A Day In Santa Fe
Indescribable Art.
Roxanne Swentzell is a contemporary pueblo artist who “focuses on interpretive female portraits attempting to bring back the balance of power between male and female (that is) inherently recognized in her own culture.”
Photographs are forbidden in the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture but I copied down this Creation story that was written on the wall behind one of Roxanne’s sculptures. Roxanne comes from the pueblo of Santa Clara, a Tewa speaking people.
In the beginning
tucked in the dark womb
of Our Mother,
the urge struck us that we
might venture out.
At the same moment
Our Mother tilted the bowl
of Life, and poured us
Forward into our lives.
The Journey begins.
Flowers on Tsikumu*
are calling us.
We step forward.
The birds’ wings
Fan our feelings
We step forward.
Tracks in soft dirt
of antelope, bear and lion.
We step forward,
our breath joins all there is.
We joyfully step forward.
Mother of all things,
Bless our journey,
as we step forward.
* Sacred Mountain
Thank you Bruce.
