The Desert is no Lady. Women artists of the American South West - ACE275.4

Early 20th century railway films. VO Rubenstein. Film from 1940s of scientists at Los Alamos. Desert scenes. Rubenstein on a myth of "the death of the world…" being enacted next to the pueblo where another myth of the end of the world was in progress. Rubenstein VO on end and beginning, on repeating of events (pueblo idea) versus the "end" as propagated by Judaeo-Germanic belief. A photographic work incorporating picture of Indians as well as pictures of Jewish scientists who left Europe, fearing that Hitler would destroy the world with an atomic bomb and wanting to make one faster than he could. VO continues: Oppenheimer knew that an event of Biblical proportions was necessary, that such an event could happen in the desert. Scenes of scientists, film of atomic explosions. Rubenstein’s photographic show. Rubenstein’s montage techniques. Her VO explains that this is the only way she can piece together the multitude of parts she’s dealing with in terms of time, place, culture, etc. Rubenstein’s VO continues over images of serpents from rock art; the importance of the serpent in pueblo life, its connection to water; it’s generally peaceful but can cause devastation in times of trouble. Rubenstein’s photographic show, and individual images from it. Rubenstein VO talks about subverting the idea of Indians as intuitive and scientists as intellectuals, looking at scientific activity as intuitive ritual and the pueblo world as a different intelligence, and about bridging the two extremes. Morse on the mountain road. Landscapes and buildings. Paintings and religious art. Pueblo buildings, people, some paintings. VO of Pola Lopez de Jaramillo, describing painting titled Who Wins this Game. Local culture is much about the legacy of the Conquistadores; the painting represents different cultural groups, or labels, Latino, Chicano, Mestizo, etc. Lopez de Jaramillo, wondering how and where she fitted into these labels, as she’s been described by all of them at one time or another. Pat Mora believes that being a mestiza, the product of two different cultures, is a great strength, but can also give rise to conflict. Mora reading a poem over viewings of buildings, desert landscapes, and a wall of photographs: "We do not travel alone; our people burn deep within us".