by Birdie Jaworski
The year 1905. Planet earth twisted through its annual elliptical path, the sun one sure comfort in a tumultuous existence. The Russian Revolution began with the slaughter of unarmed demonstrators in St. Petersburg. Albert Einstein revealed his theory of special relativity and explained the photoelectric effect by quantization. The Wright Brothers pilot the first successful half-hour aeroplane trip. …

by Birdie Jaworski
A class of nervous middle school students sat in a large circle on the United World College campus, their eyes focused on four speakers. Jeremiah Stevens, UWC Director of Alumni Relations, leaned forward, elbows on knees, and gently addressed the group.
“Today is National Coming Out Day. I’m here with members of Spectrum, an alliance of students and faculty …

by Birdie Jaworski
Las Vegas resident Cassandra Ulibarri remembers last year’s iron pour, remembers the blast of furnace heat that warmed her face and hands as she watched a faceless man in protective gear ladle molten metal into hand-carved molds filled with sand. She placed her hand near her heart as she recounted her experience designing a simple tile.
“I came to …

by Birdie Jaworski

Duffy Peterson first barreled through New Mexico in the backseat of a beat-up family car on a childhood Route 66 adventure. The twist of pinon-studded land caught her eye, placed a seed deep in her budding artistic imagination. Peterson didn’t realize how deep the roots had grown until another road trip many years later.
“My son married a girl …

by Birdie Jaworski
Susan Livermore worked as a full-time painter until her husband, artist-blacksmith Christopher Thomson, found himself in need of a strong business manager to handle the growing interest in his architectural pieces. Susan placed her paintings in a quiet corner of their sprawling home and began taking classes in business administration.
“That was 22 years ago,” Livermore laughs. “We took …

by Birdie Jaworski
Las Vegas Committee for Peace and Justice member Pat Leahan stood under the Serf Theatre marquee and waved a stuffed envelope with an angry flick of her wrist. A neon green tracking sticker covered the return address, but the last three letters in Albuquerque Mayor Chávez’s name were still visible.
“He’s a hypocrite! You heard him in that film! …