NDI-Zuni

Taaiyalone or Corn Mountain
The Pueblo of Zuni



The National Dance Institute(NDI) of New Mexico is a vibrant program. The main facilities are in Santa Fe, but the outreach program touches children throughout the state. Zuni Pueblo is 150 miles west of Albuquerque, NM and 44 miles south of Gallup. The last two weeks of April, dance instructors and musicians brought another element of arts and education to the schools. I only spent a evening there with the NDI crew, but was invigorated by the landscape and the joint NDI and Zuni spirit.

The Global Green Indigenous Film Festival

The First Global Indigenous Film Festival (GGIFF) was hosted in Santa Fe April 18th – 20th. There were 40 films from 9 different countries highlighting the state of the environment throughout indigenous communities around the world. Climate change, and its critical effect on culture, was a central theme. The National Tribal Environmental Council organized the event, with help from numerous local, national and international sponsors, including UNESCO and the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. Indigenous voices, not often heard in the mainstream media, were at the fore – which is one strength of the documentary medium, it's a ground-up, grassroots telling of personal story. It was a POWERFUL, inspiring weekend of film and discussion.

Jane Bernard Wedding Photography

Blogging about Jane because I adore and admire this amazing woman and photographer. So, who's getting married? Whether it's in Santa Fe or elsewhere, you definitely need a photographer you connect with, who respects the uniqueness of your life and love, sees and recognizes the value of preserving memories and captures the beauty in every moment. My recommendation, Jane Bernard. So, here is a link to her website, Jane Bernard Photography. Check it out!

Crozet, Virginia

Place and identity. Every time I return to Virginia, I'm reminded of who I am. I'm grateful to the landscape – the mountains, streams and open spaces that have continually given me the peace of mind to think and be still. I'm enriched by a sense of community from family, history and familiarity that exists no where else.

During this last trip home, I recognized the importance of place and place-making more then ever before. The longing to feel connected in today's increasingly isolating human environment is visceral. I too, want to be part of and participate in community. Crozet, Virginia is an inspiration.

A documentary project proposal I have in the works, called A Race to Smart Growth, will share the efforts and aspirations of the Community of Crozet to ensure its own survival. In the face of extreme growth, Crozet is vigilant in its pursuit of a new approach to and vision for community development.

Growth and patterns of development have the ability to promote community, respect place and identity or destroy it. We've all seen the destruction of place with big-box commercialization strips and sprawling subdivisions and now it's time to understand and support an alternative. Crozet, Virginia can be that case study – illuminating a dedicated community political process that insists on fundamental changes to existing sprawl policies and seeks the revitalization of healthy, sustainable, connected communities where we all want to live, work, play and protect our natural heritage.

Tara and Montey

A sweet,intimate affair on a snowy, sunny Sunday afternoon in March. Weddings always seem extra special with the surprise and beauty of the elements in Santa Fe.

Believe in yourself

I entered the apartment of Gaston Lokvig, and he turned to me as if he'd been awaiting my arrival. I introduced myself, sat down and he promptly said, "Now, can I tell you about me?"

Born in 1912 in Copenhagen, Denmark, his long life is full of story, history, award and acclaim. But, one of the first things he wanted to share was his fascination and love for animals. Listening and feeling, senses paramount to the survival of animals in the wild, offer a knowing sometimes stronger than thought.







I wondered, in this stage in life, what he felt he had left to learn and he answered,

"Patience. Have time to listen. First of all, you only learn by listening, and looking and thinking. Use your own brain to the best."

It's so amazing to be around someone who has an undying, overflowing love and reverence for life. If you're ever questioning, worrying, doubting, he would be the perfect person to sit with as he tells you,

Camayo Cruise – A Journey through Song

Six days, February 3 – 10th. A festival at sea!
Cruising from Miami to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios with Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Brandi Carlile and my friend and creative collaborator, Mr. Paul Ingles. There are so many stories, emotions, memories that are articulated and linger in songs.
Check out this SLIDE SHOW!!