rates are subject to applicable city and state taxes at the time of arrival which is currently 12.875%.

Reservations should be directed to the attention of the hotel's housing director by phone or email.

Graduate students interested in the roommate connection service should consult Stacy Jameson at smjameson@ucdavis.edu with "Roommate Connection" in the subject heading.

DISABLED PERSONS

The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, the Doubletree Albuquerque, and the Hotel Blue comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, its regulations, and guidelines. So that the hotels can better assist persons with special needs, individuals should indicate their specific needs on the hotel reservation form or in an attached letter and include a telephone number where they can be reached. In addition, they should make their reservations as early as possible, no later than September 17, 2008. For additional assistance, contact the American Studies Association at annualmeeting@theasa.net.

CHILD CARE INFORMATION

Individuals requesting bonded and licensed child care during the ASA Conference should contact the ASA Convention Staff at annualmeeting@theasa.net, or call 202-467-4783.

TRANSPORTATION: PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES

Airport Transportation: The Albuquerque International Sunport (airport) is 4.2 miles and 8 minutes from the Convention Center. (All times presume normal traffic conditions.)

Airport Shuttle: There is shuttle bus service to and from the airport for visitors. Sunport Shuttle services all hotels and convention halls in Albuquerque. To make reservations call 505-883-4966, 866-505-4966, email: reservations@sunportshuttle.com, or reserve a spot online at http://www.sunportshuttle.com/. The cost for shuttle service to Hotel Blue, Hyatt Regency, or Doubletree will be $10 one way and $18 roundtrip.

Amtrak: Albuquerque is a major stop on Amtrak lines from both Chicago and Los Angeles. The Alvarado Transportation Center, located downtown, is Albuquerque's transportation hub, directing both train and bus travel. For Amtrak schedules and fares, visit www.amtrak.com.

Taxis: Taxi services can be picked up at the airport.

Rental Cars: Avis, Budget, Hertz, National, Rent-A-Wreck, and Thrifty

Driving from the Airport:

To Hyatt Regency: Head east on Sunport Blvd SE. Merge onto I-25 N via the ramp to I-40/Downtown & Santa Fe. Take exit 224A toward Central Ave/Lead-Coal Ave. Merge onto Oak St SE. Turn left at Lead Ave SE. Turn right at 5th St SW. Turn right at Tijeras Ave NW.

To Doubletree: Head east on Sunport Blvd SE. Merge onto I-25 N via the ramp to I-40/Downtown & Santa Fe. Take exit 224B toward Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave NE. Merge onto Oak St NE. Turn left at Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave NE.

To Hotel Blue: Head east on Sunport Blvd SE. Slight left at Girard Blvd SE. Turn left at Gibson Blvd SE. Turn right at Broadway Blvd SE. Turn left at Avenida Cesar Chavez SE. Turn right at 8th St SW. Turn right at Silver Ave SW. Turn left at 7th St SW. Turn left at Central Ave NW/Central Ave SW.

To Convention Center: Head east on Sunport Blvd SE. Merge onto I-25 N via the ramp to I-40/Downtown & Santa Fe. Take exit 224B toward Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave NE. Merge onto Oak St NE. Turn left at Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave NE. Turn left at 2nd St NW.

Public Transportation: Bus route 50 services Albuquerque Sunport and the city's downtown area including the convention center. For route 50 map and timetable, visit http://www.cabq.gov/transit/tran.html. Fare: $1.00. From the bus stop at the convention center, it is only a short walk to the hotels.

CARBON OFFSETS

On the "Event Fees" portion of the registration form for the 2008 Annual Meeting, you will find a category marked "carbon offset." Like all other event fees, this category is optional. There is no obligation to participate. Rather, we have added the category as a (potentially) useful service that the ASA can provide to our membership: the option to offset carbon emissions that may result from your travel to our annual meeting.

Those interested in purchasing carbon offsets for travel to the annual meeting will no doubt be curious as to what they are actually buying. The plan (for this year, at least) is to distribute our collective purchase of offsets between two organizations. Climate Trust (www.climatetrust.org) supports wind, energy production efficiency, reforestation, and a range of other technologies. Native Energy (www.nativeenergy.com) has a track record focused on windpower development on Northern Plains Indian reservations, and it is majority-owned by the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy. Its current projects are focused on wind power and methane remediation on dairy farms. Both of these organizations were highly ranked (among the top eight offset providers) in the most recent evaluation of offset offerings, particularly on the question of "additionality." For that report, see http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/consumersguidetocarbonoffsets.pdf.

The cost to purchase Carbon Offset (@ 1 ton) to cover average travel to Albuquerque is $12.00.

ACCESS GUIDELINES FOR ASA CONVENTION SESSION ORGANIZERS AND PANELISTS

The ASA is committed to making arrangements that allow all association members to participate in the conference. Therefore, we request that all session organizers and presenters review the information below and take the necessary steps to make their sessions accessible to attendees with permanent or temporary disabilities. These guidelines are designed to provide access for attendees with disabilities but will benefit all convention participants.

Room Setup

• There is space for two wheelchairs in each meeting room. Please keep this area, the door, and the aisles clear for persons using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, or motorized vehicles.
• People who are deaf or hard of hearing and who use sign language interpreters or read lips should sit where they can see both the speakers and the interpreter. The interpreter may stand close to the speaker within a direct line of sight that allows the audience to view both the speaker and the interpreter. Speakers should be aware of the location of interpreters and attempt to keep this line of vision clear.

Papers, Handouts, and Audiovisuals

• Speakers should bring five copies of their papers, even in draft form, for the use of members who wish, or need, to follow a written text. Speakers who use handouts should prepare some copies in large-print format (14- or 16-point font size) and briefly describe all handouts to the audience. Avoid colored papers. Speakers should indicate where to return their papers and handouts.
• Allow ample time when referring to a visual aid or handout or when pointing out the location of materials.
• When not using an overhead projector, turn it off. This reduces background noise and helps focus attention on the speaker.

Communication/Presentation Style

• Speak clearly and distinctly, but do not shout. Use regular speed unless asked to slow down.
• Because microphones often fail to pick up voices in the audience, speakers should always repeat questions or statements made by members of the audience. In dialogues or discussions, only one person should speak at a time, and speakers should identify themselves so that audience members know who is speaking.
• Avoid speaking from a darkened area of the room. Some people read lips, so the audience should have a direct and clear view of the speaker's mouth and face.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments, please email or call:

ASA GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWING

The ASA discourages interview activities in hotel bedrooms. The ASA strongly advises that a parlor suite rather than a sleeping room be used and that a third person always be present in the room with the candidate. Interviewers using such facilities bear sole responsibility for establishing an appropriate, professional atmosphere and should take special care to ensure that all interviews are conducted courteously and in a proper manner.

WELCOME TO ALBUQUERQUE

The lively and diverse city of Albuquerque lies at a number of geographic and temporal crossroads. Here, the famed Route 66 meanders across the Spanish El Camino Real. The Santa Fe Railroad intersects with the Santa Fe Trail. Interstate 25 crosses Interstate 40. The region's colonial histories continually erupt into its present and its future, as distinct groups of natives, newcomers, and immigrants sort things out. Albuquerque is a transnational crossroads as well, with an international border four hours to the south, and intranational borders with Isleta, Laguna, and Sandia Pueblos within a few miles west, north and south.

The city reflects these crossings and histories in its landscape and its built environment. New housing developments and roads on the city's Westside compete with indigenous petroglyphs. The city's original settlement, "Old Town," includes a Spanish colonial church and plaza, set alongside a towering missile at the Atomic Museum. The Albuquerque Museum embodies such juxtapositions and struggles in its sculpture garden, which includes representations of the Spanish conquistador Don Juan Oñate and westering white pioneers, as well as an abstract spiral carved into the ground signifying the indigenous presence in New Mexico. These competing images have, at various times in New Mexico's history, been seen as evidence of a "tri-cultural harmony," leading some to imagine a mythic New Mexico, happily framed as a "Land of Enchantment." Yet the city's sculpture garden also demonstrates how multiple legacies of colonialism vie for meaning in a city constituted by temporal and geographical crossroads. Albuquerque is thus a perfect place to contemplate the relation of colonial pasts to various futures, for its complex history is thoroughly marked through architecture, cultural institutions, and geography. At the same time Albuquerque—a sprawling southwestern city expanding beyond its water capacity—also calls us to contemplate the ecological impacts of our settlement, our travel, and our social relations.

Visitors to the 2008 American Studies Association conference will want to take in Old Town and the Albuquerque Museum, both of which offer views of Albuquerque's varied crossroads. Old Town is a short bus ride or medium-length walk west from downtown on Central Avenue. Traveling east of downtown on Central will take you to the campus of the University of New Mexico, where you'll find the University's art museum, various New Deal–era projects, and the Center for Southwest Research. South of downtown is the National Hispanic Cultural Center, located in the historic Barelas neighborhood. Conference attendees are encouraged to visit the NHCC on Thursday evening for an art exhibit by the De La Torre Brothers, and a performance by Guillermo Gomez Peña.

A little farther north from Old Town is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center where there will be film screenings by native filmmakers, an art exhibit on native futurism, and a reception on Saturday evening. Conference attendees may also want to register for the walking tour of downtown Albuquerque led by Chris Wilson, the J. B. Jackson Professor of Cultural Landscape Studies at the University of New Mexico.

Those who want to take a longer excursion within the city will find a ten-mile paved trail running north and south along the Rio Grande River in Albuquerque. The trail can be picked up on Central Avenue, west of downtown. The foothills on the east end of the city contain miles of hiking and running trails. These are most easily accessed by car. Albuquerque has the longest aerial tramway in the United States, which can take you to the top of the Sandia Mountains for spectacular views of the Rio Grande valley and Santa Fe. Those bringing kids to Albuquerque will enjoy the city's Children's Museum, Explora, which is located in Old Town across the street from the Natural History Museum.

On Sunday, October 19, conference attendees who stay in Albuquerque for the day can register for a guided tour of Acoma Pueblo. Acoma is a one-hour drive west of Albuquerque and contains a new history and cultural center, as well as Acoma's original settlement, or "sky city." Acoma has the longest record of inhabitation of any city in North America, and is well worth your time.

Albuquerque will be pleasant in October, with temperate days and cool evenings. It is a beautiful and intriguing city, and we are certain that you will enjoy your time with us!

The Site Resource Committee welcomes you to Albuquerque.

Alex Lubin, University of New Mexico
Chair of 2008 Site Resource Committee
(With assistance from UNM graduate student Caitlin Berry)