OPEN SPACE VISITOR CENTER PRESENTS: Ancient Drawings
What: Ancient petroglyph rock images photographed by Walter Wollert
Where: Open Space Visitor Center,6500 Coors Blvd., N.W. (Between Montaño & Paseo del Norte at Bosque Meadows Rd.) 505-897-8831
When: November 1st – 29th, 2009
Opening Reception November 14th 1:00 – 4:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION
Curator: Joshua Willis, Parks & Recreation Dept., Open Space Division, 505-897-8831, jrwillis@cabq.gov
Walter Wollert, Digital Photograph
Humanity has always searched for ways to express the perfection that is inherent in the natural world: art, architecture, and even mathematics do it. Mankind is a product of nature and our contribution to the natural world is our ability to emulate its’ beauty though the manipulation of geometry. We can track this contribution through history. The Greeks created the Doric Colum; The Romans perfected the use of dome architecture; the Native Americans used geometric shapes to express our ties to nature as depicted on their pots and rock images.
The black basalt rocks which decorate the West Mesa escarpment are remnants of volcanic activity. This basalt in not only evidence of the geologic events that have shaped the unique place we call Albuquerque, but it is also the canvas on which the Native Americans of the Middle Rio Grande Valley chose to render their rock images and prayers to the earth.
Walter Wollert takes the technical nature of digital photography very serious. This is evident in his desire to “immerse the viewer into these local images,” and to “draw the viewers into feeling they were there.” He has taken care to show not only the beauty of the geometric rock image, but also to render the surrounding scene with care.
The Open Space Visitor Center invites you to come enjoy these works through the month of November 2009. They will be on display November 1st – 29th. We will have an Open House reception on November 14th from 1pm – 4pm. Come participate in our continued partnership with the natural world.