Petrified Forest NP Residency - Day 2-3

Woke up on June 1st in the little casita here in Petrified Forest National Park - from what I understand, it's quite old. In the nightstand is a survey from a few years back, but I haven't had the chance to read it yet. 

What I have delved into is a log book for the casita. It contained logs from as far back as 2006, with primarily previous artists in residence recording their experiences as well as tips and tricks. 
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It's wonderful to read their stories - I feel like I'm a part of something historic. From my readings so far, I've found some humerous tales (naked stargazing) and interesting mediums (castings of fossils). 

But as wonderful as this experience is, I can't ignore what's going on in the world, and what a sharp contrast it is to my life right now. 

Since I left San Diego, there have been protests, riots, fighting, injustice - I don't feel it here at the park, or even in the town of Holbrook, but the signs are everywhere else. I've seen protests taking place near friends and family in NY, and in my town of Ramona. 

It's hard to process everything going on, so I'm just trying to take walks, breathe, and share photos and videos of the peaceful landscape around me so others can take a moment to breathe and relax. 

The evenings have brought some rain and thunderstorms. I'm amazed at the power of nature - this wide open space shows it well.

I am making good progress on the book too.

I wanted to start by getting a feel for the environment, even though I've been here before, I wanted to reflect on what captures my attention and imagination. 

The log book helped solidify that idea - I'm fascinated with how much history is here. It's not just a barren landscape. There has been life here for so long - millions of years! Everything has a story. 

I believe that Joey is going to explore the Petrified Forest through time. These are just a few ideas - they will evolve over time. Once the ideas are a big more solid, I am going to consult with park staff for accuracy and details. 

I'll be working today on some additional sketches, and possibly a sunset painting. Check back soon!

​Char