The Searchlight Gold Beam is a yearly publication in which we investigate the cultural, ecological and historical treasures of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument area and beyond, to orient visitors and keep them safe and respectful while exploring the tip of Southern Nevada, and to build new connections within and between our local rural, tribal and urban communities.
ABOUT THIS ISSUE: What unscene systems are connecting everything together in this beautiful place we call Avi Kwa Ame National Monument? What delicate influences create a Joshua tree heavy with fruit, tie a family to their home, or introduce a new species to the landscape? How are we, visitors and locals, bound to each other — to earth and sky and community, and to this time and space?
Countless elements make up what we now know of as the East Mojave. In this issue, we explore the linkages between and within this marvelous ecosystem, map movements across the broader Southwestern region, look for pathways between cultures, stories and timelines, and describe a small portion of the endless chain of influence at work on this fascinating desert world.
The visual style for this issue is inspired by book design from the 1930s (that’s almost 100 years ago, folks!), when text was straightforward, fonts were bold, and adventure books that romanticized the American desert west abounded, populated with colorized photos, line drawings and color block illustrations that evoked the wonders of the western landscape. We’re pretty fond of this landscape too, and hope you enjoy this tribute from 15 contributing authors and 13 illustrators.
Published in 2025
74 pages
The Friends of Avi Kwa Ame pop up shop is only open through Sunday, December 7th—all orders will ship via the USPS during the following week, in time for the holidays. Thank you for your patience and for your love of public lands!
The Searchlight Gold Beam is a yearly publication in which we investigate the cultural, ecological and historical treasures of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument area and beyond, to orient visitors and keep them safe and respectful while exploring the tip of Southern Nevada, and to build new connections within and between our local rural, tribal and urban communities.
ABOUT THIS ISSUE: What unscene systems are connecting everything together in this beautiful place we call Avi Kwa Ame National Monument? What delicate influences create a Joshua tree heavy with fruit, tie a family to their home, or introduce a new species to the landscape? How are we, visitors and locals, bound to each other — to earth and sky and community, and to this time and space?
Countless elements make up what we now know of as the East Mojave. In this issue, we explore the linkages between and within this marvelous ecosystem, map movements across the broader Southwestern region, look for pathways between cultures, stories and timelines, and describe a small portion of the endless chain of influence at work on this fascinating desert world.
The visual style for this issue is inspired by book design from the 1930s (that’s almost 100 years ago, folks!), when text was straightforward, fonts were bold, and adventure books that romanticized the American desert west abounded, populated with colorized photos, line drawings and color block illustrations that evoked the wonders of the western landscape. We’re pretty fond of this landscape too, and hope you enjoy this tribute from 15 contributing authors and 13 illustrators.
Published in 2025
74 pages
The Friends of Avi Kwa Ame pop up shop is only open through Sunday, December 7th—all orders will ship via the USPS during the following week, in time for the holidays. Thank you for your patience and for your love of public lands!
