Folk Art – Contemporary Petroglyphs

Ceramic Hanging Structures

With each ceramic comes one of three types of hanging structures, all dependent on how the relief was created and what best fits it’s needs.

The first uses a 16 Ga. Aluminum wire which runs through a small hole on either side of the tile. It is then secured with a twist and tucks away behind the upper ledge.

The second accommodation makes use of a metal picture hanger. Using springs, it securely attaches to the edges of the tile and offers options for placement. Some of these are slightly visible from the front.

The third accommodation is molded into the tile. It takes on slightly different shapes with each one, but generally consists of an open-ledge square or series of circles which are made for a nail.

Second Collection of Petroglyphs in Rockaway

In Rockaway there is a second rock I have yet to discuss in the blog streams. It is sponsored by RISE Rockaway. It was commissioned to honor a neighborhood resident Barbara Hillary, an arctic explorer who was the first Black woman to reach the North Pole. Later she also explored the South Pole.

The rock depicts Barbara Hillary and some of her arctic companions, creating a 360 impression of the poles. Her story is an inspiring one as she is a person who achieved a lot during her life, not only in terms of her explorations but she was also a nurse, publisher, and twice cancer survivor. She was a completely unstoppable woman and her likeness is preserved on this rock forever, along with her inspiring polar bear photography.

New Geoglyphs Discovered in Peru!

Yamagata University researchers announced on September 24 that they have discovered 303 new geoglyphs in the Nazca Lines, Peru, using artificial intelligence, it seems “Artificial Intelligence” can be anything these days. This brings the total number of identified geoglyphs to 430, nearly doubling the previous count. The findings were part of a six-month field survey conducted from September 2022 to February 2023, in collaboration with IBM Research.

The newly discovered geoglyphs, which were created around 2,000 years ago, depict figures such as human heads, livestock, and other motifs. These “surface-type” geoglyphs, formed by removing stones, are located along pathways and are believed to represent human sacrifices and rituals. In contrast, the famous “line” type geoglyphs, like the Nazca hummingbird, are located at pilgrimage route endpoints and likely served as ritual spaces. More photos here.

Yamagata University has been studying the Nazca Lines since 2004, initially using satellite images and aerial photography. The recent use of AI technology has significantly advanced their research, enabling a more efficient survey of the vast Nazca Plateau. The geoglyphs are believed to have functioned as visual learning tools for understanding the roles of humans and animals in the pre-written language society, with these figures serving as focal points for ceremonies.

Terry Laws Inspired Petroglyph

In Rockaway, I recently completed a Penguin Petroglyph, drawing inspiration from the evocative photography of Terry Laws. Collaborating with photographers who share my values—those who capture nature in its truest, most unfiltered form—is profoundly rewarding. These shared moments of creativity become a tribute to remembrance, honoring the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world.

Port Huron Petroglyphs

In Michigan, at Port Huron, I captured some motion as an Eagle takes off and a pair sails on a canoe. With the water in the background, it feels like both will take off into the distance but in reality these petroglyphs will be around forever.

Reykjavik Graffiti

This fine drawing may not be the an early Barry McGee mailbox drawing, but it is very commendable. Nice drawing, good hand, and the abstraction is humorous.

#Graffiti #Reykjavik #TwistOne #StodvarCreativeCenter

Space Art

My vision for this carving is to document the space age for the long term.

Beyond the local impact for people with physical access to the rock, this impression presents the work off-site where my artwork becomes a remotely accessible experience.

Rock, Paper, Space

Below is a cowboy carved atop a frieze of petroglyphs on private property on the Hastings Mesa near Telluride, CO. Below the carving is an impression made in 2011. The spatial relationship between the rock and the piece of paper is the form overarching all my work.

Aero-Dynamics

My Impressions enhance texture. The imperfections and cuts of the drawings mimic the natural aesthetics of the original carving .

The Moose Petroglyph

Here’s the Moose Rock with the Aspy Bay and Cape North in the background. My intention was to carve fish and fishermen, but my host argued that people there ate as much moose as fish, so I carved this moose.

Below, shows the carving painted for printing and a rice paper impression made from the carving.