Sunrise + Moonrise Gallery

Neely Stewart, April 12, 2002
My first impression of the deserts of New Mexico was one of sparseness and ugliness. It was winter, but before my journey was through I had come to love it, and I saw its beauty.

My changed perception had no impact on my artwork, however. It wasn't until the following summer that I began to paint these images. My paintings are from the perspective of the Spirit World; the Kachinas and Spirit Animals being more real than the people. It is the people who are the carved cottonwood icons instead.