Whitney SpiveyLACD News:
Join the Los Alamos Arts Council and the Creative District at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5 at projectY cowork for Art On Tap, featuring a conversation with Whitney Spivey and Brenda Fleming, the author and illustrator of local children’s book, Goodnight, Los Alamos.
The book creators will detail their creative process to make their vision a reality, and what’s involved in the publishing business.
When first-time mom Whitney Spivey had twin daughters in March 2017, she struggled to find a Los Alamos-themed book to read them before bed. So, she wrote one.
In Goodnight, Los Alamos, two little girls say goodnight to 26 notable places and things around Los Alamos.
It starts like this:
“The sun has moved from east to west,
over the Jemez it now rests.
The brilliant display of yellow and red
lets us know it’s time for bed.”
Brenda Fleming“Books are important learning tools for young children,” Spivey said. “Via Goodnight, Los Alamos, kids can say goodnight to—and simultaneously learn about—places such as Bandelier National Monument, historic Fuller Lodge, our majestic natural arch, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.”
The book is illustrated by Los Alamos-native Brenda Fleming, who used digital charcoal and digital watercolor to bring Los Alamos to life.
“My goal with this project was to depict Los Alamos as the beautiful, historic, and lively place it is,” Fleming said. “I wanted the illustrations in this book to reflect the diverse natural beauty around us, as well as the rich culture and strong community we have.”
Goodnight, Los Alamos is a hardcover, 36-page book and costs $20. In addition to being for sale on the book tour, books also are available at the Los Alamos Cooperative Market, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), and other local businesses. Follow Goodnight, Los Alamos on Instagram @goodnightlosalamos.
More information about Art On Tap and other Arts Councils programs and events can be found at losalamosartscouncil.org and by following the Los Alamos Arts Council on Facebook.
Art On Tap is sponsored by the Los Alamos Creative District and hosted by the Los Alamos History Museum. The On Tap series begins each evening with an informal 10-15 minute lecture followed by a lively group discussion. All ages are welcome! On Tap is a way for people to get out and about in the community, learn something new, and meet people with similar interests. The “On Tap” series happens twice a month. The discussions are supported by Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos Arts Council/Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos Historical Society and PEEC at The Nature Center.
The Los Alamos Creative District is a program of Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation; a private, not-for-profit economic and community development organization serving the Los Alamos area since 1983. LACDC serves as the umbrella organization for the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, Los Alamos MainStreet, Discover Los Alamos, Los Alamos Small Business Center, Los Alamos Creative District, projectY cowork Los Alamos, and the Los Alamos Research Park.
