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Thursday, Mar 28th

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Local historians to sign books at Cibola Gallery

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GRANTS – Two local authors will showcase their recently-released books at an afternoon reception and book signing May 20 at Cibola Arts Council Double Six Gallery in Grants. The event will highlight different aspects of Southwest history.

Featured authors include Gallup historian Martin Link and area native Evert Clawson, currently of Bluewater Village, each looking at a different period in western history.

Evert Clawson’s Dine’ Da Hogaa, released in December 2016 by Green Ivy Publishing, is a fictional first--person account of the military life of West Point graduate Jedidiah Jenkins under the command of Southwest legend Kit Carson,  Jenkins’ experiences in what were called “The Indian Wars.” Clawson said that as a career military man involved in the taming of the West, Jenkins confronted moral difficulties. “Jed had do to things did not want to do,”  Clawson said.

The story covers Jenkins’ experiences from the fall of 1863, when at age 23 the young captain came out West, “banished” from the more civilized East, until he closes his narrative as a brigadier general in the summer of 1876.

“Dine’ Da Hogaa” translates as “Battles of the People.” Clawson, who learned “trader Navajo” at his family’s trading post in Bluewater Village, said that “the people” refers to both Apache and Navajo Nations.

Martin Link takes a more recent look at the Southwest in New Mexico Kicks on Route 66, released in October 2016 by Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, with photographs by noted Southwest photographer, Larry Lindahl. The book is divided into chapters about sections of the Mother Road, with highlights describing points of interest accessible from the the main route, such as  Acoma and Laguna as well as a chapter tracing the frequently rearranged routing of the road itself. Link said Santa Fe is covered as a suggested trip off the current path since Route 66 closely passed the capital in one of its previous configurations.

The book came about at the suggestion of the publishers who found their Arizona book about Route 66 in the Tucson area to be successful enough to encourage Link to draw on his extensive knowledge of New Mexico and team up with Lindahl to produce a New Mexico look at the most historic of highways.

The book signing is part of the gallery’s ongoing programs to promote local artists of all kinds. Writing “is part of the arts. It is real important to promote new work,” gallery Director Robert Gallegos said. “As arts council we feel responsible for promoting all the arts,”

Link and Clawson will be at the gallery, 1001 W. Santa Fe Ave, Grants, to discuss their work and sign copies of the books from 2 - 4 pm. Copies of the books will be available from purchase. The gallery beverages and light snacks. The gallery is open from 1 - 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Phone: (505) 287-7311.

By Helen Davis

Sun Correspondent