The rising
of the sun …
the going down
of the same …
the trill of a
mountain
sparrow
has rhythm …
as does art,
life, nature and
work.


Now, in our second year sixth issue, the Desert Candle continues the beat. Eve Trook (lawyer, weaver, and Candle associate editor) is now a senior editor; Lori Keyes (English instructor at Sul Ross State University) keeps the office running as advertising and office manager; Wendy Lynn Wright (Marfa artist) continues as production manager; and Roy Hamric (former UT and Baylor professor and editor of The Desert-Mountain Times) has served as a managing editor for the Fall issue.

The Candle provides a venue for good writing. Bob Miles, Lonn Taylor and Dennie Miller head the ranks of regular contributing writers. Bret Myers continues as artist/illustrator, and we add Mark Kneeskern, who works from his studio in Terlingua. The criterion for writers is that their text fits Far West Texas. In this issue Charles Reins glimpses notable visitors; Dennie Miller presents Folk of Far West Texas; Elizabeth McBride profiles a noted print maker; Ira Blanton tells of long-time residents; Carol Edwards describes Hummingbird activities; L. Martini pens poetry; Clay Reynolds gives a Texas book review; and Dan Logan furnishes clues to The Lost Sephardic Jews of Mexico. We also introduce Terry LaBorde, a new writer of fiction, with The Old Man and the Virgin.

The Desert Candle is not a publication for drumbeaters or axe grinders. We seek to raise the banner for creative enthusiasm and intellectual engagement with the authenticity of Far West Texas. The first Candle (Fall 1967 – Fall 2003) was owned and published by Judith Brueske of Alpine. She created a folksy, informative publication that she distributed quarterly for 17 years.

The Desert Candle was purchased from Judith in the summer of 2003. It emerged as the quarterly publication of a newly formed nonprofit literary arts organization, The Desert Mountain Institute, with the first issue in Spring 2004.

Kay Taylor Burnett
Editor


Download the entire Fall 2005 Desert Candle in PDF format.


Kay Taylor Burnett  Introduction

Terry LaBorde  The Old Man and the Virgin Bret Myers Illustrations

Carol Edwards  The Lore and Lure of Hummingbirds

Dan Logan  The Lost Sephardic Jews of Mexico

Charles Reins  When Mario Lanza and Woody Guthrie came to Big Bend

Dennie Miller  FOLKS OF FAR WEST TEXAS

Clay Reynolds  BOOK REVIEW: Lone Star Chapters: The Story of Texas Literary Clubs by Betty Holland Wiesepape

Bob Miles  FOLKLORE: Alsate – Last of the Chisos Apaches

TRANS PECOS EVENTS CALENDAR/FAR WEST TEXAS QUIZ

L. Martini  POETRY Mark Kneeskern Illustrations

Lonn Taylor  Hunter-gatherer Campsite Discovery

Tom Fullerton  Cowboy Goin’ Home Broke Again

Ira Blanton  The Yates Legacy: Lore, Legend, and Longhorns

Elizabeth McBride  ART REVIEW: Robert Arber: Marfa’s master print maker

Laura Long  Ars Poetica of a Desert Dweller / Falling Sideways into Grace

Far West Texas Quiz Answers