Author, historian and storyteller Nasario García shares tales of yesteryear based on his personal experiences in rural New Mexico in the Wild at Heart: Ernest Thompson Seton exhibition space. This family event is free with museum admission (children are always free).
García, a native of the Rio Puerco Valley southeast of Chaco Canyon, turns to two of his books for inspiration at this event: Rattling Chains and Other Stories for Children, and The Naked Rainbow and Other Stories, both written in Spanish and English.
The tales are based on his personal experiences or stories he heard and illustrate the vibrant culture of rural northern New Mexico and its inhabitants – especially women, whose compassion, willfulness, humor, observation, and spirit reflect the rich heritage of the environment that inspired their creation. Some of García's characters proclaim their goodness and live on to enjoy that righteousness; others fall victim to the shortcomings of human nature. Regardless, laughter, empathy, and introspection are the common threads that connect these wonderful stories to one another.
García originally wrote these tales in his native tongue, Spanish, and later translated them into English. He has published 10 books on Hispanic folklore and the oral history of northern New Mexico and for three decades has dedicated his time to the preservation of New Mexico’s Hispanic culture and language. A popular lecturer and reader, García holds a doctorate in 19th-century Spanish literature. He formerly taught at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas and lives in Santa Fe.
Download a high-resolution image of a Seton painting by clicking on "Go to related image" below.
