Awakening In Taos - (831) 402-1373

Awakening In Taos is an independent documentary about the extraordinary life of Mabel Dodge Luhan intended for PBS broadcast: www.AwakeningInTaos.com

Mabel Dodge’s life changed significantly when, in 1910 at the Paris salon of Leo and Gertrude Stein she met Picasso, Matisse and European Modernist artists, writers and social activists. After she moved to Greenwich Village in 1913, she began her own salons, attracting the Avant-Garde of America, and early proponents for women’s rights like Margaret Sanger – the mother of modern birth control. Mabel became one of the sponsors involved with the Armory Show, the most important exhibition of modern art in the 20th century. Her home and salons were the hub for artists, actors, writers, intellectuals and American social activists.

Then, in 1917 Mabel Dodge moved from Greenwich Village to Taos, New Mexico. Where she hosted many more writers, artists, photographers and influential thinkers at her 22 room home in Taos. Her guests included Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, D.H. Lawrence and many others. She served as a creative catalyst in the lives and careers of diverse artists and creative people who were fostered by her spirit.

This is also the love story about a 40-year love affair and marriage that overcame the odds for Mabel Dodge, an Anglo-American, and Antonio Lujan, a remarkable full-blooded Tiwa Indian and Taos Pueblo man.

Luhan was passionate and vocal about social and environmental issues during the 1910’s, 20’s and 30’s. As a writer and columnist for the Hearst newspapers, she had a national audience for her ideas. The issues that commanded her attention back then, are the same issues that we must confront and understand in our world today: Gender equality, vanishing wilderness, living sustainably, creating inclusive communities, building bridges between races and cultures, finding the balance between modern living, creative expression and spirituality.

This project has been a labor of love for Producer/Director Mark Gordon, and the Co-Producers of Awakening in Taos. It is our first hour-long documentary in a series about Women Who Made a Difference. The Awakening In Taos, LLC team is a consortium of independent filmmakers and creative problem solvers based in California, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico:

Our Co-Producers include Tom McCarthy, a veteran New Mexico Filmmaker, Katie Peters and Pat Hall creative directors of HD Solutions - a Santa Fe Film/Video Company, and Jill Drinkwater the conceptual inspiration, researcher and creative catalyst behind the scenes. Our director of cinematographer is Bob Willis, veteran New Mexico filmmaker and owner of The Image Exchange in Albuquerque. Together we form a collaborative union of kindred spirits working together to produce meaningful programs that inform and inspire a wide audience. Awakening in Taos is a remarkable story that is unique to New Mexico. It tells a tale of national and international interest.

PBS AFFILIATION:
We have partnered with Albuquerque PBS station KNME and Executive Producer Michael Kamins (Painting Taos, Balloon Fiesta, Commitment to Peace, and numerous other nationally released documentaries ) to co-create and supervise the production quality of this project. Through the help of KNME, we will seek national broadcast distribution through PBS stations. PBS is unable to fund the production of this documentary.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment,Community Organization,Movie & Television Studio