Local artist Colleen Gino blends science, music and art

For Colleen Gino, creativity and curiosity have always gone hand in hand. A longtime Socorro resident, Gino is a photographer, musician, songwriter and former astronomy educator whose work spans from the depths of the night sky to the bright lights of the stage.

Gino moved to Socorro in 2000 to work as an operator at the Very Large Array. With a master’s degree in astronomy, she later directed a planetarium in New York before returning to New Mexico for its dark skies and open spaces.

“I loved the low population density,” Gino said. “Coming from California, it was crowded. Here, it’s beautiful, and I love nature and the dark skies.”

Her passion for astronomy sparked an interest in photography, which evolved from landscapes and weather phenomena to astrophotography and light painting. Her images, created with the help of her partner Dylan Etscorn, have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Sky & Telescope, and Astronomy Magazine. Locally, her work has been featured in New Mexico Magazine and promotional materials for Socorro and New Mexico Tech.

Light painting, one of her signature techniques, involves using long exposures and handheld lights to create vivid designs against the night sky.

“I set up my camera for a long exposure, then go into the dark with tools attached to flashlights,” she explained. “I’m there in the photo, you just don’t see me.”

But Gino’s artistry doesn’t stop at photography. She is deeply embedded in Socorro’s music scene, performing with several bands, including Flat Note Society and Fuzzy Logic. She plays drums, ukulele and sings, often collaborating with local musicians.

Gino also added playwright and composer to her résumé. She wrote and produced Horror Channel, a sung-through musical featuring 16 original songs. The show, staged at New Mexico Tech’s Macey Center, follows a woman who dozes off while watching scary movies, dreaming up a cast of vampires, werewolves and other monsters. The production blends humor, horror and heart, with musical styles ranging from rock and pop to blues and waltz.

“It was really meant to be an album,” Gino said. “Sixteen songs loosely tied together with a story about a woman who falls asleep watching the Horror Channel and dreams all these monsters.”

When she’s not writing songs or photographing the stars, Gino crafts one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces and explores Socorro’s rugged landscapes. Her multifaceted creativity reflects the town’s vibrant arts community, which she says thrives alongside its scientific institutions.

“For such a small town, we have an amazing art and music scene,” Gino said. “A lot of the professors and students at Tech are musicians. Science and art really go hand in hand.”

Gino will join musician Tom Fenton for a Beatles jam session this Sunday at Box Canyon Brewery from 5 to 7 p.m., an event she calls one of her favorites because it brings the community together.

To see more of Gino’s photography, visit www.mcgino.com