The Chaco Guardian

This painting is inspired by my visit to Chaco Canyon two years ago. I was walking along the petroglyph trail and looked up. I saw her, a great stone mother being, guarding the ruin of Chetro Ketl.

I have studied other photographs of Chaco Canyon, and Chetro Ketl, but no one has ever published a photograph of this guardian. Have any of you seen her?

The galaxies and the pottery are also part of the Chaco experience. My teacher who is a descendant of the Chacoan ancestors tells that the Chaco architecture is very connected to other galaxies. I feel connected to the pottery. The earth and sky are one, the past and future are one. The medicine bag with eyes is me in this moment, aware of myself in this plane, and also able to move between the worlds.