Old, but not “Old Masters”
April 29, 2013
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On our hard drive back to the east coast, we did stop outside Albuquerque, New Mexico and take a few hours to hike around the Boca Negra Canyon and Volcano (part of the Petroglyph National Monument). It was a beautiful morning on the mile high trail and locating the petroglyphs was a lot of fun.
Amongst the old chipped out rock art were a few recently created pieces saying such thimings as, “Frank loves Maria,” and “Go Mustangs.” As always, I like things that inspire others to create...no matter how simple.
After all, look what happened at some other sites we visited.
Over 100 years ago, the stencils left by soldiers and railroad builders in the Southwest are now preserved right along with the ancient Indian Art. So, I am sure that the modern scratchings around this volcano will someday be studied.
Our experience of the ancient art in southwest Texas was quite unusual. The pictographs in Fate Bell Cave in Seminole Canyon State Park and the White Shaman Preserve on the near-by Pecos River stirred an unknown response within me. Dare I say mystical. NO! I felt more like Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfus) in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While I did not start sculpting in my mashed potatoes, I did start a flurry of print-making activity; decided to leave our home in New York City; and took up graffiti as a way of leaving my mark!!!
Visiting the two sites in the Chihuahuan Desert involved a somewhat steep descent over rocks and loose stones to the bottom of a dry canyon. I neither fell nor spilled my water bottle.
At the first, Fate Bell, we walked along an almost dry riverbed where signs of flooding a week earlier had left debris 30 feel up the canyon wall. I remember thinking, “Gee, I sure hope it doesn’t rain upstream today.”
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The next day, there were beautiful views of the Pecos River visible while climbing down to the White Shaman Preserve. Accompanying us, as we scuffled down the cliff side, we could hear the sad, mournful song of a hidden canyon wren reverberating from the rock walls. The song made the bright sunny day seem a little grayer.
Seeing the Native American Rock Art has inspired me to create related prints, drawings and collages of my own.
I loved the story and the pictures. You drew me into your story like I was part of it by being there and experiencing a part of history. If I should ever drive that direction I will visit these areas. Thank you so much for sharing.
Dianne
Beautiful photos and art! Makes me want to go there.
Ron
Who/what are the White Shamen?
I like what you did. Your use of paper bags and fast food wrapers is amazing. Keep up the good work and best of all, have fun!
Donna
Hey, it that a cell phone you are using?? I thought you were a real photographer :>)
Glad to see you are still haveing fun.
Don
