Benefit book event alert | Into the Great White Sands | 18 August, 2018 | Santa Fe, NM

National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is pleased to present the book launch and signing of Into the Great White Sands: Photographs by Craig Varjabedian from the University of New Mexico Press. This beautiful coffee table book captures spectacular images from one of our state’s most unique natural wonders: White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico.

NPCA is particularly excited that Senator Martin Heinrich has introduced legislation to elevate this extraordinary landscape from a national monument to a national park. “White Sands is a unique destination that people travel from around the world to experience, and is deserving of national park status,” said NPCA’s New Mexico program manager Ernie Atencio. “He didn’t plan it this way, but Craig’s book is beautifully timed to coincide and celebrate this new national park designation.”

The photographs are enriched by essays from poet/author Jeanetta Calhoun Mish, former White Sands National Monument superintendent Dennis Ditmanson, former White Sands Missile Range public affairs officer Jim Eckles, the book’s editor John Byram and Craig Varjabedian showing a selection of his favorite photographs. Master of Ceremonies for the event will be actor Arthur RedCloud from the film The Revenant.

“Like many artists, I came to New Mexico because I had heard about its extraordinary light. . . From the beautiful color of the predawn light to the almost psychedelic sunsets—in fact throughout the day—the light at White Sands seldom disappoints,”  from Craig Varjabedian’s essay, Into the Great Light

Award-winning photographer Varjabedian will present a selection of his photographs on the big screen, exploring the motivations and stories behind his images of this 275-square-mile unique gypsum dune field, and each of the authors will read from their essays. Atencio will speak about NPCA’s park protection work in New Mexico and across the Southwest. A portion of the proceeds from the book sales will go to support NPCA’s work to protect national parks and monuments.

WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 2018, 2:00 pm
WHERE: Jean Cocteau Cinema, 418 Montezuma Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87501

The event is being presented on the weekend of the famed Indian Market.  I hope you can join us.