Basketry
&
A Truly Refined Master Artist
And
Art Critics

Years ago I was driving the old route 66 from my sister's home in Springfield, Missouri to my friend's home in Santa Monica, California. Somewhere outside of Tucumcari, New Mexico I began seeing signs. They advertised food, restrooms and car service but also a small zoo with an odd collection of animals including a two headed calf, a white rattlesnake and a pig with five legs. The signs were big and sort of entertaining in a strange way.

In the early 1970's I believed I could be a real artist. I felt I could draw and paint well enough to prove to the viewer of my work I had mastered portraits painting. Then I came to a class with a teacher I will never forget who insisted I had all of the talent of a "retarded third grader". I was a sophomore in college and told I was very bright, if perhaps more suited to model then paint. I became a student of art history and gave up any ambition to master oil painting.

My road trip to California was in the early 1980's some ten years later. I pulled into the parking lot of the road side amusement park with no idea of painting anything or anyone. That is until I walked toward the main building and passing a rickety old corral holding some miniature goats and lambs. One of the youngest lambs was being held tightly by what appeared to be a 5 or 6 year old Navaho (or Dine) girl. This was an innocent sweet and truly enchanting child who seemed consumed by sorrow and sadness. She was clutching that very young baby lamb as tightly as she could, seeming to draw what little strength and comfort she had directly from the tiny animal. It was both heart wrenching and beautiful in a most spiritual way. It burned into my memory like a branding iron into a calf's flesh. I would carry her image in my mind and heart forever.

I went inside the zoo and main building store and as I left I purchased a soda pop and a candy bar. As I left I walked again toward the corral and there I got the child's attention raised the soda and candy so she could see them, pointed to her, and set them on the ground and walked away. I wanted her to have them but was not going to force it or put any demand on her in exchange for them.

I looked back several times and she didn't move. I wondered if she would get them. Just before I reached the car, she went over and collected the treats.
As I drove away I couldn't shake the images out of my heart.
The definition

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