Karen Chase, in a conversation with her son, Axle Contemporary co-founder Matthew Chase-Daniel, discussed and read from her book Two Tales: Jamali Kamali and ZundelState. Each story explores forbidden love, one in 16th-century India, the other 1000 years into the future in a repressive land where history is banned, and dreaming has vanished.

Another extraordinary night of storytelling, connection, and community brought to you by CWB, Santa Fe Library, and the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library. From Pescadero Beach to the atolls of Fiji, from war zones and the streets of Baltimore to the Santa Fe Symphony, and from Texas to Tinkertown, Lisa Harris, Natachee Momaday Gray, Roxy Podlogar, Carla Ward, Richard White, and Will Whiteman shared their adventurous lives.

Reading their poems, many written in the 80s, Demetria Martínez and Susan Sherman reminded us why poets are seers and why artists matter! Their words cut through time, offering clarity, resistance, hope and possibility, lighting the way for new generations.

The creativity of Jean Seth—founder of the first art gallery on Canyon Road—lives on fiercely in her daughters, Sandy and Laurie. Together on stage at CWB, they brought Sandy’s poetry to life before an audience of family and friends. With the book's illustrator and one of the people Jean gave a start in her career, Valerie Graves, in attendance, Sandy and Laurie wove family lore and a deep appreciation for the natural world into a heartwarming evening of poetry.

The joy of welcoming Joy Harjo to the CWB stage is truly immeasurable, and Saturday afternoon was no exception. The former U.S. Poet Laureate (2019–2022) joined us to celebrate Indian Market, sharing readings from her latest releases and previewing new poetry soon to be published. The standing-room-only crowd was captivated, and Joy also signed additional copies of her books—perfect gifts for readers of all ages. Stop by and pick up a copy (or two) while supplies last!

It was a true gift to be in the audience for such a creative and moving evening. Stephanie delivered a powerful presentation on the transformative power of art, sharing stories from her travels that brought the voices of women she met vividly into the room. Through their words, we were reminded why art can be enough. Santa Fe’s own Myra Krien—dance artist, international performer, mentor, choreographer, and teacher of bellydance—who is featured in the book, danced for us and shared her journey of living an artful life, fulfilling her destiny in doing so. She invited several women from the audience to the stage—each one a testament to how art is lived and shared in our community every day. Cover image: courtesy of Stephanie Elizondo Griest

Mariah Blake’s conversation with Global Santa Fe Program Chair Jim Falk was both alarming and deeply illuminating. With roots in New Mexico, Mariah brought local relevance to her gripping investigation into the chemical industry’s decades-long campaign to obscure the dangers of PFAS—so-called "forever chemicals" that persist in our bodies and environment. Found in everything from Gore-Tex clothing to sunscreen and even drinking water, these toxins are now nearly impossible to avoid. She also drew a sobering through-line back to New Mexico’s role in the Manhattan Project, whose legacy of toxic secrecy and environmental fallout set a precedent for the chemical industry’s impunity today.

Discussing serial killers is never easy, but Caroline Fraser and Alex Heard delved into a riveting conversation that unpacked Fraser’s groundbreaking investigation into a chilling link—the environmental toxins released by smelters in the towns where many serial killers were raised. Their exchange shed new light on the intersection of environmental degradation and its effects on our bodies. (The recording starts 3 minutes in - apologies that the introductions weren't recorded, technical glitch.)

Thank you to the Santa Fe Master Gardeners for co-sponsoring a wonderful evening with landscape designer, garden writer, teacher, and activist Judith Phillips. Her engaging and informative presentation offered practical insights on harvesting water, selecting the right plants for the right places, and working in harmony with nature to create thriving oases in our desert landscape.