Visually impaired artist signs books at COAS

George Mendoza, a Las Cruces resident who overcame blindness to become an accomplished athlete and painter, will be signing a trilogy of books he has written, inspired by his life experiences, at COAS Books, 317 N. Main Street in downtown Las Cruces.

Mendoza lost most of his vision at the age of 15 to a rare degenerative eye disease, and has drawn from colors and patterns that he does see for his vivid paintings. He was also a record-setting runner among blind athletes in the 1980s and later turned to writing. His books include a book for children, “Colors of the Wind,” and a trilogy of novels, “Journey of the Spirit Man,” “Vision of the Spirit Man” and “Heart of the Spirit Man.”