Townsend's Big-Eared Bat (​Corynorhinus townsendii pallescens)
Townsend's Big-Eared Bat (​Corynorhinus townsendii pallescens)
​Kit Fox (Vulpes macroti)
​Kit Fox (Vulpes macroti)
​Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (​Cynomys ludovicianus)
​Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (​Cynomys ludovicianus)
Botta's Pocket Gopher  (Thomomy bottae rubidus)
Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomy bottae rubidus)
Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei)
Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei)
​Swift fox (​Vulpes velox)
​Swift fox (​Vulpes velox)
River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
​Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides macrotis)
​Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides macrotis)
American Pika (Ochotona princeps)
American Pika (Ochotona princeps)
Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)
In retrospect, the artists of the ancient world were not intending to create a catalogue of extinct species - but that is now an unignorable aspect of the petroglyphs they left behind. Mammut americanum, bison antiquus, and euceratherium collinum (all now extinct among many others) were depicted in iron-oxide on illuminated stone faces because they were important, worthy of recognition, to the people who once lived here. I believe that nothing has changed concerning this experience of any Coloradan's existence, only the animals that we share it with.
My work is wholly influenced by the natural world and its sustainability. Likewise, my materials also honor our current co-Coloradans with equal respect. Colorado Petroglyph 2022: Mammals uses methods inspired by the Sioux people (although not exclusive to them): Burned willow wood, found iron-oxide concretions, and free-range chicken eggs on sandstone - along with other natural minerals and surfaces. Each depiction is sized true to life.
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