Intrusions of Culture (Blog)

... and no one is there to hear it - it's probably a good thing. Rocks the size of Volkswagens falling from 1,500 feet are nothing you want to be near. This is a painting of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park. There is no telling how long ago this rock fell here. 

Speaking of things falling from the sky, I'm reminded of the rafting trip which generated the photo reference for this painting. It was in early 1989, and the news of the day in this part of the Texas/Mexico border was all about snipers taking shots at Rio Grande rafters. For some reason we weren't deterred enough to forgo the trip later that summer. Ah, youth...

According to old newspaper archives, there were at least three separate incidents within a year, of shooter(s) taking aim from the Mexican side of the river from high above. At least one person died while rafting with his family:

from the UPI: On Nov. 19, 1988, Michael W. Heffley, 40, of Eastland, was fatally shot in the back trying to shield his wife from snipers. His wife, Jamie Sue Heffley, 32, was wounded in the stomach, and guide Jim Burr, 36, was shot in the leg during an hour-long ambush that began 15 miles southeast of Presidio. 

In another incident, three rafters were under fire in Colorado Canyon while hiding behind rocks until dusk when they hiked their way back to safety.

Our trip that year was completely sniper-free and, although I did think about it a few times, the feelings of isolation and solitude dominated my experience there.

Canyon Solitude is an 14x11 oil on birch wood painting in studio, and available for purchase here