SnakeMedicine_Book1

C o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e A r t i s t
When I was an undergrad at the University of Missouri, I used to drink wine on the
bluffs of Lakota Hills overlooking the Missouri River. My friends and I would talk
about life, philosophy, and the makings of great political leaders. Our musings probably
bore little resemblance to reality, and the wine was of questionable merit, but
we certainly enjoyed the moments.
Before the Civil War, the last of the slave trading camps that remained on the
Missouri River sat on top of those hills. The bluffs of the slave trading are just to the
right.
We talked about changing the world and making it a better place. We all wanted
to be senators and congressmen. The energy flow is mesmerizing. No, it is not a designated
site—but I know it is sacred.
This photograph was taken while standing on the east bank of the river, looking
west. I took several angles because I wanted to capture the hills and the flow of the
river and the sunset. I knew it would be tricky to capture the reflection on the water
without its dominating the picture. The water is flowing south towards me. The bend
in the river with the hills curving around it makes this spot sacred to me. The hills
seem to be bottling up the energy as the river flows through.
The dominant color is white. The dominant object is the river. I would crop the
sides so that the trees are not interfering with the line of the river. If I look at this
long enough, I think I can feel the spirit of Native Americans that is then reflected
as an African American sacred site.
Viewers should see the curve with the white, and imagine what the sun does on
the river. How the reflections create another world, another space. It’s a solemn place.
It’s the end of their journey.
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