A new exhibit, A Song for the Horse Nation, opened Nov. 14 at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City, with a kiln-worked glass horse mask by local artist Marcus Amerman. To learn more about the exhibit and see the piece, visit www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/horsenation/index.html.

• • •

Writer Keith Phipps has retraced the cross-country journey made by Wyatt and Billy (Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper) in the 1960s classic Easy Rider in the online magazine Slate.

Interestingly, he is much kinder to Las Vegas, N.M. than to Taos. About Taos, he writes, "The drive to Taos— where crags give way to plains, then mountains — doesn't disappoint. The town does. Its center remains, as it has since its time as a Spanish colonial town, Taos Plaza. Now catering almost entirely to tourists, it gives the impression of a face that's been lifted too many times."

Las Vegas, on the other hand, "fit my movie-shaped ideal of what a small town was supposed to look like: the pleasant, tree-lined town square, smiling locals, a burger joint not associated with clowns or kings, a corner drug store complete with a soda fountain. The town surely has the same problems found across America, but they were nowhere to be seen during my visit." A small quibble: The video of the marching band that goes with the Taos portion of the trip was filmed in Vegas, not Taos.

• • •

Renowned musicians Jackson Browne and John Trudell (with Bad Dog) played to a sold-out crowd at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in September, donating their time and talents to benefit three New Mexico women's health organizations with the Give Love Give Life — Women and Children First! concert. Olders Productions, the Santa Fe-based group of friends and volunteers that organized the event, have announced that a total of $25,950 was raised. The total has been equally distributed among Women's Health Services, Tewa Women United and Young Women United, resulting in $8,650 being awarded to each.

• • •

A rare interview with author Cormac McCarthy in the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 13, written by John Jurgensen. The Santa Fe resident's latest book-turned-movie, The Road, is set for release Wednesday, and stars Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee as a father and son struggling to survive. In the interview, McCarthy discusses writing, his relationship with his son, his artistic talent as a child and so much more. One great snippet: "I have had no desire to do anything but work and be with (son) John. I hear people talking about going on a vacation or something and I think, what is that about? I have no desire to go on a trip. My perfect day is sitting in a room with some blank paper. That's heaven. That's gold and anything else is just a waste of time."

• • •
A tiny made-in-New-Mexico film, Crazy Heart, is starting to generate Oscar buzz, according to The New York Times. The film stars Jeff Bridges as a washed-up country singer, and he's being touted as a possible Best Actor candidate. The film is set for release in mid-December, and also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. Much of the movie was made in and around Santa Fe.

• • •

Navajo comedy duo James and Ernie will be at the Santo Domingo School Gym this Wednesday. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. — just take Interstate 25 south and take exit 259. The school is one mile west. Admission is a toy and all the toys will be gathered as part of a holiday toy drive by Santo Domingo Social Services. What a great way to get a head start on holiday spirit.

Send your news to elmitote@sfnewmexican.com