"Winds of Change"
(18" x 24" Unframed Fine Art Giclee Print on White Archival Paper) - can be printed in any size
Copyrights:  1-4465298641/1-6484785621

Quote: "Sometimes, the winds of change cause you to change directions."
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The Artist's Perspective:

"In the pioneer days of the early 1700s, wagon trains traveled through the wide open countryside of an untamed new land, encountering many harsh environmental conditions, including rough terrain and wild animals. The "winds of change" swept across the open prairie. The pioneers needed to carry their supplies and provisions with them because there was no certainty in what they would encounter in the wilderness. The buffalo, while mostly harmless, were literally everywhere covering many open fields dotting the plains with black dots. The dandelions also covered the landscape populated by tall lush grasses and other wild weeds.

The buffalo were hunted by wolves after sunset, and prior experience by the pioneers resulted in attacks on campsites. The pioneers learned from their previous experiences and shot some buffalo while away from their intended campsites in the nearby clearing, so that the wolves would be drawn to the wounded buffalo and would thus stay away from their campsites. The pioneer in the last wagon visible within this picture shot two buffalo with a Winchester rifle. The shadows cast by the setting sun cast an uncertain future upon this wagon train. Wagon trains were frequently led by wagon masters, riding on horseback, who strategized to pave the way through the wilderness and to protect the wagon train pioneers, steering them away from danger.

The pioneers also encountered native peoples during their travel. This picture attempts to capture the exact split second moment between when the first adult native american observed the first adult pioneer on the wagon train. One of the children from the pioneer wagon train and the young brave on the horse perched upon the tall cliff are pointing toward the distance beyond. However, can we really be certain what each of these two children are pointing toward in the distance?

Is the young indian brave on the horse pointing at the buffalo during a prospective hunt for the impending next day, or is he pointing at the eagle hovering in the sky, or is he pointing at the man on the horse with the bugle in his hand? He may in fact be pointing back at the young pioneer in the first wagon, who in turn is holding the lantern and also pointing back in his direction. Furthermore, did the indian braves follow the bald eagle hovering in the sky and dancing on the winds toward the open clearing covered with the buffalo below? We cannot really be certain what each child is pointing toward, which creates a number of great subjects to discuss."