It’s so much fun to Be Blogging again. I tend to be intimidated since there seems to be writing involved with telling a story (that makes sense). But intimidation aside, This story needs to be told. So bare with me as you read along, knowing that sometimes God loves to stretch us and take us out of our comfort zones.
I have a HUGE job coming up. I have been Commissioned by the Woodland Park Arts Alliance Creative Arts district to paint a Historial mural in down town Woodland Park. It will be on the side of the Cultural Center. Kind of the hub of Woodland Park. It will be 145 feet long the height varies since there is a hill, but the highest part of the wall is 24 feet then tapers to 10 feet at the other end. The largest and beginning of the Mural starts with honoring the Ute Indian Nations. This beginning part of the mural has been so enlightening as I continue to refine the final design. There are so many things that the Historical Society and I have talked about that need to be included in the design as well as left out (always want to be politicly correct).
The beginning section about the Utes has a huge Ute Chief face that I was having a hard time getting just the right reference for. Really not having a good feeling about the design as well. We have already done three unveilings for the city of the (what I thought) final design. Also knowing I had not done enough research on the accuracy about what differentiates between the Northern Utes and Southeren Utes (not even knowing the Mountain Utes existed) So my dear (brother) Friend Scott Stearman had a contact for us to meet named Roland McCook. Scott is an amazing sculptor. He had met with Roland once before about a Ute sculpture is is designing right now. So we had our foot in the door.
I really wanted to share this experience because this has been a Huge Honor to meet and be invited into Roland’s home and his story. Scotty and I really felt as though we we were walking on holy ground. Was really amazing. Kind of one of those life changing experiences.
Let me tell you a bit about Roland. He is the Great-great-grandson of Chief Ouray and his wife Chipeta. He was the Vice-chairman of the Smithsonian Institution’s Native American RepatriationReview Committee. He was the NorthernUte Tribal Chairman (Chief) for 9 years. He now travels extensively educating and speaking about the “Nuche” the name the Utes call themselves, Which means, “A person of substance.”
This is the design for the mural that we are looking at with Roland.
When Roland put on his full Regalia, Scotty and I were speechless. What an Honor and gift he gave us. I love this photo above. I was truly awe struck. I wish I was a better writer, but I just can’t seem to put this into words. Thank you again Roland. All I can say is I hope I do you Proud!
Here is the final design for just the Ute section of the mural. I’ll be posting the full design later after our City Council unveiling. This section is 24 feet tall so you can only imagine how HUGE the face will be. Roland is planning on coming to the unveiling when I finish painting this section, in his full Regalia! I can’t wait for him to see the fruition of this project and to see his face 20 feet tall. That would be crazy for any of us.