It’s a story I don’t often tell, but the one time I greeted Robert Redford—actor, director, and cultural icon—was in a Santa Fe bathroom at the St. Francis Auditorium. I was covering his public conversation with Pulitzer Prize–winning author N. Scott Momaday. Redford and I happened to walk in at the same time. We exchanged greetings, brief but warm. He was cordial, smiling, and confident.
That evening, I watched Redford and Momaday discuss the urgency of environmental conservation and the mysteries of the creative process. I later wrote about it in my book Tilt. When the conversation turned to creativity, Redford credited a teacher for instilling in him the belief that “art is essential.” Momaday cited his parents—his mother, a writer, and his father, an artist—as his greatest influences. Asked what he sought in an artistic project, Redford answered simply: “one, a good story; two, good characters; and three, something that conveys emotion.” Momaday, in turn, reflected on poetry—particularly Wallace Stevens—and on the power of story itself, reminding the audience that all narratives echo a single, ancient quest, rooted in the Biblical story of Adam and Eve.
To say Redford was important is an understatement. He was legendary—as an actor, as a director, as a champion of independent film, and as a passionate environmental activist. For anyone who grew up in the 1970s, his presence was inescapable. Between 1974 and 1976, he was Hollywood’s top box office draw, and his fame never eclipsed his deeper commitments. That same decade, he began using his platform to advocate for Native American rights and the natural world. Decades later, in 2014, Time magazine named him one of the most influential people in the world.
As a part-time New Mexico resident, Redford left his mark here too, supporting Native-centered filmmaking and other artistic endeavors. His legacy will endure—on screen, in the environment he fought to protect, and in the countless artists and storytellers he inspired.
Brian C. Nixon, Ph.D., is Chief Academic Officer and professor at Veritas International University in Albuquerque.
