SFR learned about two very cool events a little too late to include in our print edition, so we thought we'd give Santa Fe a heads-up via the Web. Both events have strong ties to nature and the Earth (albeit in very different ways), so they are perfect additions to the city's Earth Day celebrations.

Below the jump, get the info on a sculpture unveiling at the College of Santa Fe, and a lecture about a solo 1,400-mile kayaking trip at Santa Fe Community College.

First up, sculptor Kathy Taslitz will be present at the unveiling of her sculpture, "Exposed," at the College of Santa Fe.  Taslitz, a renowned sculptor who exhibits regularly in Aspen, Colo., creates delicate yet strong, graceful yet earthy sculptures out of blackened bronze, inspired by the natural world (an example of her furniture line is at right). Her sculpture at the College of Santa Fe, which takes the form of a large leaf from which a woman emerges, was commissioned by an anonymous local resident who appreciates Taslitz' work. College president Larry Hinz said in a release, "Kathy Taslitz's 'Exposed' is about self-discovery and rebirth, and what an appropriate symbol for the College of Santa fe as we enthusiastically pursue the next chapter in our 151-year history." Indeed,  CSF is experiencing a form of rebirth as it grows its student population after being taken over by Laureate Education.

After the sculpture's unveiling, the Gerald Peters Gallery opens an exhibition of Taslitz' work.

KATHY TASLITZ

Unveiling:

2 pm
Thursday, April 22
Free

College of Santa Fe
1600 St. Michael's Drive
473-6011

Opening:

5:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, April 22

Through May 20

Gerald Peters Gallery
1011 Paseo de Peralta
954-5700

Also on tap for this week is a slide show and talk by local outdoorsman Darrell Gardner (at right in a photograph by Bob Burnett). Gardner is either a true adventurer or a real glutton for punishment, depending on how you look at it—he aims to travel from Mexico to Alaska both by foot and by kayak, and is documenting the whole thing on his website, Under Human Power. His adventures started in 2004, and he's since hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles), hiked "The Bridge" (connecting the PCT and the Puget Sound; 250 miles) and kayaked the Inside Passage from Seattle to Alaska (1,400 miles). This summer he plans on hiking the Yukon River (900 miles) and, in 2011, plans on "the final push," which is snowshoeing through Alaska all the way to the Arctic Ocean (500 miles).

In his talk this week, he takes attendees along on his kayaking trip of the Inside Passage, a 1,400-mile journey he made alone up the coast of Canada. By showing slides and telling stories of his journey, he treats us to an adventure that many people dream about buy very few get to (or can!) accomplish.

DARRELL GARDNER
TALK & SLIDE SHOW

7 pm
Friday, April 23

Free

Santa Fe Community College
Main Building, room 216
6401 Richards Ave.