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ZANE IN VAIN
I think you and I must have attended two different ARTfeasts [Zane's World, March 1:
]. I must have dropped in on 15 galleries that Friday night and contrary to your view, I don't remember a single gallery or chef who seemed to "begrudgingly bear it until the damn thing is over." Actually what I remember most about ARTfeast is smiling faces, beautiful work and some outstanding tapas. Sorry you missed it. Next year maybe they should serve up cynical art critic, slightly bitter, served au flambe, a la Zozobra. Let's do it for the kids!
David Cox
Glorieta
HITTING THE SPOT
I am very appreciative of Gwyneth Doland's interview of Dr. Robin Taylor in your February Valentine issue and of the article about Deborah Sundahl [Love & Sex 2006, Feb 8:
and
]. However, Robin Taylor is not the only sexologist working in Santa Fe. Because I keep a low profile neither Gwyneth nor Robin may have been aware of my existence although Deborah and I have known each other for many years. I am co-author of the New York Times best-selling book,
The G Spot and Other Discoveries About Human Sexuality
(recently reissued after more than 20 years) as well as a diplomate in sex therapy. Licensed as a psychologist in New Mexico, I have a private practice in Santa Fe and also serve on the staff of the Pastoral Counseling Center.
Alice K Ladas, Ed.D
Santa Fe
TALE-TALE SIGNS
Greetings from "Dreary Erie"! I have come to Santa Fe several times in the last four years piggy-backing my daughter who will graduate from College of Santa Fe this May. After the initial unveiling of the fairy-tale Santa Fe, I see not "A Tale of Two Cities," but rather "A City of Two Tales"-that is, of Indians and Spaniards [Cover story, March 1:
]. Ironically the Spanish attempt to unify the original Indian pueblos paved the way to the present undercurrent of social and economic cleavage not easily visible to tourists' eyes. I see it's becoming a city of two tales whose mutual audiences are too hungry to listen to each other. One group came in search for their food for souls in the desolate desert beauty in order to cleanse themselves of the soils of the ultra-civilized world outside, whose convenience they could never totally abandon. The other was mostly already here but with their "permaculture" lost to the colonization, they became hungry, literally, so their serving these soul-seekers who needed unconditional re-nurturing helped them survive. The latter became the invisible vehicle for the former and Santa Fe progressed thus-a culturally presentable city at a high cost of social and economic dysfunctionality beneath. While it is important to listen to the tales of why they are here, no one seems to pause and listen to the silent tale of their pre-pueblo ancestors above and beneath this awesome desert landscape that had raised its foundation in the first place. While many artists have evoked such spirits in their works (as I believe we are carriers of such spirits), why aren't Santa Feans listening to their voices deep inside themselves and letting them guide their footing in the right direction-together as one? Embrace this; there is no need to seek more and "better" ways to harness energy. The energy is already here-trapped in the material excess and in the hearts of the suppressed and oppressed! Disperse it and it will feed the souls of the deprived either/both materially and spiritually-among beholders of both tales. Dwelling ignorantly on the train pursuing ideals of progress is just as detrimental as dwelling on the past ideal of stasis. They both have the way of polluting the landscape and its inhabitants. We need to wake up every day to move and pause with the pristine rhythm of nature like winds among piñons and sages in the Pecos Mountains and water among stones in the Santa Fe River. Have your citizens all come out with their shovels to build much needed walk/bike paths; if you build together, "they" will come again!
Soon I will be a ghost visitor to your city. But from afar, I will forever cherish your letting me savor the droplet from the sun's tilt in the desert dusk!
Keiko Takioto Miller
Mercyhurst College
Erie, PA
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