Petroglyph Conundrum

ATC Ute Rider
by Phillip Hoyle

I've worked with many petroglyph designs over the past eleven years. I've sold quite a few paintings and a number of prints inspired by them: deer and bears, dancing shamans and mountain sheep, monsters and gods, dogs and cats (actually mountain lions), and abstracts beyond description. I've made many, many pieces of art related to these figures.

Early on in my fascination I made a number of collages and paintings from horse petroglyphs. They have been among my favorites. BUT I have never sold a single one of either a horse or a horse and rider. I was sure that out here in the west where people actually ride horses, there would be someone who couldn't resist owning one of these old designs.

The author back in 1981 with a favorite horse design.

This past week I made a small block cut of one of the most interesting horses, one with a rider. This one is located on the escarpment of Spring Mesa near the Ute Trail (as it has been called for well over 100 years) and near another petroglyph of a bear up a tree with a clear track of paw prints from a crack in the cliff wall to the tree. In the olden days the Ute bear dance was held on the vernal equinox announcing springtime's arrival and with it the emergence of bears from their winter slumber. Bear taught the Ute people to do the dance; that's what the old stories told.

Bear Dance
Acrylic washes on paper by Phillip Hoyle

On the cliff not far from the bear petroglyph is the horse. Beneath the horse and rider is a similar trail of hoof marks? That's how I see them. The bear dance was ancient. Horses didn't arrive in Ute country until the 17th century. All I really have are questions and suspect ideas related to the proximity of the two figures.  Still I like the relative positions of the two figures. And I really like the figure of the horse and rider.

On the Trail
Mixed media by Phillip Hoyle

I made my miniature ATC prints to offer for trade at the next swap I attend. Of course, maybe no one will want one just like no one has ever wanted to buy one of my horse paintings. Oh well. Perhaps I need to make up a story like how Utes were changing due to the first fast tracks made possible by their new transportation. Some folks were worried that the old ways might be forgotten. One of the concerned artists related the traditional bear dance to the new ways with these hoof prints that seemed to echo the nearby bear paw prints. Keep the old and new together, you know.

Well such a story would take lots of expansion and polishing. OR I could promise if you trade for one of these cards, I'll not tell you a story about them.


Denver, 2015