Jewels in the Canyon
July 2024
One early Saturday morning, I pushed myself out the door to drive three hours south to a slot canyon between Hatch and Las Cruces, New Mexico. I had been wanting to check this spot out for years. This daytime adventure would be inspirational for art making, unique, and cool (well, cool views and cool temperatures in the canyon.)
At the trailhead you either climb over the green fence or crawl under the barbed wire. Of course, I belly crawled under the barbed wire. Since I tend to do things backwards, at the trail split I went counter clockwise. The trail isn’t well marked but thank you to AllTrails for guiding me back to my destination.
Once I finally found the opening to the slot canyon, I was in for an absolute treat! Like Christmas morning, I slowly approached the path with big eyes. The walls grew on either side of me and the temperatures started to drop. I turned each sharp bend with delight and awe. The shapes, forms, and shadows were making my eyes and imagination dance.
After the first pass through, I turned around for a second pass to see everything from the opposite direction. Almost everything looked different. There were a couple moths on the canyon walls, but hadn’t seen another human yet. The blue sky above was enchanting and I watched the falling dirt glimmer when it caught the sunlight. On the third pass, people were starting to show up and it was time for me to start heading back.
In the studio, the paintings start with Places of Flux style of overlapping color fields. The pale neutral colors of the overpainting create forms inspired from the wall edges and shadows. This series is entitled Talisman in the Canyon. The colorful forms remind me of rare ancient jewels or glowing precious stones with healing powers. One can hold them gently and their powers absorb one’s distress and sadness, if only. I am grateful for imagination and curiosity to get out to see places like this slot canyon in southern New Mexico. See more from this series here.
Talisman in the Canyon I and II, 2024, acrylic on paper, 12 x 9 inches