Trash in the Desert

Sound pretty disgusting?  I couldn't agree more!  The deserts of Arizona are pristine and wild, for the most part.  But every once in a while I come across old abandoned sites that are littered with rusted metallic trash that, I guess, could be centuries old.  

​I used to feel badly about finding these spots. Then I discovered archeology on British TV and my mind started changing.  Instead of trash I saw history.  Instead of dismay I wondered over the lives of settlers in such a remote, hostile environment.  Heck - it's still a hostile place if you're not aware of it's dangers. 

​Mostly, the Sonoran desert is a beautiful place of unique vistas, plants, animals and minerals. On a cool winter day (when the snakes are hibernating), it's an amazing place to discover natural treasures.  I love to paint what I find out there!

Back to the trash.  It occurred to me that I could take a lesson from the Arizona burrowing owls. They've made an amazing adaptation to man-made materials. If you know where to look for them, they can be found hiding in drainage ditches and piles of pallets all over town, where people live and work. I figured if they could pivot like that, I could also change my perspective and find a way to make art out of the junk I find in the desert.

​So I've included burrowing owls in my recent art pieces, in honor of their creative problem solving.  And . . . they're just plain adorable!  I hope you enjoy them!

"Cozy" - 8.75x4.75, 3D metal + 4x4 acrylic, $160

"Hiding" - 9.5x5 3D metal + 4x4 acrylic, SOLD