Bücher veröffentlicht von Sunstone Press

A moving van filled with eleven Wassily Kandinsky paintings stolen from Munich's famous Lenbach House Museum during a violent neo-Nazi demonstration is hijacked in Slovakia. Two rival Kandinsky collectors appear to be involved: Igor Rasputin of Odessa, visiting in Munich, and Boris Zima of Moscow, whose agent Raisa Sokolova is keeping tabs on Rasputin. Puzzlingly, the museum adamantly declares there has been no theft, even though its night watchman has been found murdered. Also visiting Munich is retired art history professor Megan Crespi, slated to give a lecture she titles, curiously enough, "Double Kandinsky." In between visits to "mad" King Ludwig's fantasy castles, Megan comes into contact with possible suspects, ranging from Rasputin to Iris and Laszlo Togarassy, owners of Munich's new The Blue Rider gallery featuring Kandinsky's works, to Katrina Keller, associate director of the Lenbach. Manipulating events connected with the theft are a young, careless gambler who owns a building behind the Lenbach, two men from the Ukrainian island of Amiinyi-one a computer wizard, the other a science photographer-and their Munich engineer friend Alyksandr Miesel, neo-Nazi leader Walter Krankenhauer, and Detective Dieter Löser. Crespi's lecture, including results of state-of-the-art XRF technology, becomes the revelatory preamble to a thrilling denouement that cracks the Kandinsky conundrum.Includes a Readers Guide.

Everyone was in for a surprise in 1909 when New Mexico declared open the Spanish American Normal School at El Rito. The school had been founded to train teachers for the vast region of the "e;Rio Arriba"e; in which there were few schools and the citizenry still did not speak English, sixty years after becoming a territory of the United States. The Territory of New Mexico, in quest of statehood, had decided that fluency of its people in English would earn it the right to become one of the Forty-eight, which it did three years later. State and school officials were dismayed that few students were sufficiently prepared to become teachers. First, most had to learn to cipher and to read and write. The region's geographic isolation, scant means of communication, and lack of roadways rendered it impossible for anyone to make the proper estimate of educational need, it turned out. But the school's students soon discovered how much they liked the Normal School, and how willing the school was to meet their educational need. Although the Normal School trained as many as one hundred teachers in the first decades, in time it became an elementary and high school with strong traditions and loyal students. As a boarding campus, the Normal School attracted students from throughout New Mexico, many at a very young age. Children of the Normal School recount how unity of spirit created a new culture of Americans that few knew about, and how their esprit was built on mutual esteem and shared belief.

John Gaw Meem was one of New Mexico's most renowned architects and his legacy is in part his contribution to the preservation and renewal of historic American Southwestern architecture. Because of his interest in the preservation, restoration and revival of this architecture, one of his major contributions was the design of a group of Spanish Pueblo Style buildings at the University of New Mexico. Today, Meem's Zimmerman Library remains a centerpiece for his designs on the campus. The archives of the Meem Room in the library contain a wealth of drawings done by Meem and this book lauds Meem's substantial use of crafted ornamentation and details such as gates, doors, corbels, fireplaces, metal work and light fixtures, and shows his sensitivity to the cultural environment he in turn contributed so much to as an example for homeowners, builders, and designers everywhere.

Researching for her book on 19th-century virtuoso pianist Clara Schumann and her eight children, Professor Megan Crespi encounters startling hatred or praise for them and for Clara's composer husband Robert. These strong reactions come in the form of grave vandalism, outrageous graffiti on Schumann museums across Germany, in Switzerland and Vienna, and even murder. Why? Megan's travel companion is her sister-in-law Susan, a pediatrician whose expertise becomes crucial for the thirteen-year-old Italian child prodigy Stella Scarpauomo, referred to by the press as "the twenty-first-century Clara Schumann." Disparate characters include three dedicated detectives, two Viennese widows who are founders of the local Clara Schumann Society, and two Schumann museum directors, one helpful, the other easily annoyed. Also involved are a wacky Schumann archivist, a patroness of the arts who refuses to use one of her two surnames, and a brilliant young pianist from Liberia whose promising career has veered from that of performing artist to assistant piano tuner. Will Crespi and the detectives put the dangerous jigsaw puzzle together before further disaster strikes? Includes Readers Guide.

In 1998, Colorado state lawmakers mandated that American Indian history and culture be included in the curriculum of high schools in Colorado, based on the persistent efforts of Comanche State Senator Suzanne Williams. In 2003, they broadened the law mandating that in order to graduate students must satisfactorily complete a civil government course which includes the history, culture and social contributions of Indians and other groups. Yet tens of thousands of students graduate each year in the state without learning any of the information that is mandated in that single state graduation requirement. The U.S. Civil Rights Commission noted in 2018 that the "lack of appropriate cultural awareness in school curriculum focusing on Native American history or culture" can (1) be harmful to American Indian students; (2) contribute to a negative learning environment; (3) be isolating and limiting; (4) trigger bullying; and (5) result in negative stereotypes across the board. In Colorado, 81% of American Indian students don't meet state math benchmarks, 85% don't meet state science benchmarks, and 70% don't meet state English language benchmarks. Colorado's continuing neglect of Indian students by excluding anything Indian from their education is harmful. The state is denying Indian students' rights to see themselves in their education, which is necessary to ensure their academic success. The arguments made in this book are rooted in a sacred commitment to protect Indian children.

Santa Fe artist Jimmy Mackey wakes up in his studio on Canyon Road with a massive hangover. His morning gets worse when a police cruiser pulls into his parking lot next to a strange car and even worse when police find a dead woman in the trunk of the car. The dead woman turns out to be the estranged wife of the Santa Fe mayor. The ultra-sensitive case winds up in the hands of retiring police detective Fernando Lopez, the only detective with enough experience to conduct the politically fraught investigation. Lopez interviews Mackey and the artists who were drinking at Jimmy's studio the night of the murder, all deeply suspicious with flimsy alibis. He also interviews the mayor in a tense scene at City Hall. When Mackey flees Santa Fe, Lopez chases him across northern New Mexico--from haunted Ghost Ranch to the counterculture city of Taos, where he finds Mackey hiding at the home of one of his ex-wives. Before Mackey can be arrested he is shot and killed by two assassins. Suddenly the Police Chief and the Mayor want Lopez to close the case, since the main suspect is now dead. When Lopez refuses, the two assassins come after him. Lopez senses a cover-up. The case takes a surprising turn at the end, which forces Lopez to rethink his idea of justice. Includes Readers Guide

In 1961, Holm O. Bursum III led a group of enthusiastic Young Republicans (YRs) into an unprecedentedly close partnership with the senior wing of their party. From a family of prominent public servants, Bursum became a protégé of Republican Governor Edwin L. Mechem. Mechem's own political achievements a decade before were astonishing given the GOP's extreme minority position in New Mexico at the time. Building on Mechem's success, Bursum had ambitious goals for the Young Republicans: to charter active clubs throughout the state, including the predominantly Democratic east side; to do legwork for the senior party in fund-raising and campaigning, and to encourage young candidates to run for public office. His organizing and networking brought him into collegial relationships with Young Republicans like Hoyt Pattison, Richard Cheney, and Colin McMillan, who became state legislators and took on leadership positions when few of their party could get elected to the body. In his five years of Young Republican leadership, Bursum also created strong bonds nationally. Young Republican National Federation leaders such as Leonard Nadasdy sought him out, and with them, he attended a North Atlantic Conference of Young Political Leaders at the University of Oxford in 1965. In 1961, Holm O. Bursum III led a group of enthusiastic Young Republicans (YRs) into an unprecedentedly close partnership with the senior wing of their party. From a family of prominent public servants, Bursum became a protégé of Republican Governor Edwin L. Mechem. Mechem's own political achievements a decade before were astonishing given the GOP's extreme minority position in New Mexico at the time. Building on Mechem's success, Bursum had ambitious goals for the Young Republicans: to charter active clubs throughout the state, including the predominantly Democratic east side; to do legwork for the senior party in fund-raising and campaigning, and to encourage young candidates to run for public office. His organizing and networking brought him into collegial relationships with Young Republicans like Hoyt Pattison, Richard Cheney, and Colin McMillan, who became state legislators and took on leadership positions when few of their party could get elected to the body. In his five years of Young Republican leadership, Bursum also created strong bonds nationally. Young Republican National Federation leaders such as Leonard Nadasdy sought him out, and with them, he attended a North Atlantic Conference of Young Political Leaders at the University of Oxford in 1965. By 1968, the fortunes of the GOP in New Mexico had changed. No longer shut out of state offices and congressional delegation seats, Republicans began to serve throughout the government. Bursum's work complemented that of fellow Young Republican David Cargo, a state representative and governor, whose reapportionment and districting efforts helped bring New Mexico closer to the one-person, one-vote principle. From 1968 forward, the two-party system in the state has become more robust than it had been in the earlier decades of the twentieth century, to the benefit of both parties and of the government itself.By 1968, the fortunes of the GOP in New Mexico had changed. No longer shut out of state offices and congressional delegation seats, Republicans began to serve throughout the government. Bursum's work complemented that of fellow Young Republican David Cargo, a state representative and governor, whose reapportionment and districting efforts helped bring New Mexico closer to the one-person, one-vote principle. From 1968 forward, the two-party system in the state has become more robust than it had been in the earlier decades of the twentieth century, to the benefit of both parties and of the government itself.

Eleven years ago, psychologist Scott Hunter departed Santa Fe totally humiliated, his life torn asunder by the betrayal of his wife Rebecca. Now, at Rebecca's request, Scott is unexpectedly returning to the scene of her betrayal to help solve the murder of her current husband Blake Martin, the man with whom she cheated on Scott. In Santa Fe, Scott reconnects with his old friend Miguel Montez, now a detective with the Santa Fe Police Department. With Scott's understanding of psychopathic behavior and Miguel's sleuthing abilities, they begin to unravel the complexities of Martin's life and nefarious business dealings. The investigation of the murder leads to a wide array of suspects, their motives, and even the cause of death. Just as one suspect is eliminated, another surfaces, making the identification of the actual killer elusive and challenging. Scott's journey takes him face-to-face with his own demons as well as the underbelly of the art world and drug scene. Working the case shakes up Scott's world and causes him to rethink everything. Includes Readers Guide.

Most movie reviews written at the time a movie comes out are inscribed by critics on stone tablets. These opinions hardly ever change even if there is discernible positive or negative reactions from movie audiences. Movie reviewers and critics are part of the movie industry and this can obstruct their objectivity. This author trained to enter that industry at USC Cinema School but instead entered another industry with a strong classical and scientific background while remaining a movie lover since age five. As time goes on, social mores change and some movies, although perhaps not the great classics, get vastly outdated. Traditional critics would still like you to see them all! But practically, how many lifetimes do you have? This author, along with his collaborator Joyce, have seen most of the movies selected for this list of 769 movies two or three times. They selected only those movies they think still speak to people today and don't put the contemporary viewer to sleep. This vetting process resulted in 336 movies they rate as "e;Classics"e; and 433 movies they rate as "e;Gems"e; in 39 movie genres (categories) covering 91 years (1929-2020). This book is a bodacious bucket list of all-time sure-fire winners, plus ideas for future movies. It is not an encyclopedic movie guide (which are generally written by committees!) or a book slanted toward foreign films or those deemed historically significant for some reason other than enjoyment and engagement for the viewer. Explore these movies and you will give yourself many fulfilling movie memories.

This is the story of the end of life journeys of two dissimilar but treasured people. One was the author's wife, Chris, who joined him on a path that brought them close to the community of people whose ancestors were among the first European settlers of New Mexico. The other, his friend, Baudelio, was the last of a long line of pioneers who found a home in the high country of northern New Mexico. The story had its final act for Chris and Baudelio at close to the same time but in far different ways: hers from the anguish of Alzheimer's, his from the slow decline after a lifetime of hard work. Other characters are the people met along the way and the places where they came together. One place was Santa Rita, the ephemeral Hispano community where they built a straw bale cabin. Another was the roadside cafe in a small town on the way to and from the remote cabin.