Remarkable Women of Taos: A Year Long Community-wide Celebration Honoring Outstanding Taosenas - Paperback

by Liz Cunningham (Editor), Various (Author)

How is it that one small mountain town in northern New Mexico has succeeded in attracting and sustaining so many remarkable women over the years? This central question is at the heart of this exciting new celebratory book, The Remarkable Women of Taos.This book is the natural outgrowth of an unprecedented year-long community celebration honoring outstanding historic and contemporary women of Taos. The 167 women portrayed here share their passions, accomplishments, and advice - as well as their stories of challenges overcome. Taken together, these narratives provide a sampling of the breadth and depth of the remarkable women who call Taos home.From Mabel Dodge Luhan and Agnes Martin to Sherrie McGraw, Corina Santistevan and Sharon Dry Flower Reyna of today, Remarkable Women reveals the centuries-long role women have played in shaping this one-of-a-kind community.

Author Biography

Liz's love affair with the American West started in college when she worked as city weed controller in Nebraska and horse and people wrangler in Colorado. As curator for The Anschutz Collection (1981-1994), she organized and circulated an assemblage of premier paintings of the American West. The exhibition toured throughout the United States, to cities in Europe, and to parts of China and the former Soviet Union. In 1994 Liz moved to Taos. Her writing career blossomed, culminating in the award-winning book, In Contemporary Rhythm: The Art of Ernest L. Blumenschein, the definitive volume on this Taos art colony co-founder. The story of women in and of the American West has interested her since 1985. Some years ago, she gave several lectures on "Leading Ladies of Taos." Fascinated by the remarkable women who founded cultural institutions in New Mexico, Liz researched the lives and contributions of Lucy Harwood, Mary and Helen Blumenschein, Helene Wurlitzer, Millicent Rogers and Mabel Dodge Luhan. As an extension of her research and writing pursuits, she now hosts the blog "Mabel Dodge Luhan and the Remarkable Women of Taos". The blog became the catalyst for the Town of Taos theme for 2012, a year-long recognition and celebration of remarkable Taos women. Liz wrote profiles (short biographies) of over 30 women for the Town of Taos Remarkable Women website and serves as facilitator for events around this theme. She is currently polishing her manuscript Stones Into Bread: The Lives and Letters of Peggy Pond Church and Corina Aurora Santistevan, Two Women of New Mexico for publication.