Last month, I told you that I grew up in two worlds: our family's ranch in Nambe, NM, but mostly in Los Alamos because my father worked on the Manhattan Project. As a small child, living in this stark, military, top-secret compound / city was very strange to me.

I remember our house had dark, heavy curtains, and every now and then we had to close them completely to block out the light coming from our home. At the time, I didn't know why, but looking back I'm sure it was to hide the town from a possible air attack.

Heavily guarded and secretive - that's what Los Alamos was like back then. For example, there was a top-secret group of buildings called Tech Area. To get in, you had to pass through guard towers that were always manned with soldiers bearing guns. No one got in or out without being checked and cleared. Well...at some point when I was 8 or 9 years old, they moved Tech Area to another location, and the guard towers were abandoned. My friends and I thought, "Wow! This would be a neat clubhouse!"

We moved in - brought drawings, snacks, blankets and such, thinking this was the coolest thing ever. The next thing I knew, the FBI was at our house investigating who had infiltrated the guardhouse! It was a big deal. My father was interrogated by the FBI, and I got in a LOT of trouble. Eventually, they realized we were just children having fun, and the possible "threat to national security" went away.

So you can imagine what holidays were like. If we wanted to have family or friends visit, we had to apply a month in advance so they could be checked, cleared and receive a pass to enter the city. We had relatives visit, but it wasn't exactly easy for them!

The holidays were magical, festive and fun, and they still are today. I hope all of you will have a peaceful and wonderful holiday season with your loved ones.

30x40 Paintings 20% Off In December

Here are currently available 30x40 paintings. Normally retailing for $7,000, during December all 30x40 works are discounted to $5,600. To inquire or request a photo, please contact Ed at 575-770-6360 or edsandovalart@gmail.com.

Featured Collector

For about 80 years (give or take), my extended family has spent a great deal of time in the Southwest - especially Taos. Each generation's appreciation of the people, culture, landscape, architecture and art was passed to the next. Enthralled by the desert beauty of this "land of enchantment," many of us also became avid collectors of Southwest art, including paintings, pottery, Navajo rugs, kachinas and baskets.

Because we have been coming to Taos for so many years, our family has been fortunate to collect paintings by some of the great masters, such as Joseph Sharp, Bert Phillips, Ernest Blumenschein, E.I. Couse, Oscar Berninghaus, Walter Ufer, Victor Higgins and E. Martin Hennings. Several of us (including myself) also collect Ed's work - his paintings adorn our walls right next to the masters, as they should.

Pictured are six paintings that I have acquired over the past decade. I adore each and every one, and even after ten years I find myself staring at their beauty. They remind me of my love for the Southwest, connect me to my roots and family, soothe any worrisome thoughts that I might have and inspire my imagination. Ed has received numerous awards for his unique, boldly colorful and masterful style, but I fervently believe that there will be much more recognition to come. He shares his talent so openly and honestly. I for one am grateful, and I will continue to acquire more of his beauty in the future.

Anonymous