SantaFe.com

Über-trader J.L. Hubbell played magician to the striking colors and designs that became the Navajo rugs we see today.

Or so goes the Southwestern legend that has been propagated by books and pamphlets professing to delve into the origins of Navajo weaving.

As is usually the case, the truth is much more complex than the myth would allow, author Teresa Wilkins argues in her book “Patterns of Exchange: Navajo Weavers and Traders,” (2008, University of Oklahoma Press).

“Certainly the traders played a role in that, but the weavers did as well. Families developed their own distinctive styles,”...

Saturday, June 28, 2008
by Kathaleen Roberts • Journal Santa Fe

In 1890, about 900 Zuni Pueblo women coiled pottery from local clay, painted it with yucca leaves using natural pigments and fired it in a traditional dung-fueled oven.

By 1930, about 15 potters were left. Today, 35 artists still make these distinctive bowls and jars with roots dating back 1,000 years.

Dwight Lanmon and Francis Harlow have documented this historic decline and revival in “The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo,” (Museum of New Mexico Press), a 600-page doorstop of a book packed with 1,200 photographs of Zuni artists and their work. Lanmon will give a slide talk and book signing at the...

Saturday, June 21, 2008
by Kathaleen Roberts • Journal Santa Fe

May 14, 2008 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Author and actor Mike Farrell will appear at Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe on Wednesday, May 14th at 5:30 PM to read from and sign copies of his new book, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist.

From its opening pages, Farrell's new memoir reveals the distinctive voice of a man for whom life is an ongoing odyssey of self-discovery, personal commitment, and uncompromising social engagement.

With deep insight and disarming candor, Farrell describes his early years as a timid but restless teenager in West Hollywood, delivering groceries to the homes of countless

Bestselling author Deborah Madison and world-renowned Santa Fe chef John Vollertsen, among many talented others, will appear at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market as part of Collected Works Bookstore’s on-going summer series, Books at the Market. On select Saturdays from 9:00AM-Noon, authors will read from and sign copies of their new books. As always, 50% of the profits support the Farmers Market. For more information, visit www.collectedworksbookstore.com and follow the link “Books at the Market”.

The Santa Fe Farmers Market represents over 100 active vendors and features hundreds of different...

June 7, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

A bold and eye-opening new book of magnificent photos, unforgettable stories and exotic home-cooking from the most ethnically diverse, geographically varied and intriguing regions of China, Beyond the Great Wall is a must-have for every food lover and an inspiration for cooks and armchair travellers alike. Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid’s previous books have won numerous awards. Their most recent book was Mangoes and Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels through the Great Subcontinent. They live in Toronto with their two sons.

June 28, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Closing the Food Gap tells the story of how we get our food: from poor people at food pantries or bodegas and convenience stores to the more comfortable classes, who increasingly seek out organic and local products. Winne’s exploration starts in the 1960s, when domestic poverty was “rediscovered,” and shows how communities since that time have responded to malnutrition with a slew of strategies and methods. For twenty-five years Mark Winne was the executive director of the Hartford Food System in Hartford, Connecticut. He now writes, speaks, and consults extensively on community food system...

July 12, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Deborah Madison says, “ Local Flavors captures what I am most passionate about, the experience of buying directly from those who grow our food, the special character of local foods, and the joy of cooking them. Three premises apply to the recipes in this book: One, that foods in season together taste good together; two, that when ingredients are well grown and fresh, our efforts in the kitchen diminish greatly; and three, in season is where you live. The recipes are therefore very straightforward, reflecting the possibilities of the market's offerings rather than artificial contrivances.”...

July 19, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Artisan Farming focuses on the unique farming culture of New Mexico. Laden with rich photos, ripe with human interest stories, and bounteous with tantalizing recipes, Artisan Farming explores this state's one-of-a-kind agricultural heritage and the revival of traditional, organic, and "artisan" farming. Richard Harris is the author of 36 travel guidebooks and history books. A gourmet cook, he lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he is president of the New Mexico Book Association. Lisa Fox is the host and producer of Farming in Season, an interview show broadcast on Taos public radio. She...

July 26, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

As America's desire for local, natural ingredients continues to grow, Ivy Manning offers this spectacular collection of recipes organized by season, including special dishes from some of the most touted Northwest chefs and restaurants that have made their marks using the freshest local ingredients. Wherever your market is found, declare your allegiance to the localtarian movement! With full- color photographs and more than 100 recipes, think globally but eat locally with this attractive, sophisticated, and satisfying cookbook. Ivy Manning is a chef, cooking teacher, and food writer based in...

August 9, 2008 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

With its rich culinary history, Santa Fe serves as Mecca for "foodies" worldwide and Chef and Las Cosas Cooking School Director, Johnny Vee, is no exception. His new book teaches the basics of cooking and provides recipes that are not only fun, but are a joy to entertain with. Cooking with Johnny Vee is filled to the brim with unique and delicious recipes, full-color photography, useful tips, menus for entertaining, and a section on stocking the pantry. Chef John Vollertsen ("Johnny Vee") is director and creator of the Las Cosas Cooking School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has taught cooking...