March 2022

The Sun Will Shine
Twin Arrows Trading Post, Arizona
2022

Stolen From Whom?
Twin Rocks Trading Post, Arizona
2022

At first I thought this graffiti message was a simple lament about land being taken from indigenous Americans by European immigrants. But then I learned (from Wikipedia) that the land Twin Arrows occupies currently is owned by the Hopi people. So if it’s actually stolen land who did the Hopi steal it from? The Navajo perhaps? The Apache they were often fighting with? Or perhaps the Anasazi who occupied the area prior to the Hopi? If it were the latter case, then it would actually be inherited from rather than stolen from as the Hopi (and, Zuni, and Navajo) are thought to be the descendants of the Anasazi. More likely, perhaps, is the author of the graffiti didn’t actually know the current ownership status of the land.

Make It Stop!
Twin Arrows Trading Post, Arizona
2022

Even when he retreated to his special place, Daryl couldn’t quiet the voices in his head.

Apache
Twin Arrows Trading Post, Arizona
2022

One of the many, many pieces of graffiti that literally covered almost every single square foot of the abandoned Twin Arrows Trading Post, inside and out. This one had the word Apache spray painted below it. He definitely looks Apache. I was a bit surprised to see it in this location as it is definitely an area traditionally inhabited by the Navajo and Hopi people and currently part of the Hopi lands. But then the Navajo and Hopi did periodically fight against the Apache in the vicinity, so perhaps it was placed there by someone trying to stir up old animosity.

Falling Short
Twin Arrows Trading Post, Arizona
2022

It’s the Twin Arrows Trading Post, so why only one arrow? There are actually two. If you look closely, the second one is laying on the ground to the left of the obvious one. It used to be upright, but over time it has fallen, perhaps from a not-so-gentle hit by an errant vehicle.

Zebraesque
Tubac, Arizona
2022

A very engaging pattern of stripes makes for a harsh reading environment should one sit down and attempt that. At least for me it would be very difficult to read between the lines.

Pendulum #3
Tubac, Arizona
2022

Pendulum #2
Tubac, Arizona
2022

Intersections
Tubac, Arizona
2022

By the time this image is posted, we will have been some days gone from our stay in Tubac. But the extra bedroom at our rental that I used as a temporary office/studio offered up a number of abstract images that couldn’t resist photographing. Some I’ve already posted but there are a few left and I will be posting those over the next few days.

Accidental Ideogram
Nogales, Arizona
2022

These glue marks left when the adhesive failed and the sign that was on the wall fell off still seems to be conveying a message–if only I could interpret the symbol.