Chasing History: Quixotic Quests for Artifacts, Art, and Heritage

A reading with writer Tomas Chavez.

Tomas Chavez, author of "New Mexico, Past and Future," reads from his latest novel "Chasing History: Quixotic Quests for Artifacts, Art, and Heritage." Based organizationally and allegorically on Miguel Cervantes' classic "Don Quixote," the true and footnoted tales in this book describe the sometimes impossible quests that are undertaken to discover, collect, and preserve artifacts, art, and heritage. This is a first-person account of life as a historian and work in cultural institutions. The nuances of fundraising, bureaucracy, and politics, that at once help and hinder the work of cultural crusaders, is told with real dates and names. The stories are serious, humorous, heartening, and, in some cases, disappointing. They tell the tale of every person who has worked and struggled in the world of education, art, and the humanities. The book intends to inspire people now and in the future to continue to struggle for the arts and humanities, for ultimately, the struggle is not chasing windmills but effecting untold numbers of people and communities positively. In the end, their work is invaluable to any enlightened society. The book is illustrated by New Mexican artist Andrew John Cecil whose inspiration came from a reading of the manuscript and an appreciation for literature and New Mexico. For additional information, contact Greta Pullen at 505-245-2261 or greta.pullen@state.nm.us.