Pastel Artwork: Song of the Yellow Bird

 

My latest artwork, a pastel painting of a Yellow Bird Dancer playing a traditional flute in Apache Junction, Arizona.

"Song of the Yellow Bird" ©2022 Melissa Enderle

See more artworks on my website www.melissaenderle.com 

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Artwork: Young Hoop Dancer

 My latest artwork, "Young Hoop Dancer." Polychromos color pencils. Apache Junction, Arizona ©Melissa Enderle

Although I've been a part of my family's Yellow Bird Dance group since I was a toddler, performing in front of audiences with the hoop dance is something I've only done in the last few years. It takes a lot of coordination and practice to get those hoops into the different formations such as a butterfly or eagle while at the same time doing fancy footwork, accented by the jingle of bells attached to my sheepskin leggings. Everything– the formations, facial expression, movement, and the homemade costume– has symbolism. My ancestors created the hoop dance to be part of a healing ceremony, but for the past 30 years, our dance group has used a form of the hoop dance to share a bit of our culture with others. I can't grasp as many hoops as my older brother, papa, or uncle, but I'm feeling much more confident with my form. In a couple of weeks, we'll be heading to the Heard Museum for the annual World Championship of Hoop Dancing. Native American groups from all over the country will be competing. My papa, who has used 40 hoops in one dance, is a five-time world champion. Last year I got 2nd place in my age division. After today's performance, I think I can get first place. Wish me luck!

See more of my artwork on my website www.melissaenderle.com, on Flickr, or my Artwork Facebook Page.

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Desert Bloom at DeGrazia, Tucson

Here is one of my recently completed artworks, "Desert Bloom at DeGrazia, Tucson". Created with color pencils, it depicts the gated path leading up to the DeGrazia Art Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
You can find more of my artworks on my Melissa Enderle Artwork Facebook page or on my website.

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Yellow Bird Dancer at Horseshoe Bend

My latest - a color pencil of an Apache Yellow Bird Dancer, set amidst the beautiful Horseshoe Bend. In just over a week, I will see them perform and will hopefully get more information so I can write an accurate story about the dancer.

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Presenting a Print to Teton Ken

This week I attended Teton Ken's lecture on the Lost Dutchman, held at the Superstition Mountain Museum. As promised, I brought a print of the color pencil drawing I had made of Teton and his sidekick, Daisy. Teton Ken had already seen the original last March, which was shortly after his heart attack and the deadly rattlesnake bite for Daisy. 

When he saw me, Teton warmly greeted me, remembering my name. He was tickled that I had brought the print and said that it would be displayed in his dining room. Since Teton didn't have his reading glasses, I read the story I wrote about him, which was affixed to the back of the print. A small gesture of kindness for a man who has brought happiness to so many.

Mary (the burro he had with him today) was more interested in the protective tissue surrounding the print, taking a brief break from gnawing on the wooden column of the shed to try and sample the new object. Teton was quite protective his new piece and put it in a safe place.  

If you're in the Mesa/Apache Junction area of Arizona, be sure to visit Teton Ken at the Superstition Mountain Museum.  He is often there during the weekend, offering rides to kids (young and old alike) on his burros. 

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Running Cactus

Although the Petroglyphs were the star of the show, this cactus just off to the side caught my eye. To me, it looks like the cactus is a running figure. Certainly the most "active" cactus I've seen!

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Selfie in the Ornament - AZ style

After taking a few sunset pictures on Christmas, I walked around to admire the Christmas decorations around the RV resort. Some had decorated their cactuses or wrapped palm trees in lights. With its flower blossoms and shiny ornaments, this decoration caught my eye. Although I was interested in capturing some details and bokeh effects, I realized that I inadvertently had taken a selfie. So here is my accidental selfie, Arizona style. Merry Christmas!

via Instagram

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Santa's taking it easy in his La-Z-Boy Sleigh

Here in the land of retiree Snowbirds, even Santa is taking it easy. In his modified La-Z-Boy sleigh, he can put up his feet in style. Illuminated deer light the way. Rudolph takes up the rear.

Santa has some extra help from a few golf carts, all decked out for their mission of spreading cheer.

A Merry Christmas to all!

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Down the Path of Yesteryear: Teton Ken and his Burro

My latest artwork, of Teton Ken and his belated Daisy, set against the magnificent Superstition Mountains. If you are in the Apache Junction area of Arizona, be sure to stop at this gem of a museum. Teton Ken will be lecturing about the Lost Dutchman and his mine on January 4, 2018.

Down the Path of Yesteryear: Teton Ken and his Burro. Color pencil ©2017 Melissa Enderle

Them there mountains have been such a big part of my life. How many times have I meandered up the narrow paths of the Superstitions, flanked by jumping cholas, saguaros, and the occasional Palo Verde tree. Daisy has done it so many times that she can navigate nearly by herself–great for feller’s eyes like mine that get cloudier all the time.

In my younger years, I used to do some prospecting up in them thar hills. Them’s years are over, both for me and these rocks. Not as quick as I used to be, I stick to the path. Less of a chance to encounter a rattler or bobcat, but they still are here as well. That’s why I carry this gun. Done for the day, I’m ready to head back into town. A cold beer sounds good right now. And some oats for ol’ Daisy. 

See more of my artworks at www.melissaenderle.com 

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Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

On our way to Antelope Canyon, we stopped for a short visit to Horseshoe Bend.  Although it is located only five miles from the beginning of the Grand Canyon National Park, the weather was remarkably different from our visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just a day earlier. 

To reach the famed spot, we walked about 3/4 a mile off of Highway 89. The soil here was very sandy, its red-orange color contrasting sharply with the blue skies above. Not a tree in sight.

In a few places, people had created sculptures with the rocks.

The sandstone rocks were quite weathered, sculpted by wind and rain.

A boat makes its way around the bend

Once at the lookout point, we were afforded a breathtaking view of the Colorado River 1,000 feet (305 meters) below, curving its way around the Navajo sandstone. In addition to taking the classic shot of the bend, I took some alternative views. 

A bridal couple posed for some photos. A drone (even though signs explicitly stated that drones were forbidden) buzzed overhead, taking additional shots. 

If you are visiting the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon, this stop is worth your time! 

via Instagram

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A Walk Through the Desert Wildflowers at Catalina State Park

I timed my trip down to Arizona this spring so I could see the desert wildflowers. The area had received ample rainfall this winter, so the flowers were happy. We took a drive about 1 1/2 hours away and visited the Catalina State Park near Tucson. 

I was surprised to see how green much of the park was. The leaves of many of the trees were emerging, and grasses of different sorts looked very fresh - unlike the wild grasses near Apache Junction which have already dried up. The creek going through the park definitely helped.

In addition, the area was dotted with various wildflowers, in various intensities of yellow, white, orange, red, orange, and blue. Some were so tiny and appeared to be very fragile. They reminded me of some of the tundra flowers higher on a mountain.

Some of the flowers played hide-and-seek, peeking out between the cacti. Many of the cacti themselves were beginning to blossom as well. I suspect that in a few weeks, rocky hills and mountains in this park will look very different yet again, with these fragile rainbows all dry and withered up, hoping to reappear next year.

See more of my photos from Catalina State Park on my Flickr Site

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A Meetup with Teton Ken

Having completed my drawing of Teton Ken and his burro Daisy, I wanted to bring the artwork back to Arizona so Ken could see it. He had been so obliging when I had asked if I could take some photos of him back in December, that I wanted to show him what I had created. I called up the staff at the Superstition Mountain Museum where Ken often came during the weekends to give kids ride on his burros. They informed me that Teton Ken had been recovering from a heart attack he had about a month ago. Upon seeing the drawing, they gave me Ken's phone number and we arranged to meet the following day. 

Ken was especially touched that I had included his burro Daisy, as she had died from a rattlesnake bite just a few days prior to his heart attack. Ken said I had captured Daisy's likeness and his pals agreed that the depiction of this former prospector was quite authentic as well. 

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March Madness

No, this is not a long-lost photo from December. It was taken last week, on a walk in my neighborhood in Madison. Tonight I sit in the airport waiting to go to Arizona, where I will be "warmly" greeted with temps around 90°F (32°C). No snow boots needed, nor any of that other March madness! Here's looking forward to sunshine and saguaros! 

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Teton Ken and Daisy: Color Pencil Artwork

Below is the latest artwork I have completed, a color pencil drawing of Teton Ken (formal name of Ken Eddy). I met Ken and his burro Daisy at the Superstition Museum, where he was very willing to pose for me and chat. Gleaning information about Ken was far easier than most of my subjects in foreign countries, where language and/or time was a challenge. 

With my grizzly beard, worn leather hat, gun, and mining gear saddled on ‘ol Daisy, I certainly look the part of a gold prospector. Yessiree, I can truthfully say that I have found a nugget or two, but nothing that would make me rich. I admit that I have been amongst the many who have gone up in these here Superstition Mountains searching for the fabled Lost Dutchman mine, but the greatest wealth I gained there revolved around enjoying the spectacular scenery. Leading some adult treasure-hunters and movie crews up the mountain also helped pay some bills and enabled me to purchase several burros including this here Daisy. I even acted as the ghost of the Lost Dutchman in a movie! On weekends, Daisy and I hang out here at the Superstition Museum, giving kids rides on my burros. I’m not sure who has more fun - me or the kiddos!

See more of my artwork on my website www.melissaenderle.com.

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Out for a Quick Cactus Snack

Nearing lunchtime, this squirrel decided to take advantage of the tart, yellow fruit of the barrel cactus. He scrambled up to the plant, deftly (and quickly) climbed up, and began his snack. Those needles didn't seem to bother him at all; neither was he bothered by the people who stopped to snap a photo. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it, switching poses as he grabbed another fruit and chomp away. 

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I see you...or you see me...

While hiking on the Peralta Canyon Trail in Arizona, we spotted these longhorn cattle. Looking at the spread on their horns, I was somewhat happy to see that there were some cactus plants acting as a barrier between us. 

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Crested Saguaro - Cactus with Flair

While walking through the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix,  this saguaro demanded my attention. On the top of the main trunk was a fan-like protuberance. It stood so regally amongst the other plants in this desert landscape. When one of the garden volunteers came by, I asked him about this formation. 

This cactus, he said, was known as a crested saguaro. This beautiful, but rare occurrence, is still a bit of a mystery to scientists. Some say the cresting is due to a genetic formation; others suggest that it is a result of frost or lightning strike. Inquiring online, I found that there even is a Crested Saguaro Society. Its members have been documenting each crested cactus it finds. One passionate veteran of the society theorizes that the cresting is due to a hormone that causes the number of pleats on a cactus to go out of control, observing that some return to normal after years of cresting. Through the society's diligent tracking, they claim to have found over 2, 200 crested saguaros. 

Susceptible to frost and poaching, the crested saguaros are highly protected by the Arizona Department of Architecture. 

During my time in Arizona, I spotted only one other crested saguaro, located on a trail in Apache Junction near Meridian Drive.

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Sunrises (and Sunsets) of Arizona

With my time in Arizona setting like the sun, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate this post to its sunsets (and sunrises). Although I've seen some beautiful sunset(rises) elsewhere, the dramatic colors and frequency of such brilliant displays seems to occur at a much higher frequency.

So what causes these brilliant skies? When the sun sets, light shines through more of the atmosphere, when compared to when the sun is higher in the sky. The light is bent, refracted, and reflected from tiny particles in that atmosphere. A lower frequency results in more warmer colors. 

Beyond the basic science, what makes Arizona's sunset(rises) so spectacular? Due to less moisture in the air, the clouds here are much higher. Such higher clouds reflect more light, with dramatic colors. 

With reduced levels of pollution, more variation in visible light can be seen, particularly those vibrant colors at the far end of the spectrum. It seems that dust (and pollution) actually diffuses or scatters color, resulting in a dull or muted sky. 

The presence of high clouds also greatly chances the chance of  dramatic sunset. These higher (and middle) clouds help intercept unadulterated light. 

I like how the higher clouds in the photo above reflected the orange color, making it appear as if those clouds were on fire.

For those willing to get up earlier and deal with the cooler early morning temperatures, the winter and fall months provide rewarding painterly effects.

Boo - back to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin!

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Celebrating Western and Native American Art: The Eddie Basha Collection

When a friend of my parents recommended that we visit the Eddie Basha Collection, I wasn't sure what to expect. It was free, and the collection was in the corporate office building of Basha's, a supermarket chain in Arizona. Upon entrance into the first gallery room, I could see that this was not going to be a dusty collection with a few kitche pieces.

One room alone was dedicated to an expansive collection of woven baskets of varying sizes, mostly between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Apache baskets from the Eddie Basha Collection

Yet another expansive room was filled with over 40 years of over 3,500 collected pieces - paintings, sculptures, jewelry, katsinas, and drawings. 

Horse Pirates by Ted Long - Eddie Basha Collection

The collection is considered to be one of the largest private collection of Contemporary Western American and American Indian art. Originally encouraged and guided by his Aunt Zelma, Basha began visiting studios of contemporary artists, kindling friendships and supporting them. He sought to collect pieces of artists he actually met; cowboy artists such as Joe Beeler, John Clymer, David Halbach, and Martin Grelle, as well as contemporary American Indian artists such as David Johns and Larry Yazzie. Absent in his collection are deceased Western artists such as Charles Russell and Frederic Remington, since Basha wanted to focus on contemporary artists he actually met.

Geronimo by Harley Brown - Eddie Basha Collection 

Some of the pieces had rather lengthy descriptions. I especially liked the ones written by the artists, vividly describing historical events seen in the images.

Although we spent nearly three hours in the gallery, we did not have enough time to see all artwork. Actually, it was too much to see in one visit. Perhaps it would have been better to focus on one aspect of the collection, such as the bronzes one day, Native American pieces another day, etc.

The gallery is open to individuals or groups (above 25 people requires an appointment) but it is self-guided. We happily placed some money in the donation box, pleased that the proceeds helped support initiatives within the community, including the arts. 

The Eddie Basha Collection is located at:

22402 S. Basha Road

Chandler, Arizona 85248

Phone: 480-895-5230

It is open Monday - Friday 9-4 pm

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A visit with an Apache Family

This past weekend, we took a 3 1/2 hour drive from Apache Junction to the Fort Apache Reservation in the upper elevations of Arizona. While there, we had a special opportunity to visit an Apache couple. Bonnie is the kindergarten teacher at East Fork Lutheran School. Her husband Francis is an evangelist within the Apache reservation. 

Steps in making a cradeboard

First Bonnie showed us how she makes a cradleboard. The slats are made from the stalk of a yucca plant. For the canopy part, the wooden pieces are bnt through heat; sturdy wire is on the underside. The cradleboard fame is made from local wood and is bent with moisture. She uses foam for padding, but traditionally local fibers were used. 

Cradleboard with Cabbage Patch Baby

The baby was typically secured with two sets of ties; the lower pair could be loosened to change the baby's diaper without much disruption. Bonnie recalled that most infants were quite content within the cradleboard, finding the swaddling nature very comforting. Mothers either strapped the cradleboard over their shoulders or on their foreheads. This baby carrier enabled mothers to continue their chores while maintaining close contact with their infants.

Beaded Bolo Ties with Christian theme

Bonnie then brought out some beaded pieces; some were done by her, while many others were gifts to her and her husband. 

Jesus Wept bolo tie

Bonnie was especially proud of the Christian-themed bolo ties  - a beautiful indication of the Christian faith she and her husband shares. 

Burden Basket with family name

Bonnie also showed us a few other pieces, including a "burden basket" with the family name. Bonnie explained that the metal "tassels" at the ends once served as alarm signals. While the women were gathering berries or other items with the basket, if the metal began clanking excitedly, the men would know the women might be in some sort of danger (i.e. from warring tribes). 

With the football game completed, Francis joined in the conversation, sharing with us his experience coming to faith, as an evangelist to his community, and being a fan of the Green Bay Packers. Both shared some touching personal experiences and their concerns for their Apache brethren. When I later found out that our visit within the home on the reservation was quite unusual, I felt quite honored. Such a personal touch made the experience so much more powerful.

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