"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Friday, November 30, 2018

Memories, of art and seasons

"Memories," today's 5 x 7 #watercolor card
Coast down the "hill" on the High Road to Taos in New Mexico and you enter Ranchos de Taos. Turn north to the iconic architecture of sacred Native American Taos Pueblo.
Turn south and you come to another icon of sacred architecture at the Spanish mission of San Francisco de Asis, centered in what was the town's plaza.
Built between 1772 and 1816, about 120 feet long, its picturesque adobe buttresses at the rear include the distinctive beehive shapes. 
The church has captured artists' and photographers' attention for years, perhaps most famously, Georgia O'Keefe, but also mine, and my father's, almost 80 years ago.
Memory goes deep inside in such a place, and the church draws you there, as a pilgrimage almost, even if you are not a Catholic.
Memory so deep, so tactile from many drawings and paintings,  that this watercolor comes quickly, without even looking at a photo or other work.
And below, are two of Terrence Miller Clark's (Dad's) 12 x 18 plus frames drawings from 1940. And my most recent photo, in September. 
All art comes from memories, just as this season does.
Memories.





2 comments:

  1. Your watercolor is beautiful; and your dad's drawings are tremendous treasures; but that photograph - Wow. Stunningly composed; perfect light and shadow; and that glowering sky sets off the building magnificently.

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  2. Beautiful, I have seen it myself several times over the years. It seems of the earth, yet it is still a functioning vital church in addition to being a work of art and an inspiration to artists.

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