Carnivale on the Rio Grande boosts awareness for Albuquerque ecosystems

Art and environment blend to create fun experiences to grow conservation along New Mexico river

Written and photographed by Diana Cervantes for Source NM

Capucine Socquet, left, and Florian Gaussen set up costumes before Conservation Carnivale’s performance at the Tijeras Biozone in Albuquerque, NM on July 29, 2023. Conservation Carnivale aims to promote science education and celebrate Albuquerque’s local ecosystems.  

 

Stepping inside the Conservation Carnivale van, dubbed “The Green Machine,” is like stepping inside a delightful cabinet of curiosities existing along the Upper Middle Rio Grande Watershed. Shells and specimens on the van’s walls invite viewers to touch and observe, and signs such as, “nature unites us,” speak of the central message of this traveling troupe of entertainers.

The group started in 2022 with funding from the city of Albuquerque and the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund with an idea to bring entertainment to engage people in environmental education along the Rio Grande ecosystem.

“Climate change, to me, is the most unifying thing we have as a species. No matter where you are in the world, climate change is affecting you, whether you feel it or [are] aware of it.” Endion Schichtel said.

As individuals move about the van they’ll discover games about water conservation, and even have the opportunity to write letters to the merpeople living in the Rio Grande.

Fellow friends and artists put on acts that relate to the Albuquerque ecosystem, specifically the Rio Grande and the endangered silvery minnow to name a few. 

It is through personifying and humanizing aspects of the Rio Grande that Schichtel believes will foster a sense of place and care for the environment through this immersive little world she built in a 1974 Chevy Step Van.

On the dashboard, viewers will find a lit up mini carousel with horses posing the following question, “Where will the animals live if we don’t take care of the bosque? Your house?! Yeah right!” 

Schichtel’s love for the environment, sideshow acts and the circus sparked her imagination to merge these passions, as well as a way to cope with her environmental anxiety and grief of losing her father.

“Through my grief and having a lot of climate change anxiety and a little burnout of [not] knowing the right way to help the world. I just started building it out the best way that I could with my skill set,” Schichtel said.

Schichtel's means of reconnecting people from all walks of life and ages also involves performance art. 

“So it's gone through several evolutions of design and contributions from different artists and just kind of really trying a new way to get people to pay attention and reconnect to the nonhuman world,” she said.

The creative space in nature is something she wants to see spark imagination and empathy for the open space in the middle of Albuquerque.

“I think sprinkling a little magic gets people just to look at a place a little bit deeper.” Schictel said.  “I mean, the imagination is an under exercised muscle, we are fed so much of our entertainment, I think if you could just take that spark of [people] being interested and then feed them a little bit of a fact or reinspire their curiosity, where you are in the moment or what you're looking at in your hand. It's a powerful tool.”

This sprinkling of imagination takes form as an acrobatic silvery minnow performed by Summer Rain Solon, or Yogi Coyote performing incredible yoga poses for a diverse audience.

“I can see some curiosity and hesitation initially, but then once people step out of the van, or they see one of our performances, they're like, “Oh, I get it now.” It is a unique mashup of things.”

Despite the success of Conservation Carnivale, Schichtel still struggles with climate anxiety and dreams of returning to the river someday soon. 

“My dream for the river is that my mental health is back at a state where I could physically visit the river,” Schichtel said. “And also that the work continues. And there is just a continue(d) movement of awareness, appreciation and love, just [a] basic understanding that this vein of life that runs through our city needs to be thought of and protected.”

 
 
 

Conservation Carnivale ringleader and founder, Endion Schichtel in the door frame of their traveling van. A 1974 converted Chevy van dubbed the “Green Machine,” due to its color. The van acts as a mobile museum, classroom, and interactive art exhibit.  

A vintage chest filled with natural specimens mirroring a cabinet of curiosities.  

Socquet, left, dresses as a moth for the act while Schichtel, right, puts on her ringleader attire.  

A dead bird behind a glass cabinet inside the Green Machine. The van is filled with different specimens and interactive pieces for children and adults to ask questions and ponder the ecosystems of the Middle Rio Grande watershed.  

Socquet left, paints the face of fellow carnie Summer Rain Solon dressed as the endangered silvery minnow native to N.M. and the Rio Grande.

Details of the inside of the Green Machine. According to Schichtel, “The vehicle was purchased in 2016 by her and her father to create a tiny house together from it. Shortly after acquiring it, Endion's father died unexpectedly, and they never completed the project.  Through processing her grief and a diagnosis of climate anxiety, Schichtel found a new vision for the vehicle. With endless love & support from family and community, the Green Machine came into being and is ever evolving.”

Oliver Hilchey, 4, and Eric Hilchey look at the carousel inside the Green Machine. It is the hope of Schichtel and fellow Conservation Carnivale artists for the space to raise questions and awareness for children and adults.  

Left, details of Lindsay Brenner’s mermaid fin. Right, Brenner laughs as bubbles float past her face. Brenner part of the NM Pod Squad teamed up with Conservation Carnivale for the Tijeras Biozone event.  

Socquet peeks out to the back of the van to welcome any children and families on board the Green Machine.

Socquet as she prepares for the event at the Tijeras Biozone on July 29, 2023.  

The Conservation Carnivale carnie crew and NM Pod Squad setup to welcome children and families on board the Green Machine.

Schichtel dances with the local community after Conservation Carnivale’s performance at the Tijeras Biozone. Schichtel believes in engaging with the community to foster positive change and education for the environment.

Left, Summer Rain Solon dressed as the endangered silvery minnow native to N.M. and the Rio Grande River, Laura Itriago also known as Yogi Cayote, and Ringleader Endion Schichtel welcome families to their science performance at the Valle Del Oro National Rain Solon dressed as the endangered silvery minnow native to N.M. and the Rio Grande River performs her aerial acrobat act on Oct 14, 2023.

Left & Right, Rain Solon dressed as the endangered silvery minnow native to N.M. and the Rio Grande River performs her aerial acrobat act on Oct 14, 2023.

Margarita Quintana, Miss Mermaid New Mexico 2021-2023 and founder of the NM Pod Squad, performs her water dance act as mer person of the Rio Grande at Valle del Oro National Wildlife Refuge on Oct 14, 2023. Quintana hopes her performance encourages and reminds people to “conserve and preserve our precious water resources.”  

Schichtel looks up at the sun for the solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023.  

Schichtel, left and attendees of the solar eclipse at the Valle Del Oro Wildlife Refuge, can be seen from the interior of “The Green Machine.”

Schichtel and Quintana look up at the solar eclipse at the Valle del Oro Wildlife Refuge on Oct. 14, 2023.