Do you need a piece of the Southwest? A Contest!
Click on the photos to view a larger version!
The Navajo consider Canyon de Chelly one of the most sacred and important places on Earth. They call it "Tsegi," which means Rock Canyon.
For more than 2000 years, humans have lived in the canyon depths, in pit houses, cliff dwellings, and Navajo hogans. Numerous petroglyphs and pictographs exist throughout the canyon, most of them telling the story of a cherished life at one with the animal and plant life that call the canyon home.
Several Navajo who live in and near Canyon de Chelly create original Rock Art pieces, paying homage to the the ancient monument walls.
Eugene Clark, a native Navajo who lives on the Navajo Reservation, painted this gorgeous slice of Canyon de Chelly rock. He copied petroglyphs from the canyon wall, painted antelope and hunter, Kokopelli, the four cardinal directions, ancient symbols for life and mother nature.
This piece measures 8 inches long by 6 inches high at its highest point, and half-an-inch thick. The rock is that of Canyon de Chelly, a gorgeous rich red. The colors are natural, vibrant. Eugene Clark signed his name and the year of his work, 2001, on the back of the rock.
So here's the deal:
Ask me to write something, anything. It could be a short story about the underworld, about life in ancient India. It could be a poem, a song, a Gregorian chant. Be as creative, as thoughtful as you can. Whatever idea resonates the most with me, I'll write. And the Creator of the Idea gets this beautiful piece of Native art.
Post your ideas in comments below. I'll close the contest at one minute 'til midnight, New Mexico time, this Friday evening. One idea per reader, gracias! (But chit chat MORE than welcome!)
Write the story that is on the pottery.
Posted by: Mike | August 14, 2007 at 03:30 AM
Write about the birth and life process from the perspective of a seed gradually bursting forth into a flower and then blossoming.
Posted by: Wandering Willow | August 14, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Ancient life on Mars.
:)
Posted by: Stever | August 14, 2007 at 09:43 AM
How about a new twist on an old fairy tale told with publeo indians or maybe some other culture, or even played out on another planet that has a egyptian flavor to it.Anyway, I like fairytales retold with new twists.
Posted by: olga | August 14, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Okay, this is going to make for a difficult decision!
Keep your ideas coming, folks!
(Stever, you crack me up!!!)
Posted by: Birdie | August 14, 2007 at 01:26 PM
I want you to explain the meaning of life.
Posted by: Patia | August 14, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Here's a good one... write a fantasy story about the lives of all your regular readers, who somehow all intersect one day.
Posted by: Wandering Willow | August 14, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Hmm...my brain is mush this week, but what about a story about an alien visitor seeing him or herself in a petroglyph drawing on a rock, years after it was drawn?
Posted by: Miss T | August 14, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Well, we have a definite mystical theme going on with these suggestions! YAY!!! You guys know me all too well.
Posted by: Birdie | August 14, 2007 at 08:07 PM
Write about your deepest desire/wildest dream/biggest regret. The one thing you hide within and only bring out to look at it when you are alone at night.
Posted by: Cindy | August 16, 2007 at 07:38 PM
the ring
Posted by: matt | August 16, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Write about what would have happened that one day when your life changed if it had NOT changed. Where you would have ended up right now.
Posted by: Blondie | August 17, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Damn! I can't believe I missed this! I've really been thinking about it too. Extend the contest! Extend the contest!!
Posted by: nancy | August 19, 2007 at 09:29 PM
Nancy, you know she wants to hear your ideas! So do the rest of us... me, I mean! Yours are usually the funniest.
Posted by: Wandering Willow | August 20, 2007 at 03:08 PM
How about the legend of Tucumcari?
Posted by: Dancing Shoes | August 21, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Birdie
Write a story about 'Fools Wisdom'. There are times when a fools wisdom can be very enlightening.
Posted by: the Fool | August 22, 2007 at 02:08 AM
OK, here's what I've got:
Birth stories of any/all kids
Anything you know about your Native American culture.
How your family came to the US (I know some were Native Americans, but I want to know about immigration)
What you wanted to be when you grew up, and how that changed as you got older
Your first kiss
Your first love
The first time you nursed a baby
How you got your first name
Is you last name your family name, or a name from your ex? Why did you choose what you chose?
I know that you wanted to be a writer and your dad shot you down; when did you realize you wanted to be a writer again – or was it always something in the back of your mind?
Why do you think you were put on this earth?
How did your parents meet?
What’s the most important thing your mother ever taught you? Your father?
I didn’t read you from the beginning of Beauty Dish, and I missed some entries on this blog when we were moving, so if you have already written about these things please forgive me and also link to them if you have time. (“If you have time” ha ha ha – that’s a good one!
I may add more later.
Posted by: nancy | August 23, 2007 at 02:23 PM
Oh, another one:
What do you know for sure?
Posted by: nancy | August 24, 2007 at 09:23 AM
How about: Beliefs you used to cherish, that you've had to let go or change.
Posted by: Wandering Willow | August 29, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Here is a historical film clip on Canyon De CHelly (ES Curtis, 1911):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKJJnBsWbNs
Enjoy.
Jay
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Posted by: Jay River | August 30, 2007 at 06:34 PM